The Belfer Cylinders Digital Connection, originally named to connect 21^st century researchers with the cylinder audio format, now includes more than 6,000 digital recordings created in the Belfer Audio Laboratory at Syracuse University Libraries. The digitization effort began in 2007 with support from the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation and selected content from more than 20,000 wax and celluloid cylinders (including more than 12,000 unique titles) held by the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC). Wax cylinders are the earliest commercial medium for recording and reproducing sound and even as we preserve these recordings for their historic and research value, we recognize that some contain content that may be harmful, insensitive, or otherwise difficult to listen to. The work to preserve and create broad digital access to more recordings is ongoing.

Additional information on the cylinders as physical media may be found using the finding aid for the Belfer Cylinders Collection in SCRC.

Unless otherwise indicated, Belfer Cylinders Digital Connection photographs by Carol DiSalvo Photography.