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Contact information: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mbrsrs/mbrsrs.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2002660093
Collection material in English
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
The National Broadcasting Company donated the NBC History Files to the Library of Congress in 1992.
No further accruals are expected.
The NBC History Files are housed within the Recorded Sound Section of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center of the Library of Congress. For further information and for access to the collection, contact the Recorded Sound Research Center, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Library of Congress, Washington, DC, 20540-4690; (202) 707-7833.
The National Broadcasting Company retains the rights governing subsequent use of materials in the collection. For permission to quote or republish materials from the collection contact the National Broadcasting Company.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [Folder number, eg., Folder 4], NBC History Files, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Library of Congress.
This finding aid documents the National Broadcasting Company History Files which is one
of the eleven collections that comprise the NBC Archives at the Library of Congress. The
NBC Archives document the history of the organization and its broadcast programming, and
the history of the radio and television industries. The eleven collections within the
NBC Archives
at the Library of Congress include: organizational records of NBC, and the radio
stations WEAF and WJZ; indexes to radio and television programming and artists; log
books of broadcasts; sound recordings of radio broadcasts; and kinescopes of television
broadcasts.
The NBC History Files contain business publications: letters, memoranda, employee
reminiscences, printed publications, printed memorabilia (such as anniversary programs),
network histories, reports, audience mail, statistics, charts, maps, speeches, program
policies, program lists and pamphlets. The materials span 1922 through 1986, but most
date from the mid-1920s through the late 1940s. For further summary information and
analysis of the content of the NBC History Files, see Kathleen B. Miller’s article, "A
Tale of Two Networks."
The NBC History Files comprise 1966 folders. Each folder contains one or more individual
typescript, printed or manuscript documents.
The folders in the NBC History Files are organized by the folder name assigned by NBC. The folder name is usually a topic, genre (e.g., speeches), or name of the issuing body of the contents of the folder. The Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center created this finding aid as an index to the folder names, which includes a detailed description of the contents of each folder. The folders have been assigned numbers which correspond to their physical order.
Mimeographed memoranda and reports from the NBC Advertising & Promotion Department, many about personnel.
Highlights: December 4, 1941, 16-page memo from Ken Dyke to Niles Trammell regarding the scope and role of the Advertising & Promotion Department. January 1, 1941, organization chart of the Advertising & Promotion Department. July, 1944 32-page survey by Sheldon R. Coons of the research activities at NBC.
A television script and onionskin and mimeographed memoranda describing the involvement of advertising agencies in television production.
Highlights: April 19, 1940, television script of a McCann-Erickson television production, Indian Summer. September 16, 1931, memo from C. W. Horn to G. F. McClelland regarding budget requirements for television which mentions the installation of transmitting equipment at the Empire State Building and the upcoming broadcast demonstration to RCA executives.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports regarding classification of radio and television programming into genres.
Highlights: March, 1941 CAB ratings of radio programming by genre.
Mimeographed, onionskin, and original letters from radio pioneers recalling their experiences in early radio.
Highlights: Amusing recollections by Harford Powel and D. S. Tuthill.
Guest list for tenth anniversary party and a photocopy of the dinner menu.
Printed items: Photocopy of dinner menu.
Mimeographed, onionskin, and photocopied memoranda, press releases, reports, menus, invitations, guest lists, and programs from the tenth anniversary party.
Highlights: Onionskin copy of 1936 summary of developments.
Printed items: Two bound programs of tenth anniversary dinner. Four foil-covered news releases celebrating NBC's growth and accomplishments since 1926. Invitation to a fashion show. November 9, 1936, soft-bound seating arrangement program. 1936 paste-up of a testimonial ad for NBC from the Joint Religious Radio Commission.
Original programs, an article, and a poster promoting the tenth anniversary celebration.
Highlights: The "only remaining copy" of the 1936 reissue of the program from the first broadcast in 1926.
Printed items: November 13, 1936, reissue program from the first radio show.
November 15, 1936, tenth anniversary edition of
Original and onionskin programs and reports regarding the anniversary party.
Highlights: December 30, 1941, 12-page report, "Fifteen Years of Broadcasting."
Printed items: November 10, 1941, anniversary program,
Original, mimeographed and photocopied memoranda, a press release, and an article about the NBC flagship station's anniversary.
Printed items:
Original and mimeographed memoranda, press releases from the twenty-fifth anniversary celebration.
Printed items: Three NBC twenty-fifth anniversary souvenir booklets. A working manual for the twenty-fifth anniversary for affiliates by the Press Department.
Onionskin and photocopied reports, a newspaper article, and a trade paper focusing on the thirtieth anniversary celebration.
Highlights: December, 1956 25-page chronology of important NBC highlights, "The
NBC Story 1926-1956;" December 3, 1956, edition of
Menus.
Printed items: Dinner and lunch menus from the thirtieth anniversary celebration.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed reports, speeches, memoranda, letters, and telegrams from NBC's thirtieth anniversary.
Highlights: "Sidelights of the Early Days," features humorous anecdotes of unusual incidents. Speeches by David and Robert Sarnoff. Congratulatory telegram from Frank Stanton of CBS to Robert Sarnoff. "The NBC Story," a history of NBC from 1926 to 1956.
Printed items:
Original and photocopied reports and a press release from the thirty-fifth anniversary celebration.
Highlights: 1961 3-page report, "Notes on the Development of 35 Years of Broadcasting," a description of the format and content of a retrospective television program. November 28, 1961, 18-page report, "The History of NBC 35 Years of Broadcasting Leadership," an extensive history of NBC.
Onionskin and photocopied newsletters, a press release, and a periodical about NBC history and an affiliates meeting.
Printed items: May 16, 1966, edition of
Original and photocopied memoranda, articles, reports, press releases, pamphlets, and other material from NBC's fiftieth anniversary celebration.
Highlights: A one-page guide to the location of certain archival material in
the NBC files. November 18, 1976, article in the
Original, onionskin, photocopied and mimeographed periodicals, articles, in-house histories, and invitations to various NBC festivities
Highlights: An undated 80-page 50-year history of NBC compiled by Samuel Kaufman (3 copies).
Printed items: Invitations to NBC anniversary functions. Menu and program from
50th anniversary dinner.
Onionskin and mimeographed television announcement procedures.
