History of the Phonogram Archive in St. Petersburg and the use of its audio materials for the study of endangered cultures in Russia

The Phonogram Archive at the Pushkin House in St. Petersburg houses an important collection of historical sound recordings. They are related to investigations in the field of ethnomusicology and ethnolinguistics. The archive is involved in the recording, restoration, description and study of the audio materials on folklore, language and ethnography, as well as their publication in the form of academic collections and audio anthologies. The materials in the Phonogram Archive form the basis for a multifaceted study of Russian folklore, interethnic relations in Russia and other aspects of culture in the country. Many of these recordings have been used in joint projects with the Pushkin House in which the authors have participated since 1995. In this article, following a description of the history of the Phonogram Archive, some of these projects will be considered. The resulting digital data have enriched the collections at the Pushkin House and will likely play an important role in the study, teaching and safeguarding of endangered languages and musical cultures in Russia.