Went to the facility for an AES meeting a few years ago just after it was turned over to the Library of Congress after renovation. The facility is amazing and has just about any playback method imaginable.
The custom built Simon Yorke turntables for the transcriptions and the cartridge and stylus style collection was very cool.
I was drooling when we got to the see the LP library and the RCA Living Stereo area! 
Hey!
I wonder what cartridge was on that Simon Yorke turntable.
Not sure if I got this right but I've read somewhere that Sony now own RCA Living Stereo catalog of which used to be Victor and they donate all the catalog to the Library of Congress to be archived.
I do have a few of those Victor/Victrola acoustical 78rmp records and it is fun to listen to even today.
Anyway, lucky you got to see those stuffs.
The Smithsonian has been doing this as well as recording for 65 years.
http://www.folkways.si.edu/about_us/mission_history.aspx
Yup, good thing about The Smithsonian is that they don't just archiving them but also release some special box set too. That's reminded me, I think I have a LP box set of early Jazz collection from them some where
Take care,
Buddy
