The Richard Hadlock Annals of Jazz Collection consists of selected tapes from jazz historian and educator Richard Hadlock's venerable radio series Annals of Jazz, as broadcast on radio station KCSM in San Mateo, California from 1982-1991. Hadlock, a musician, publisher (Record Changer magazine) and author (Downbeat, Metronome and the book Jazz Masters of the Twenties), began Annals of Jazz on KJAZ in 1959, followed by eighteen years at KQED, and has been at KCSM for over twenty years. The tapes in this collection appear to have originated at KQED but were labeled and numbered by KCSM with new air dates. The programs examine musicians, composers, performance styles, movements, and instrumentation, largely from the classic era before free jazz, jazz rock and fusion became prevalent. Outside of Hadlock's commentary, the series contains little unpublished content, although there is an interview with clarinetist Bob Helm from 1984 (which aired on KCSM 5/6/89).

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