Stinson Records

Stinson Records was an American independent record label established in 1939 by Irving Prosky and Herbert Harris. Its origins lay in the distribution of recordings from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in the United States. Prosky, a Russian-born distributor of Soviet records, and Harris, who owned New York's Union Record Shop and was involved in presenting Soviet films, operated a concession selling Soviet recordings at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Demand exceeded the available supply, encouraging the partners to create a label that could manufacture and distribute copies of Soviet and other Eastern European recordings, including performances associated with the Red Army Chorus. The company initially traded as the Stinson Trading Company. Its early business combined record manufacturing, importing, distribution, and retail activity. Although most accounts date its formation to 1939, a 1946 Billboard report referred to the company's supposed thirtieth anniversary, suggesting that some aspect of its record-manufacturing operation may have begun earlier. The chronology is therefore not entirely settled. Stinson's most consequential business relationship began in 1943, when it entered a financial and distribution partnership with Moe Asch's newly established Asch Records. During the Second World War, shellac was difficult to obtain, and the arrangement helped Asch secure pressing materials. Stinson contributed an established distribution network and participated in the proceeds from Asch recordings. For a period, the partners issued records under the Asch-Stinson name. The associated catalogue included recordings by Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie, Josh White, Sonny Terry, Burl Ives, Richard Dyer-Bennet, Coleman Hawkins, and Mary Lou Williams, among others. The partnership ended in 1946. Asch subsequently developed the Disc label and later Folkways, while Herbert Harris retained control of Stinson. Folkways and Stinson operated independently and sometimes competed, although they appear to have divided rights to some recordings made during their joint period. Woody Guthrie became a particularly important example: Folkways generally handled more of his topical and political material, while Stinson issued more of his folk and country-oriented recordings. After the split, Stinson retained rights to parts of the earlier catalogue and transferred a substantial amount of it to the long-playing record format. The label also continued to issue new recordings during the 1950s and early 1960s by performers from the folk, blues, jazz, and international music fields. Its catalogue included Pete Seeger, Ewan MacColl, Cisco Houston, Muggsy Spanier, the Duke of Iron, Carlos Montoya, Sidney Bechet, and Bob Gibson. The American Folksay compilation series was among its notable catalogue projects and helped present traditional and contemporary folk material to a broad record-buying audience. Management passed within the Harris family and associated family circle. Herbert Harris's son Robert was involved in running the company from the early 1950s, and the business expanded its retail presence with a second branch in Los Angeles. After Herbert Harris died in 1956, his widow Sonia Harris owned the company, while his son-in-law Jack Kall managed it. By the late 1950s, operations were based in Los Angeles, where Stinson continued releasing folk albums and maintaining its catalogue. The label reportedly continued issuing recordings into the 1990s, although detailed information about its later release activity is limited. A significant archival development occurred in 2007, when master discs of Woody Guthrie performances recorded in the mid-1940s were rediscovered among material formerly held by Robert Harris's widow. The recordings were later reissued on compact disc in the box set My Dusty Road, extending the reach of Stinson-associated historical material beyond its original vinyl releases. In June 2019, Stinson was acquired by Smithsonian Folkways. The acquisition placed the label and its historical assets within the wider preservation and reissue environment associated with Smithsonian Folkways. Public information does not establish the extent to which Stinson continues as an actively releasing standalone imprint, so its present operating status is best treated as uncertain.

Stinson Records emerged from the American market for Soviet and Eastern European recordings. Irving Prosky, a Russian-born distributor, and Herbert Harris, proprietor of New York's Union Record Shop, operated a concession selling Soviet records at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. When the available supply could not meet demand, the partners formed a company to manufacture and distribute copies of Soviet and related Eastern European recordings. The resulting business, commonly identified as the Stinson Trading Company, also issued recordings connected with the Red Army Chorus and other international performers. Some evidence points to an earlier start date for part of the operation, because a 1946 Billboard item described the company as approaching a thirtieth anniversary, but 1939 is the date most commonly associated with the label's establishment. In 1943, Stinson entered a financial partnership with Moe Asch's Asch Records. The arrangement was shaped partly by wartime shortages of shellac, the material used in shellac 78-rpm records. Asch gained access to Stinson's supply and distribution capabilities, while Stinson participated in the commercial results of Asch's recordings. For several years, releases appeared under the Asch-Stinson identity. This period brought the label into contact with a major body of American folk, blues, and jazz artists, including Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Josh White, Sonny Terry, Burl Ives, Richard Dyer-Bennet, Coleman Hawkins, and Mary Lou Williams. The arrangement ended in 1946. Asch moved toward the Disc label and eventually Folkways, while Harris continued operating Stinson independently. The two catalogues retained connections because some recordings made during the partnership had to be allocated between the companies. Woody Guthrie's work illustrates this division: Folkways generally issued his topical and political songs, whereas Stinson handled much of the material presented as folk and country music. Stinson preserved portions of its earlier catalogue and adapted them to the postwar LP market. It also built a broader release programme during the 1950s and early 1960s, covering American folk, blues, jazz, Caribbean-related material, flamenco and Spanish guitar, and other international traditions. Artists associated with its releases included Pete Seeger, Ewan MacColl, Cisco Houston, Muggsy Spanier, the Duke of Iron, Carlos Montoya, Sidney Bechet, and Bob Gibson. The American Folksay series became a notable compilation project, packaging traditional and contemporary folk recordings for LP audiences. The company's management became increasingly family-based. Herbert Harris's son Robert operated the business from the early 1950s, and Stinson opened a second retail branch in Los Angeles. Following Herbert Harris's death in 1956, Sonia Harris held ownership and Jack Kall, Harris's son-in-law, managed the company. By the late 1950s, Stinson was based in Los Angeles and continued to issue folk albums. Available historical accounts indicate that releases continued into the 1990s, though the label's later output and corporate structure are not extensively documented. In 2007, master discs of Woody Guthrie recordings made in the mid-1940s were rediscovered. The material had been retained by Robert Harris's widow and was later reissued in the My Dusty Road compact disc box set. The event demonstrated the continuing archival value of Stinson's holdings. In June 2019, Smithsonian Folkways acquired Stinson Records. The acquisition connected Stinson's catalogue with an institution known for documenting, preserving, and reissuing traditional and vernacular music. The available references do not clearly indicate whether Stinson remains an active standalone label after the acquisition.

