Milton R. Rackmil Memorabilia Collection
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Abstract
Milton R. Rackmil (1906-1992) was a native New Yorker and a New York University graduate. In 1934, Rackmil founded Decca Records with Jack Kapp and Edward Lewis, and became president in 1949. Decca Records became the largest shareholder in the Universal Pictures Company in 1951, and in 1952 Rackmil took over as president. MCA bought Decca and Universal in 1962 and Rackmil became vice chairman of MCA's board. He remained head of MCA's film and record companies until his retirement in 1972. This collection documents Rackmil's career in the music and motion picture industries. Materials include scrapbooks, photographs, clippings, plaques, publicity, certificates, speeches, annual reports, correspondence, ephemera, and five vinyl records dating from 1938 to 1990. The bulk of the collection focuses on memorabilia from Rackmil's time at Decca Records and Universal Pictures from 1938-1972.
Biographical Note
Milton R. Rackmil (1906-1992) was born in the Lower East Side of New York City. He grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from NYU with a degree in accounting. In 1934, Rackmil founded Decca Records with Jack Kapp and Edward Lewis, and became president in 1949. Decca Records became the largest shareholder in the Universal Pictures Company in 1951, and in 1952 Rackmil took over as president. MCA bought Decca and Universal in 1962 and Rackmil became vice chairman of MCA's board. He remained head of MCA's film and record companies until his retirement in 1972.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged in the order in which they were recieved from the donor.
Scope and Contents
This collection documents Milton R. Rackmil's career in the music and motion picture industries from 1938 up to his retirement in 1972. Materials include scrapbooks documenting a 1953 European sales convention, trips around the world that Rackmil took with colleagues from Universal Pictures in 1953, the 1962 Motion Picture Pioneer of the Year Annual Dinner honoring Rackmil; and the 1965 New York Variety Club Celebrity Ball. Other memorabilia include photographs related to travel and banquets that include photos with colleagues and celebrities, including Sammy Davis Jr.; clippings, awards plaques, and publicity related to Rackmil's career in the music and motion picture industries, including Decca Records' 20th, 25th, and 30th anniversaries; certificates from various airlines for good fortune while traveling; and speeches Rackmil gave to the New York Stock Exchange in 1960 and at the 1962 Motion Picture Pioneer of the Year Annual Dinner where he accepted the Pioneer of the Year Award. This collection also includes a 1959 annual report for Decca Records; stock market reports for Decca Records; an invitation to meet the President of the United States over cocktails and dinner for the White House News Photographers' Association Dinner; a lifetime pass to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; five audio recordings on vinyl records of banquets and various artists; and draft reports, correspondence, and a press release related to the 1952 acquisition of Decca Records by Universal Pictures and the 1990 acquisition of MCA by Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co.
Subjects
Organizations
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Fales Library and Special Collections has no information about copyright ownership for this collection and is not authorized to grant permission to publish or reproduce materials from it. Materials in this collection, which were created in 1938-1990, are expected to enter the public domain in 2110.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Milton R. Rackmil Memorabilia Collection; MSS 073; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials found in collection; provenance is unknown. The accession number associated with this collection is 1994.073.
Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures
Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers. Materials not yet digitized will need to have access copies made before they can be used. To request an access copy, or if you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact fales.library@nyu.edu with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.
Appraisal
One piece of rolled ephemera was reviewed by the curator for deaccession. The ephemera consisted of a muscial score in which the song lyrics were written about Rackmil. The ephemera was laminated and rolled, and has significantly deteriorated over time. The item was deaccessioned due to the deterioration and low historic value.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Materials were placed in new, acid-free folders; original order was maintained. Scrapbooks were placed in flat boxes and secured with tissue. Objects were wrapped in foam and housed in a half manuscript box.
