Das Zylinder-Tonarchiv der University of California-Santa Barbara macht mehr als 10’000 frühe Aufnahmen online zugänglich (via Openculture):
«“This searchable database,” says UCSB, “features all types of recordings made from the late 1800s to early 1900s, including popular songs, vaudeville acts, classical and operatic music, comedic monologues, ethnic and foreign recordings, speeches and readings.” You can also find in the archive a number of “personal recordings,” or “home wax recordings,” made by everyday people at home (as opposed to by record companies).
If you go to this page, the recordings are neatly categorized by genre, instrument, subject/theme and ethnicity/nation of origin.»