• 2019

  Acquired by Smithsonian Folkways

  [1]Stinson Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Smithsonian Folkways acquired Stinson Records and its associated catalogue.

• 2007

  Woody Guthrie master discs rediscovered

  [1]Stinson Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Mid-1940s Woody Guthrie master discs connected with the Stinson archive were found and later used for the My Dusty Road box set.

• 1956

  Herbert Harris dies

  [1]Stinson Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  After Herbert Harris's death, Sonia Harris owned the company and Jack Kall managed it.

• 1946

  Asch-Stinson arrangement ends

  [1]Stinson Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The partnership ended, after which Asch developed the labels that led toward Folkways and Harris continued Stinson independently.

• 1943

  Partnership with Asch Records

  [1]Stinson Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Stinson entered a financial and distribution arrangement with Moe Asch's Asch Records, leading to releases under the Asch-Stinson name.

• 1939

  Stinson Trading Company established

  [1]Stinson Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Irving Prosky and Herbert Harris established the business after their experience selling Soviet records at the New York World's Fair.

An independent American catalogue label centered on folk, blues, jazz, traditional music, and recordings from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, with a later role in preserving and reissuing historically important material.

• Compilation album series

  American Folksay

  A notable Stinson compilation series presenting American folk material in the LP era. The series formed part of the label's effort to package traditional and contemporary vernacular music for a broad audience and helped define Stinson's identity beyond its earlier Soviet and Eastern European releases.

• Archival compact disc box set · 2007

  My Dusty Road

  A posthumous archival reissue built from Woody Guthrie master discs recorded in the mid-1940s and rediscovered in 2007. The box set brought historically significant Stinson-associated recordings to CD listeners and renewed attention to the label's preservation value.

• Joint record imprint · 1943

  Asch-Stinson releases

  Records issued during Stinson's 1943–1946 partnership with Asch Records. The associated catalogue covered folk, blues, and jazz performers including Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie, Josh White, Sonny Terry, Burl Ives, Richard Dyer-Bennet, Coleman Hawkins, and Mary Lou Williams.

• 2019

  Acquisition by Smithsonian FolkwaysM&A

  Background

  Stinson's historical catalogue included recordings of lasting interest to folk-music and archival institutions.

  Action taken

  Smithsonian Folkways acquired Stinson Records.

  Aftermath

  The catalogue became associated with Smithsonian Folkways's preservation and reissue activities. The references do not specify the detailed transaction terms or the label's continuing standalone operations.

  Source

• 1943

  Partnered with Asch RecordsStrategy

  Background

  Wartime shortages affected the availability of shellac, while Asch Records needed stronger supply and distribution capabilities.

  Action taken

  Stinson entered a financial and distribution partnership with Asch Records and issued recordings under the Asch-Stinson identity.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement ended in 1946, after which the two companies operated separately and divided rights to parts of their jointly recorded catalogue.

  Source

• 2019

  Stinson Records acquired by Smithsonian Folkways[1]Stinson Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Smithsonian Folkways acquired Stinson Records and its associated historical catalogue, bringing the label's assets into the Smithsonian Folkways preservation and reissue context.

• 2007

  Woody Guthrie master discs rediscovered[1]Stinson Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product launch

  Master discs of Woody Guthrie recordings from the mid-1940s, associated with the Stinson catalogue and held by Robert Harris's widow, were rediscovered and subsequently used for a compact disc box-set reissue.

1. 1Stinson Recordsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Stinson Records in the Internet Archive's Great 78 Projectarchive.org