Guide to the UNLV Tune-Dex Card Collection
by Jonathan Rhodes Lee
UNLV owns a collection of over 1,500 Tune-Dex cards. The precursor to the “fake book,” the Tune-Dex system was a published set of index cards designed for use by radio stations and performing musicians. Cards were two-sided, with credit information on the cards’ fronts, and a lead sheet with chord indications on their backs.
UNLV’s collection is divided into two series. Series I, housed by the Arnold Shaw Popular Music Center, is accessible digitally on this website; see links on the Guide to the Collection to the right. Patrons may access Series II physically at UNLV’s Special Collections (Lied Library).
Access to Materials
Use the Guide to the Collection at this link to view a master index of the contents of both series and to access digital photographs of Series I.
Access to physical materials may be arranged by contacting the Shaw Center.
Administrative information
Leszczynski collection accepted (2022):
Jonathan Rhodes Lee
Processed, annotated, published (2024):
Jonathan Rhodes Lee
Assistant: Alec Schantz
Collection Overview
Click here to access Master Index and photographic reproductions of Series I
- Series I: Donated in honor of Rosemary Leszczynski (Roseville, MI)
- Series II: Cal McKinley Collection of Tune-Dex Cards (MS-00616), UNLV Special Collections and Archives.
Image: TuneDex card from Series I (Leszcynski), 1945.
