Guide to the Frank C. Chalfant Language Laboratory Photographs 1910s
PC 48

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Creator
Chalfant, Frank C.
Title
Frank C. Chalfant Language Laboratory Photographs
ID
PC 48
Date [inclusive]
1910s
Extent
.25 Linear feet of shelf space, 1 box, 12 items
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
Twelve glass plate negative images of F.C. Chalfant's language laboratory at Washington State College in the 1910s.

Preferred Citation

[Item description] Frank C. Chalfant Language Laboratory Photographs, 1910s (PC 48)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biography/History

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.

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Scope and Content

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.

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Arrangement

Materials are retained in their original order.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2016

http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open and available for research use.

Processing Information

Items have been sleeved for protection.

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Related Materials

Related Material

A few additional images of the language laboratory can be found in the WSU Photographs Subject File (PC 4), in the Laboratories / Broadcasting and Recording folders, and in the WSU Lantern Slides collection (PC 6).

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Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Washington State University.
  • State College of Washington.

Personal Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Chalfant, Frank C. -- Archives

Subject(s)

  • Language laboratories -- Washington (State) -- Pullman.
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Washington (State)
  • Photographs
  • Language and Languages

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