Highlights: May 7, 1948, memo from Sidney Strotz listing allowable ratios of commercial time per hour.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, letters, and reports describing the battle between radio and newspapers and references to cross-ownership issues.
Highlights: April 19, 1935, six-page analysis by M. H. Aylesworth of the
history of the contentious relationship between radio and newspapers and why
tensions are lessening. A special report for NBC covering radio publicity in 25
selected newspapers. An extensive collection of letters, memoranda, and
telegrams that illustrate the complex problems created by cross-ownership. A
list of radio stations owned by newspapers. April 4, 1938, excerpt from
Photocopies and mimeographed letters and memoranda regarding radio advertising policies and relations with sponsors.
Highlights: November 22, 1940, compilation of NBC Blue network sales policies. A January 8, 1935, memo from the General Sales Department stating that the words "safe" and "harmless" must be deleted from all food, beverage, or medical products advertised on NBC. A series of memoranda (from the February 24, 1937, minutes of the local program committee) discussing NBC's fear of broadcasting dramatized divorce cases and the advisability of avoiding the subject of sex. May 20, 1932, memo from NBC and the July 15, 1932, response from J. Walter Thompson regarding kidding advertising or apologizing for advertizing. An extensive series of memoranda on the ethics of airing advertising for vocational schools that are "pretty close to rackets." October 11, 1932, memo from John F. Royal to E. P. H. James suggesting the development of a radio series about U.S. Army carrier pigeons and the potential interest by a pet food company. December 9, 1932, memo forbidding "cross announcements" announcements on the Blue network referring to programs on the Red network or on a non-NBC network. November 22, 1932, 17-page address, "Advertising by Radio," given by J. W. Gilbert, proprietor of Woburn Advertising at a meeting of advertising executives in London. July 14, 1932, letter from ASCAP regarding broadcast announcements about restricted compositions and follow-up NBC memoranda. September 14, 1939, memo regarding the morality of airing advertising from companies that sell items on credit and mislead their customers. Memoranda about the ethics of airing advertising of cosmetic products not approved by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Administration.
Printed items:
Mimeographed, onionskin, and original memoranda, letters, and reports on broadcast advertising and promotion.
Highlights: June 9, 1930, 18-page report on a fact-finding mission to the BBC. March, 1932 confidential 15-page report of radio advertising possibilities in England by the London Press Exchange. October 7, 1926, letter from William H. Rankin to NBC addressing early radio advertising. October 13, 1938, Blue network discount rate card. Undated 33-page "Report of the Committee on Sales Improvement." "William H. Rankin: First Radio Advertiser," 1928 report by Alfred M. Caddell.
Printed items: September 7, 1922, program of the first evening commercial
program that aired on WEAF. 1935 34-page pamphlet,
Mimeographed and onionskin memoranda and budgets concerning television.
Highlights: December 18, 1939, memo from H. F. McKeon to O. B. Hanson regarding the television airplane demonstration of October 17, 1939. June 9, 1939, memo from Frank Mason to Niles Trammell concerning a proposal to present television receiving sets to the New York newspapers. February 24, 1939, memo from Lenox Lohr to David Sarnoff proposing a $495,000 television budget for 1939.
Mimeographed and onionskin memoranda and letters about the television budget and programming plans.
Highlights: May 7, 1938, 29-page confidential report from C. W. Fitch to John
F. Royal laying out a plan for six hours of daily television programming;
contains two studio charts and a comprehensive description of the cost as well
as the content of each program. (
Mimeographed and onionskin memoranda, reports, and letters regarding budgets from early television.
Highlights: October 28, 1936, memo from O. B. Hanson to David Rosenblum regarding allocation of $1,350 for television demonstrations.
Original, onionskin, photocopy, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, telegrams, press releases, and cross reference pages concerning the NBC chimes and trademark
Highlights: September 14, 1978 press release that includes an older history of the NBC chimes. February 4, 1938 log of actual chime times for February 4, 1938. January 3, 1935 memo recommending the abolishment of the NBC chimes.
Original, photocopied, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, reports, press releases, and newspaper clippings concerning color television.
Highlights: March 31, 1958, press release explaining how the new chroma-key process works and its many uses. 1962 28-page "Highlights of NBC's Contributions to Television Broadcasting." March 9, 1965, 10-page press release announcing a "Full Color Network" with a weekly schedule of nighttime color programming. September 27, 1961, press release: "Color Day" will air October 4, 1962, and will feature 12 hours of color programming. September 12, 1955, 17-page speech by Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith entitled "Surgery and Color Television." November 3, 1955, press release, "NBC Chicago Station WNBQ will be First All-Color Television Station in World." November 3, 1953, color photo of what may have been first color show (note the cryptic writing on the cardboard cover).
Printed items: Poster,
Photocopied reports on the history of color television.
Highlights: 1962 "History of Color TV," a 15-page history that includes a chronology.
Photocopied and mimeographed press releases and a reprint of a panel discussion on color television.
Highlights: March 9, 1954, press release of NBC affiliate WNBT of New York announcing that the first local commercial order for station breaks in color has been placed by Castro Decorators Inc., the manufacturer of the Castro Convertible.
Printed items: April, 1954 27-page report,
Original, photocopied, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, a telegram and speech regarding color television.
Highlights: April 17, 1953, memo from Richard Werner recounting a call from Richard Salant of CBS wondering why it would take RCA 10 months to deliver a color camera to CBS. November, 1951 7-page speech by J. V. Hefferman, "Color Television." March 10, 1953, memo from Frank N. Russell to General David Sarnoff and Mr. Frank White on the political maneuvering of Senator Ed Johnson, a political ally, regarding pending legislation on color television. March 6, 1954, 10-page letter from Senator Edwin C. Johnson to Senator Charles W. Tobey, chairman of the interstate and foreign commerce committee, stating that the FCC should consider a color television standard that is compatible with black-and-white. Unidentified memo that requires all papers, talks, and speeches on technical topics by RCA/NBC be cleared prior to publication or presentation. Correspondence and letters from May 8, 1953, to June 18, 1953, between the FCC and NBC confirming NBC's authorization to perform a test broadcast of their color TV system. December 21, 1953, press release announcing the first west-to-east transcontinental transmission of color as well as the first remote pickup in compatible color of a special event (Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 1954). November 3, 1953, press release announcing that RCA has achieved magnetic tape recording of color as well as black-and-white television programs. Also, NBC demonstrated the first transcontinental transmission of color film for television.
