Archives West Finding Aid
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Frank C. Chalfant Language Laboratory Photographs, 1910s
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Chalfant, Frank C.
- Title
- Frank C. Chalfant Language Laboratory Photographs
- Dates
- 1910s (inclusive)19101919
- Quantity
- 0.25 Linear feet of shelf space, (1 Box)
- Collection Number
- PC 48 (collection)
- Summary
- Twelve glass plate negative images of F.C. Chalfant's language laboratory at Washington State College in the 1910s.
- Repository
-
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open and available for research use.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Frank C. Chalfant studied at France's University of Grenoble in the summer of 1909 and was exposed there to the use of phonographs in a laboratory setting for the study of foreign languages. In 1911, he installed a “language laboratory” at Washington State College, apparently the first in the United States. Students used dictaphones (phonograph recording machines) to playback their own attempts to speak foreign languages, and also listened as a class to recordings of foreign languages via a networked audio system.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of seven 6.5" x 8.5" glass plate negatives, and five 4"x5" glass plate negatives. Four photographic prints created by MASC from these are also included. The images depict Washington State College's language laboratory in the 1920s, and include use of dictaphones. Among the images are ones depicting faculty members Chalfant and Margarete Meinhardt.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Preferred Citation
[Item description]
Frank C. Chalfant Language Laboratory Photographs, 1910s (PC 48)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Materials are retained in their original order.
Processing Note
Items have been sleeved for protection.
Related Materials
A few additional images of the language laboratory can be found in the Washington State University Photographs, Subject File, 1892-1999 (PC 4), in the Laboratories / Broadcasting and Recording folders, and in the State College of Washington Lantern Slides, 1892-1944 (PC 6).