The Richard Maxfield Collection consists of electronic music written by Maxfield on open reel tape from 1959 to 1964. Some tape boxes appear annotated by the composer. Nine are labeled as distinct works, while two others are more likely to be work tapes or copies. Pastoral Symphony, Amazing Grace and Cough Music are some of his more canonical pieces, and date from the period considered his most prolific. Maxfield would edit tapes for each performance to ensure a unique event, and it is unknown what versions these recordings represent. Although he supposedly did all his composing in New York, several of these tapes have a Southern California address. The live recording of Dromenon, a ballet for tape and live instruments, was performed by a quintet at Judson Memorial Church New York City in 1964.

This collection has been processed with generous financial support from the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.