Ronald Dethlefson

Ronald Dethlefson retired as a full professor with the Communications Department at Bakersfield College in California. He collected early records and phonographs since 1953 and began writing about Edison records and phonographs in 1980.

In the succeeding decades, he collaborated with George Copeland, a scholarly collector of popular and operatic recordings living in St. Louis; wrote a monthly column for "In the Groove:" a publication of the Michigan Antique Phonograph Society; was quoted extensively in the Los Angeles Times and online; and volunteered as a consultant at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.

Dethlefson's major publications included Edison Blue Amberol Recordings (APM Press, 1980); Edison Blue Amberol Recordings: 1912-1914: American popular series, “live" recordings and collected recordings 1915

-1928 (APM Press, 1980); Edison Blue Amberol and selected recordings 1912-1914: Companion edition, with Michael Buchak (Stationery X-Press,1997); Edison Blue Amberol Recordings Volume 2(1915-1929) (APM Press, 1981); Pathe Records and Phonographs in America, 1914-1922 (Mulholland Press, 1999), as well as Edison, Lambert Concert Records & Columbia Grand Records and related phonographs (Mulholland Press, 2004) with George A. Copeland and Peter J. Fraser; and co-authored Edison Disc Artists & Records, 1910-1929 (APM Press, 1985) with Ray Wile.

In 2012, the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) presented Ron with its Lifetime Achievement Award. ARSC recognizes outstanding published research in the field of recorded sound, encourages high standards, promotes awareness of superior contributions, and presents this annual award to an individual in recognition of his or her life's work in published recorded sound research.

After retiring from writing due to longterm illness, Ronald passed away Easter morning of 2020.