Tom, he does say "In witness whereof hear my voice……" the transcript in Bells' own hand is here:
https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/file-uploader/bell%20transcript.pdf
The entire clip is here:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/file-uploader/Full%20Recording_Filtered.wav
I can't agree with your comments about the recording. Listening to the entire clip, one can hear quite a bit about his voice and intonation - at least in reading numbers. Not the most exciting subject for us to listen to or likely for him to have spoke, but nevertheless it is pretty amazing. As far as I am concerned anything that brings the interest of the general public to archival recordings and restoration is a good thing. Support comes from interest.
Bells' papers seem to be spread in many places. A great many of his papers including his original lab notebook are in the AT&T archive in NJ (I got to see it in person - and that was a real treat!). Still others are in Nova Scotia at the Bell Museum in Cape Breton. Anywhere else?
Jim Lindner
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On Apr 25, 2013, at 11:12 AM, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> That's an interesting project, but the audio quality isn't good enough to tell anything about Bell's voice tone or intonation. So the article's statements are quite a bit of over-reach and imagination. It does tell a bit about Bell's accent, which seems more Massachusetts than Scotland. Note the way he says "hear" and Graham."
>
> Also, the article is incorrect in reporting what is heard on the included clip. The article indicates the clip is "In witness whereof-hear my voice, Alexander Graham Bell." Actually, the clip is "hear my voice, Alexander Graham Bell."
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cary Ginell" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2013 9:19 AM
> Subject: [ARSCLIST] Alexander Graham Bell's voice - from 1885 - is heard
>
>
> Congratulations to Patrick Feaster for being involved in this fascinating project.
>
> http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/We-Had-No-Idea-What-Alexander-Graham-Bell-Sounded-Like-Until-Now-204137471.html
>
> Cary Ginell
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