Original, photocopy, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, and newspaper clippings pertaining to color television.
Highlights: October 20, 1951, "Message sent by Dr. Allen B. DuMont to Charles E. Wilson" who as Defense Mobilizer ordered a halt by CBS into further color tv research on national defense grounds in an apparently political move to help RCA to catch up to CBS in the field of color television. October 5, 1951, memo from O. B. Hanson, "RCA Color Television Demonstrations."
Printed items:
Original and onionskin memoranda, a press release, and an original letter about color television.
Highlights: November 30, 1950, letter from a Canadian advertising agency that represents a Canadian company interested in manufacturing color televisions. October 17, 1950, press release, "Latest Improvements in RCA Color Television System will be Shown in Washington Beginning December 5."
Printed items: March 30, 1950, 32-page pamphlet,
Original, photocopied, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, press releases, telegrams, and newspaper clippings about NBC's color compatible television system.
Highlights: December 6, 1950, "Statement By Wayne Coy, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission." November, 14, 1950, RCA 10-page press release, "RCA asks Court, in Public Interest, to Restrain FCC from Standardizing Incompatible Color Television System." October 12, 1950, telegram from Ross D. Siragusa, president of Admiral criticizing FCC decision and the CBS color system.
Printed items: 1950 RCA 4-page poster-size reprints of articles on RCA developments in color television. October 17, 1950, 24-page pamphlet listing the RCA/NBC civil suit against the FCC.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, press releases, pamphlets, and a telegram.
Highlights: September 28, 1950, 9-page press release, "RCA Urges FCC to Stay its Hand in Final Decision on Color Television and let Public Act as Jury." September 1, 1950, CBS filing with the FCC. Letters from Stanton of CBS, Sarnoff of NBC, and Senator Edwin C. Johnson regarding color standards. May 3, 1950, 15-page press release, "Sarnoff Says Adoption of CBS Mechanical Color Television System would be a Fatal Mistake."
Printed items: May 3, 1950, pamphlet,
Original and mimeographed press releases and memoranda pertaining to color television.
Highlights: November 15, 1949, press release, "RCA Makes its New Color Television System Available to British Broadcasting Corporation." Confidential "Report of Technical Developments July 1 to August 31, 1949." April 8, 1949, 3-page "Color Television Field Test."
Onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, press releases, and pamphlets on color television.
Highlights: November 21, 1949, press release, "RCA Electronic Color Television System Shows Marked Improvement in Comparative Tests." Letters to and from Frank Stanton of CBS and Frank Jones of the FCC regarding production of color television sets with the CBS standard. August 25, 1949, press release, "RCA Develops New High-Definition Color Television System Compatible with Present Black-and-White Sets."
Printed items: September 26, 1949, 25-page RCA booklet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, statements, and reports on color television.
Highlights: March 18, 1947, 14-page FCC decision on the CBS color television petition. Strongly worded statement by Adrian Murphy of CBS to the FCC. Testimony before the FCC by T. A. M. Craven, VP of Cowles Broadcasting Company advocating the approval of the sequential color system. Testimony before the FCC by E. W. Engstrom of RCA advocating the simultaneous color system. "Cost of Color Television Receivers in Relation to Number of Tubes," statement to the FCC by G. L. Beers on behalf of RCA and NBC. Highly technical testimony by G. H. Brown to the FCC on behalf of RCA and NBC. Twenty-four-page technical testimony by R. D. Kell to the FCC on behalf of RCA and NBC. CBS technical diagram submitted to the FCC, "Comparison of Present CBS Color Television and Conventional Black and White Equipment Chains (block diagrams modified by NBC)." Summary of statements to the FCC by Dr. Allen B. DuMont and Dr. Thomas T. Goldsmith, Jr.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and minutes of meetings from the Radio Manufacturers of America Sub-Committee on Color Television.
Highlights: May 22, 1946, notes by Robert E. Shelby of NBC from an informal meeting about color television standards between representatives of Philco, RCA and NBC. Angry description of the manner that the acting chairman of the sub-committee (Mr. David B. Smith) was conducting the meeting and the extent to which he was swayed by CBS "propaganda." Minutes of the May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December meetings of the RMA Committee on Color Television. November 7, 1941, report by Philco on color television. November 6, 1941, RCA "Report on Color Television." November 6, 1941, letter by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. of Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc. to the committee. November 4, 1941, report to the committee by Harry R. Lubcke of Don Lee Broadcasting System. November 3, 1941, letter from J. E. Brown of Zenith to the committee which mentioned, among other things, that Zenith's research into color television has stopped due to defense activities. Two technical drawings submitted by Virgil M Graham of the RMA to be attached, after the fact, to the minutes of the August 8, 1941, meeting.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and a pamphlet on early developments in color television.
Highlights: Seven black-and-white CBS photos: three photos of their color
television receiver, a photo of a color television transmitter, a photo of a
receiving antenna, a photo of their color television film scanner, and a photo
of one of their two transmitting antennas. February 4, 1946, CBS television
news press release, "CBS Press Demonstration of Full Color Television Features
Ultra High Frequency Transmitter and Ghost Free Pictures." October 30, 1946,
RCA press release, "All Electronic Color Television System Created by RCA."
July 15, 1946, 48-page NBC, "Review of Arguments Concerning Color Versus
Black-and-White Television [for internal use only]." January 29, 1947, memo
from G. M. Nixon to F. J. Somers and a January 30, 1947, memo from O. B. Hanson
to Niles Trammell about an article in the January 27, 1947,
Printed items: October 30, 1946, 18-page RCA pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, telegrams, and scripts from Walter Winchell's program.
Highlights: July 8, 1941, letter from Sidney N. Strotz to George W. Trendle agreeing "that "Walter has gone off the deep end," and "that we are doing the best we know how to control him." April 16, 1941, letter from Sidney N. Strotz to Niles Trammell stating hat "he thinks the sun rises and sets on his broad shoulders," and that "he has gotten pretty impossible to handle." He also mentioned that "Schechter really does heroic work and gets quite a mental beating from Winchell in connection with every Sunday broadcast." February 18, 1941, memo from John F. Royal to Frank E. Mullen containing the February 16, 1941, editorial in which Winchell states that "an American newspaperman is responsible only to his conscience not to his politicians." Royal interprets this as a challenge to NBC and asks whether NBC is "going to permit him to continue, or to do something about it." July 7, 1940, letter from lawyers representing the Harry Bridges Defense Committee demanding from NBC equal time on Winchell's program to respond to an attack. June 12, 1940, memo from A. A. Schechter to Mr. Niles Trammell recounting Shechter's demand to Winchell that he stop attacking individuals on the air as Communists. Schechter quotes Winchell: "You'll have no trouble from me I'll work along with you" and concludes that "knowing Mr. Winchell, I think he will keep his word for three or four days or perhaps weeks, until something else crosses his path." June 3, 1940, memo from Schechter to Niles Trammell regarding Winchell's assertion that Carl Byoir, a publicity man, was a spy, and that "it's now time for the management to decide whether this man can go on in a hysterical manner week after week and accuse citizens of being spies." May 5, 1940, wire from E. B. Germany and J. P. Rice of the National Garner For President Committee threatening legal action against NBC due to a Winchell attack on their candidate earlier in the day. Includes entire script and amusing advertising copy for his sponsor, Jergens Lotion. March 3-11, 1940, memoranda from John F. Royal to Niles Trammell expressing NBC's concern that Germany will be offended by Winchell's reference to "Mr. von Ribbentrop" as "Mr. von Ribbentripe," and Royal's judgment that because of Winchell's high ratings, that "if he doesn't wish to live up to our policies, we should just let it go." May 1, 1939, memo from John F. Royal to Niles Trammell and May 5-9, 1939, memo from Trammell to Royal agreeing that Winchell's April 30, 1939, description of Hitler as a madman should have been deleted. April 7, 1939, memo from A. A. Schechter to John F. Royal quoting Keith Kiggins of Station Relations as stating that "Winchell, by his very remarks and the fact that he is one of the chosen people, is causing undue hardship and anti-semitism throughout the Middle West." Schechter asserts that "I think we ought to stop him once and for all." May 1, 1937, memo from Frank M. Russell quoting recent Winchell attack victim Senator McAdoo, that he would "go on the floor of the Senate and condemn radio for allowing this type of a program to remain on the air." September 17, 1936, memo from A. L. Ashby to Mr. L. R. Lohr mentioning the dismissal of the case of King v. Winchell, Jergens and NBC. Series of memoranda and correspondence from November 23 to December 4, 1935, between Jergens and NBC regarding Jergens agreeing to "assume the responsibility and expense of any suits against Winchell, arising from his broadcasts for Jergens." April 2-May 10, 1934, memoranda addressing Winchell's violation of the press-radio agreement.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda concerning early developments in television.
Highlights: May 17, 1939, memo from Alfred H. Morton to the Television Promotion Committee announcing the televising of the first baseball game, bicycle race, and track meet. March 13, 1935, memo from John F. Royal to Richard C. Patterson Jr. on the importance of conducting a thorough study in the "new art of television."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, letter, and minutes of meetings of the Coordination Committee on Television and Facsimile.
Highlights: March 15, 1937, letter from W. C. Farrier to R. R. Beal of RCA about technical developments in transmitters, a projection apparatus, the use of a microscope in program presentation, the construction of an apparatus which would permit the broadcasting of the animated cartoon directly without the use of motion picture film, and television developments in England. September 24, 1936, memo from Alfred H. Morton to William S. Rainey requesting the use of one studio act for each Friday night television field test instead of relying on news reels and other film. August 28, 1936, memo from Morton to Rainey concerning upcoming television tests. Detailed minutes of 15 meetings from March 5, 1935, to March 17, 1937, covering topics such as field tests, studio techniques, budgets, and technical developments in television production, transmitting, and receiving equipment. The minutes from September 22, 1936, seven demonstration programs which featured films, news reels, singers, and humorous sketches. The minutes from the March 5, 1935, meeting include two different designs for the RCA Television logo.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, diagrams, and minutes from meetings.
Highlights: Detailed minutes of 11 meetings from May 14 to December 2, 1935, covering technical developments in early television. Minutes from the October 28, 1935, meeting include a block diagram of the interrelationship of myriad equipment in multiple locations. The minutes from the June 17, 1935, meeting include an excellent pencil drawing executed on June 14, 1935, of a television studio. July 3, 1934, NBC Engineering Department organization chart with job functions. General order number S-30 by David Sarnoff appointing the Coordination Committee on Television and Broadcast Facsimile for the purpose of carrying out field demonstrations of television.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, and a report on the NBC Continuity Acceptance Department (internal censors).
Highlights: December 20, 1937, memo from Niles Trammell to L. R. Lohr
concerning the need to censor both scripts and advertising, as a precaution
against the Mae West ncident. July 12, 1946, memo from William S. Hedges
listing the new rules for the clearance of commercial continuity on network
programs. Janet MacRorie's April 15, 1946, 15-page-letter of resignation to
Frank E. Mullen and 4-page outline of the duties of the Continuity Acceptance
Department. April 26, 1938, memo from E. C. Woolley to J. V. McConnell about
continuity for programs released to Canada. July 30, 1937, 12-page memo from
Martha S. McGrew to Lenox R. Lohr outlining procedural proposals for the
Continuity Acceptance Department. January 9 and October 5, 1936, copies of
before and after edited scripts containing "unsuitable phraseology."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, and reports on the Continuity Acceptance Department
Highlights: Janet MacRorie's 7-page 1935 "Report of Department of Continuity
Acceptance" features an analysis of 560 policy enforcement reports. August 1,
1935, letter from Richard C. Patterson, Jr. to NBC clients and client agencies
informing them of stricter continuity requirements being implemented at NBC.
May 15 and May 16, 1935, memoranda between Janet MacRorie and Richard C.
Patterson Jr. on the need to prevent "filth," "pollution," and dialogue that
touches upon the "perverted, neurotic, or sexual" from being broadcast on NBC.
April 16, 1935, report from Janet MacRorie on her visits to Chicago, San
Francisco, Hollywood, and Denver stations. She mentions the problem with
Pepsodent's claim that they are "three times as strong as other leading mouth
antiseptics." Pepsodent agrees to delete elements if Colgate and others will
refrain from such expressions as "decayed food particles under the tongue."
April 10, 1935, memo from Frank Mason to Edgar Kobak which mentions negative
feedback rom stations following a controversial skit on an Al Jolson program.
January 29, 1935, memo from Janet MacRorie to Edgar Kobak regarding contests.
Undated memo from A. W. Kaney to P. G. Parker concerning copy arbitration that
includes censored commercial copy for a shampoo that denigrated soap's ability
to fight dandruff. October 26, 1934, memo from R. C. Witmer to Janet MacRorie
on the advisability of airing advertisements that mention laxatives,
"abnormalities in weight," "unpleasant breath," and "auto-intoxication."
November 10, 1934, memo from Don E. Gilman to John Swallow concerning the
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda outlining continuity acceptance policies.
Highlights: November 26, 1947, memo from Frank E. Mullen to NBC executives, "Continuity Acceptance-Television." May 31, 1935, memo from John F. Royal to Janet MacRorie on inconsistencies in her department.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, reports, a telegram, and a pamphlet dealing with copyright issues and legislation.
Highlights: July 25, 1938, memo from A. L. Ashby to Lenox R. Lohr concerning the escalating number of copyright infringement cases brought against the broadcasting industry and the need to be vigilant in avoiding this problem. August 9, 1939, letter from lawyer Andrew G. Haley of Haley and Pierson recounting a request he received from the Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Patents, Senator Homer T. Bone, about the possible revision of copyright laws. March 30, 1938, 3-page memo from A. L. Ashby to John F. Royal concerning the possible adaptation of BBC copyright practices by NBC. February 2, 1937, memo from A. L. Ashby to L. R. Lohr concerning ASCAP and television. December 20, 1935, 3-page memo from Frank M. Russell to R. C. Patterson Jr. regarding the "emergency" in copyright law. December 4, 1933, memo from A. L. Ashby to John F. Royal concerning a copyright infringement by WJZ. July 6, 1939, seventeen-page copy of the proposed copyright bill S 2846 as well as memoranda and a telegram by NBC condemning this bill and analyzing three other bills. May 8, 1935, memo from L. H. Titterton to John F. Royal concerning poetry copyright. April 30, 1935, memo from Thomas H. Belviso to John F. Royal on the Duffy Copyright Legislation.
Printed items: March 27, 1940, remarks of Senator Elbert D. Thomas from the Committee for the Study of Copyright (8-page pamphlet by the Government Printing Office).
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda regarding the first television demonstrations.
Highlights: March 15, 1940, memo from Thomas H. Hutchinson to John Norton
mentions "the first television demonstration with RCA, NBC equipment was on
July 7th, 1936." David Sarnoff, Ed Wynn, Eddie Green, and some of the
Onionskin and mimeograph memoranda concerning the selling of television receivers to NBC employees at a discount.
Highlights: December 30, 1941, memo from E. A. Hungerford Jr to N. E. Kersta recommending that Julien Bryan, the filmmaker, be given a free television in his home be
Originals, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the Engineering Department.
Highlights: An organizational chart of the Engineering Department.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, press releases, and letters relating the history of engineering developments at NBC.
Highlights: Extraordinary 1947 "Television Field Work Log," which contains
detailed notes from the earliest electronic field production. August 18, 1948,
press release which announces that NBC "will send its video cameras out to sea
in a U. S. aircraft carrier and will relay back to shore a full pictorial
account of the carrier's actions 35 miles off the New York coast." October 20,
1939, press release, "Telecast Received in Plane Over Washington in RCA 20th
Anniversary Demonstration." December 4, 1963, press release, "Recording of
Color TV Programs on Film Now an Operating Reality at NBC in New York." Six
letters of gratitude, all dated July 14, 1936, from Lenox R. Lohr to performers
appearing in the landmark experimental television program that included Ed Wynn
and three of the Rockettes. April 23, 1936, memo from A. L. Ashby to Alfred H.
Morton on the Advertising Department's proposal to sell television receivers to
motion picture theaters for promotional purposes. March, 1948 lengthy report,
"Engineering Department History National Broadcasting Company Inc." September
13, 1955, 14-page report, "Quality Control in Kinescope Recording Operations."
Printed items: FM, a 1944 pamphlet explaining NBC's plans for the emerging
radio ormat. 1977 39-page pamphlet,
Mimeographed scripts from the NBC television demonstration programs.
Highlights: March 5, 1937, script where the announcer poses the question:
"Which type of girl televises best: blond, brunette or red-head?" March 31,
1937, parody script featuring the speech of "Senator Frankenstein Fishface,"
which was part of an experimental broadcast. March 16, 1937, script featuring
the first cooking show. May 3, 1937, George S. Kaufman production of
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports concerned with the challenges faced by managers in evening operations.
Highlights: October, 1933, "Report of Evening Operations" by J. de Jara Almonte, Evening General Manager, which includes an organizational chart of the "Proposed Coordinated Evening Operations."
Photocopied report and article on NBC executives.
Highlights: List of NBC presidents, chairmen of the board and vice-chairmen of
the board. August 27, 1986,
Photocopied, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, newspaper clippings, press releases, and reports on the history of NBC.
Highlights: 1940 chronology of NBC achievements from 1922-1940. November 29,
1961, 21-page report, "NBC Highlights 1926-1961." June 27, 1938, letter from an
AT & T; historian to NBC listing NBC achievements to which the Bell System
contributed. October 7, 1936, memo from H. M. Beville Jr. to Miss Bertha
Brainard stating that the
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed reports and a leaflet on NBC history.
Highlights: [1938?] 15-page (1st page missing) technical history of NBC. May 26, 1949, 27-page "History of the National Broadcasting Company."
Printed items: March 25, 1924, 4-page pamphlet from AT & T;
Onionskin, photocopied, and mimeographed reports and an excerpt from the October, 1944 edition of Radio Age concerning NBC History.
Highlights: A 1923 66-page report, "An Analysis of Radio Broadcasting as a Medium of Establishing and Maintaining a Contact with the Public 1923," a lengthy, bound WEAF handbook detailing a commercial strategy for the radio. 1962 19-page report, "Highlights of NBC'S Contributions to Broadcasting 1954-1962."
Original, onionskin, photocopied, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, press releases, and reports touting NBC television.
Highlights: December 22, 1989, memo from Robert C. Wright to NBC employees
laying out NBC's strategy in regards to cable and international broadcasting.
"Quo vadis whither goest thou, NBC?," a 96-page report from June 1, 1945, by
John F. Royal. This report includes an assessment of early television, maps,
newspaper clippings, and an angry letter from an outraged advertiser
complaining of WNBT's increase of spot ads from $13 to $50. September 20, 1944,
25-page report, "Resume of NBC Television Operations." December, 1949 24-page
report by Niles Trammell mentions RCA's 1947 development of
Original, onionskin, photocopied, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, reports, and scripts from NBC radio and television.
Highlights: October 10, 1938, 19-page report, "Outline of WEAF History and
Events Leading to Formation of Red Network." 1956 17-page report, "A Network is
Born," describes events leading up to the initial broadcast of November 15,
1926. Undated 6-page report, "The First Dramatic Serials of Radio," which named
Printed items: 1949 2-page NBC pamphlet,
A newspaper article and a photocopied memo concerning the FCC.
Highlights: January 11, 1973,
Onionskin and mimeographed letters and memoranda concerning film on television.
Highlights: November 28, 1941, memo from Arthur Hungerford to A. H. Morton about the desire of television stations to acquire the broadcast rights to 3-minute film shorts being shown on motion picture juke boxes. August 25, 1939, 3-page memo from E. A. Hungerford to N. E. Kersta, "NBC Film Possibilities in Television." September 27, 1935, 5-page report from O. B. Hanson, "Approximate Cost of Operating a 16-Millimeter News Reel Service."
Printed items: April, 1953 8-page pamphlet,
Handwritten technical notes and photocopied reports on the CBS News Archive and the Film and Television Archives.
Highlights: Draft minutes from the Film and Television Archives Advisory Committee meeting. Guide to the CBS news archives.
Onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and a press release on a demonstration of an electronic television system and film clearance issues.
Highlights: July 7, 1936, memo from Ligon Johnson to R. P. Myers of NBC recommending the accumulation by NBC of plays and fiction, including works out of copyright, before dramatists and writers recognize the potential of television and boost the prices of their work.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and contracts concerning the acquisition of films to be broadcast on television.
Highlights: September 18, 1940, agreement with Monogram Pictures agreeing to supply NBC one feature and one western per week for a weekly cost of $325. Original nine-page blank contract, with pencil corrections, for the purchase of films intended for television broadcast. Letters of agreement between RCA and RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., Pathe News, Inc., and the Van Beuren Corporation.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and letters about newsreels.
Highlights: July 18, 1941, memo from E. A. Hungerford Jr. to T. H. Hutchinson analyzing various proposals submitted to NBC by individuals seeking to produce freelance newsreels for NBC, and Hungerford's subsequent recommendation to produce newsreels in-house.
Mimeographed memoranda and a letter about royalty rates on television.
Highlights: November 28, 1941, memo from Arthur Hungerford to A. H. Morton regarding RCA's proposal to NBC regarding music royalty rates for films shown on television.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and a report on the General Services Department, which was responsible for building maintenance, P.B.X., reception duties, and the Guest Tour Department.
Highlights: July 19, 1935, 32-page report, "Resume of Service Department Operations," which includes an organization chart and extensive salary information.
Onionskin and mimeographed secretarial and filing manuals.
Highlights: Undated "File manual" contains the modus operandi of the NBC filing system. September, 1955 "Central Files Manual Reference Recordings File" explains the system for recordings.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed reports, manuals, and a memo regarding NBC filing methods.
Highlights: December, 1931 Remington Rand 6-page report on work performed on NBC's central files.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and a report on the Guest Relations Division.
Highlights: 1938 41-page report, "Analysis of Guest Relations Operations."
Printed items: Undated NBC 39-page pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, mimeographed and photocopied letters, memoranda, reports, telegrams, as well as articles and a press release concerning NBC history.
Highlights: July 9, 1922
Printed items: October 18, 1929 program of the
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, contracts, press releases, inventories, and photographs illustrating the isolation and divestiture of the Blue network
Highlights: January 24, 1945, memo from John H. MacDonald directing "all
vice-presidents, station managers, and department heads to address any
correspondence to the American Broadcasting Company Inc. and not the Blue
network due to the January 1, 1945, merger between the Blue network and ABC.
October 14, 1943, contract and lease formalizing NBC's furnishing of office
space, studios, equipment, and services to the Blue network. July 30, 1943,
press release, "Statement by David Sarnoff on Sale of Blue network." March 2,
1943, contract providing for the borrowing of Blue network musicians by NBC.
March 2, 1942, memo from Stockton Helffrich to Miss Helen Guy, "Transfer of NBC
contracts to Blue network Company, Incorporated" (program transfers). March 18,
1942, letter and report from George Mcelrath to C. E. Pfautz of RCA listing the
call letters of each transmitter turned over to the Blue network as well as
those retained by NBC. March 2, 1942, memo, "Division of Office Equipment
between NBC and Blue network." February 16, 1942, memo from I. E. Showerman to
Frank E. Mullen recommending against the assignment of
Printed items: October 13, 1933, NBC 10-page technical specifications and
photographs of a
Original, photocopied, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, contracts, articles of incorporation, and licenses from the early history of NBC.
Highlights: 1926 70-page report, "Contracts Broadcasting Co. of America," includes the November 13, 1926, copy of FCC license of NBC/WEAF. October 29, 1926, letter rom W. E. Harkness of the Broadcasting Company of America to Mr. Woods of NBC wishing him luck on the impending transfer of WEAF to NBC. October 20, 1927, copy of a congratulatory a letter from Marconi to RCA. January 1, 1926, ASCAP agreement with WEAF. July 1, 1926, contract of. the sale of WEAF to RCA. Undated 80-page report, "Formation of New Company." August 20, 1933, 116-page report to the U.S. House of Representatives which contains myriad contracts, financial arrangements, extensive information on subsidiaries, and a rate card from July 15, 1933. October 29, 1926, submission of letterhead from the Broadcasting Company of America for copyright protection. November 21, 1928, RCA annual report submitted to the state of Delaware. October 7, 1926 folksy letter from the William H. Rankin Company to G. F. McClelland detailing the success enjoyed by his clients from radio advertising.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda regarding the NBC library.
Highlights: March 13, 1942, memo from William F. Fairbanks to Ken Dyke urging the development of a circulating library as a means of injecting "the radio spirit into NBC's inertia-infected staff.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, letters, press releases, and reports on personnel, duties, and procedures of the Press.
Highlights: April 6, 1942, memo from C. L. Menser to all division heads recommending that they avoid giving out interviews without having a representative of the Press Division present. Transcription of January 22, 1941, meeting with Frank Mason, William Kostka, William Ray, and Hal Bock. August 11, 1939, memo from Douglas Meservey to R. P. Myers concerning NBC's decision to reject hypnotist Howard Klein as a guest on an NBC program.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, letters, a magazine excerpt, and technical instructions regarding the problems and solutions to television broadcasting interference.
Highlights: August 31, 1939, RCA letter, "Reply to FCC's Letter Dated August
11, 1939." Excerpt from July 17, 1939, edition of
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, press releases, and reports on the activities of the International Department, which produced NBC's shortwave broadcasts.
Highlights: April 15, 1942, press release, "Fred Bate Heads NBC International Division," which details Fred Bate and Alex Dreier's European activities for NBC during World War II. December 31, 1938, 29-page "Report for the month of December, 1938," which eatures information on shortwave stations W3XL and W3XAL. July 1, 1948, announcement that the State Department will take over the Voice of America from NBC, and that the International Department will be disbanded as of October 1, 1948. August 11, 1937, extensive report on W3XAL's programming, scripts, audience response, personnel, and technical data.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, and reports on the International Department.
Highlights: May 2, 1939, memo from Max Jordan to John F. Royal describing the anger expressed towards NBC by the German government when NBC provided a German translation for French radio of a Roosevelt speech broadcast all over France. June 20, 1938, 5-page memo from Frank E. Mason to John F. Royal listing 50 ways to improve the International Division. June 14 & 15, 1938, report by John H. Marsching, of the German Section, on various meetings; including one with Kurt Sell, representative of the Reichsrundfunken Gesellschaft, who mentioned Gestapo prohibitions against Germans having friends over to listen to foreign radio, Soviet propaganda, and the Ernest Kotz situation. Report of June 13 & 14, 1938, trip to Washington, D.C. by Guy Hickock and John R. Marsching which mentions the NBC firing of suspected spy Ernest Kotz and his possible hiring by German radio, a conversation with J. Edgar Hoover, and German radio's insistence that NBC provide lines for the Louis/Schmeling fight.
Mimeographed memoranda and a letter about the interval plan for television, which specified lower rates for the lower-rated summer months.
Highlights: February 19, 1951, unsigned letter from NBC to Joseph H. McConnell of NBC on a yacht in Nassau.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and letters concerning kinescope recording.
Highlights: July 3, 1952, memo from Frank Lepore, "Kinescope Recording Facilities-Chicago Republican & Democratic National Conventions."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, scripts, and
telegrams regarding censorship campaigns, in particular, the
Highlights: February 2, 1942, memo from Margaret Cuthbert to Janet MacRorie
describing Josephine Quirk, a proponent of the
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, and a copy of legislation that affects NBC.
Highlights: March 23, 1937, memo from A. L. Ashby to Lenox Lohr concerning a New York State bill that would have required radio advertising copy to be sent to Albany and the broadcasters to pay a tax of ten cents per word on all copy approved by the State of New York.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and a copy of proposed Massachusetts legislation affecting NBC.
Highlights: January 2, 1941, introduction of a Massachusetts bill protecting the confidentiality of sources of radio and television reporters. July 10, 1939, 3-page memo rom A.L. Ashby to Niles Trammell summarizing and classifying state radio legislation into categories such as gambling, slander and libel, racial discrimination, and anti-ASCAP bills.
Original, onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and excerpts of federal legislation affecting NBC.
Highlights: May 28, 1941, letter from Sidney N. Strotz to Congressman Robert L. Doughton expressing his displeasure in a proposed bill that would impose a ten per cent tax on musical instruments. Copy of May 20, 1941, Connery Bill which levies a progressive tax on the gross income of radio stations.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and telegrams concerning federal legislation affecting NBC.
Highlights: July 3, 1939, memo from A. L. Ashby to Lenox R. Lohr expressing his alarm at a proposed Senate bill imposing criminal penalties on officers and directors of companies that violate antitrust laws. March 29, 1939, memo from Frank M. Russell to Lenox R. Lohr summarizing proposed legislation banning alcohol advertising on the radio.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and telegrams concerning federal legislation affecting NBC.
Highlights: June 23, 1938, memo from K. H. Berkely to Phillips Carlin which
features a propaganda packet prepared by Charles G. Daughters, a proponent of
the
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and copies of Federal legislation affecting NBC.
Highlights: July 12, 1937 memo summarizes Senator Schwellenbach's three radio
bills that require public affairs programming and forbid FCC censorship of
programs, among other topics. July 28, 1937 memo mentions the financial
emergency in the District of Columbia and includes the 57-page bill that would
levy additional taxes on businesses in D. C. May 3, 1937 memo and attached bill
by Congressman Martin that requires advertising of imported articles to include
the country of origin. April 16, 1937 4-page memo that analyzes seven different
copyright bills, including the Duffy bill. April 15, 1937 memo and April 13,
1937
Printed items: March, 1936 printed card to be placed in hotel rooms that informs their guests that radios have been removed from their rooms due to exorbitant fees imposed on hotels and urges their guests to pressure Congress to pass the Duffy Copyright Bill.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, cross reference pages, telegrams, newspaper articles, and copies of proposed bills affecting NBC.
Highlights: August 18, 1936 memo, telegrams, and 8-page
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, and newspaper articles concerning the Dickstein Bill restricting foreign artists in the United States.
Highlights: March 2, 1938 memo stating that NBC "will meet him on the field of
battle if necessary." January 22, 1937 3-page analysis of the Dickstein Bill by
the Organizing Committee of
Printed items: The January, 1937 edition of
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, cross reference pages, newspaper articles, and copies of legislation concerning libel and slander.
Highlights: July 11, 1945 NBC summary of the Illinois radio libel law. September 18, 1939 memo, "Summit Hotel v NBC," which came about when Al Jolson ad-libbed the remarks, "That's a rotten hotel" when reference was made to the hotel on an NBC program.
Printed items:
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, reports, telegrams, and cross reference pages, and copies of legislation concerning alcohol advertising on the radio.
Highlights: July 21, 1949 memo announcing NBC's acceptance of wine advertising
on AM & TV. February 27, 1941 form letter replying to inquiries on NBC's
acceptance of beer advertising. November 4, 1941 memo strongly urging NBC to
accept beer advertising on the Red network since Mutual is accepting beer ads.
June 25, 1941 telegram from Edgar Kobak to Niles Trammell agreeing to take a
Ballantine order and stating: "Will be glad to take Ballantine and all
complaints. I'm not afraid." April 25, 1939 personal and confidential memo from
Frank Russell to Lenox Lohr concerning the strategy NBC needs to take against
the Johnson Bill. January 28, 1939 memo, "Suggestions for Control of Copy on
Beer, Ale and Wine Accounts." Twenty-page report, "Hard Liquor Advertising by
Radio." February 3 and 7, 1934 articles in the
Printed items: April 28, 1939 United States Senate report,
Onionskin memoranda and cross reference pages concerning on-air references to alcohol.
Highlights: August 12, 1937 memo recommending a curtailment of the "comedy with liquor theme."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, photos, telegrams, and budget information concerning NBC shortwave listening posts.
Highlights: March 9, 1942 letter from the War Department to NBC requesting a confidential meeting concerning the NBC listening post. Numerous examples of international radio broadcasts monitored and transcribed by NBC, including a secret anti-Nazi broadcast in Belgium. August 11, 1941 Blue network 2-page press release, "NBC Inaugurates Short Wave Listening Post to the Orient," includes several photographs from the NBC photo service
Onionskin, mimeographed, and hand-written memoranda concerning NBC's policy on registering scripts and lists of NBC registered scripts.
Highlights: Huge list of NBC scripts and the amount paid to each author.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda concerning clearing scripts in the Literary Rights Division.
Highlights: March 25, 1942 page of hand-written poetry from Mr. A. C. Love of
the Literary Rights Division to L. H. Titterton. February 17, 1942 Executive
Order announcing the upcoming broadcast of the Blue network play,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, contracts, form letters, and cross reference pages regarding clearance of scripts in the Literary Rights Division.
Highlights: October 13, 1939 memo concerning NBC's restrictions in broadcasting
Original, photocopied, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, press releases, and photographs featuring various NBC logos.
Highlights: November 20, 1986, chronology of NBC logos from 1926 to 1986. Photo of tenth anniversary plaque designed by Richard Loederer of Vienna. April 20, 1948, RCA logo with lightening bolt.
Printed items: May/June, 1986 edition of
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, and press releases concerning the NBC trademark, the unauthorized use of the NBC logo, and the changing of call letters.
Highlights: October 13, 1953, memo from Charles R. Denny to General David Sarnoff listing the final tally and individual votes of the fourteen men who voted on the new NBC trademark. September 4, 1934, memo regarding the failed attempt of Philip Blum & Company to use "NBC" as a registered trademark for whiskey. September 6,1930, letter to NBC about an imposter attempting to collect a tax on lectures on behalf of NBC. April 17, 1931, memo regarding an imposter soliciting for child talent. August 24, 1943, FCC press release announcing new call letters for FM broadcasters. March 11, 1940, memo regarding the desirability of allowing the National Biscuit Company to advertise its NBC Bread on NBC stations. Blueprint of full size letters & monogram at NBC entrance lobby (first floor). February 9, 1940, memo from Robert Saudek to Leonard Braddock describing a group that misrepresents itself as a part of NBC. October 7, 1935, memo warning NBC employees about William O. Barber, who was representing himself as the "official travel agent" of NBC (one of many scams in this file). December 20, 1934, memo regarding Union News Company agreeing to stop selling NBC Pipe Cleaners, NBC Smoking Tobacco, and NBC Pipes.
Printed items: Fraudulent 13-page pamphlet,
Onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda, cross reference pages, and a newspaper article concerning NBC's broadcasting of quiz shows and games of chance.
Highlights: "Partial List of Programs Rejected by the Program Department 1936-1940," and the reasons for being rejected.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, a press release and reports concerning Sylvester Weaver's sweeping plans to restructure NBC and ensure NBC's total control over its program schedule.
Highlights: April 12, 1953 14-page analysis by Charles C. Barry of Mr. Weaver's proposal. April 11, 1953 24-page analysis by J. K. Herbert of the proposal. March 16, 1953 10-page proposal by Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr. March 31, 1953 14-page report by Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr. to General David Sarnoff includes interesting comments on the on the NBC television schedule. March 18, 1953 20-page report by Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr., "Outline - TV Circulation Plan."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and a cross reference page reviewing NBC's relationship with magazines.
Highlights: January 24, 1935 letter from the editor of
Original and onionskin letters and a cross reference page concerning magicians.
Highlights: November 11, 1938 2-page letter from The Society Of American Magicians complaining to NBC about broadcasting the secrets of magic tricks.
Original and mimegraphed "Confidential" NBC Management Newsletters and a memo concerning this topic.
Highlights: June, 1946 6-page newsletter details NBC's policies in re-hiring and integrating returning World War II veterans into NBC.
Printed items: 17
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, cross reference pages, a press release, and telegrams concerning the broadcasting of marriage ceremonies on NBC.
Highlights: March 6, 1941 telegram from Niles Trammell to J. F. Royal stating that there will be no weddings on the NBC network or commercial programs.
Original, onionskin, mimeographed, and photocopied letters, memoranda, cross reference pages, telegrams, and reports concerning Master Books and FCC logs.
Highlights: August 30, 1960 memo concerning the required notation into Radio network "top sheets" whenever an appearance of a Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate occurs. July 16, 1941 strongly worded memo from W. S. Roberts to All Production Directors exhorting them to be more diligent about turning in master copies of all broadcasts. January 24, 1938 memo from C. W. Fitch to John F. Royal concerning Mr. Fitch's warning to an employee that the next script he loses will cost him his job. May 15, 1937 NBC Sales Management map of the United States.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, cross reference pages, and reports concerning the advertising of medical products, with particular emphasis on laxatives.
Highlights: December 18, 1941 memo from Janet MacRorie to James R. Angell
concerning laxative products. April 18, 1940 script for
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports concerning medical advertising guidelines.
Highlights: January 6, 1937 "Natonal Broadcasting Company Regulations Governing Medical Accounts."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, cross reference pages, reports, a telegram, and invitations concerning various organizations of which NBC is a member.
Highlights: November 30, 1939 14-page "Summary of Memberships In Associations" by members of NBC and RCA.
Onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and a cross reference page concerning merchandising policies and procedures.
Highlights: July 5, 1938 2-page report, "Explanatons of Symbols and Headings on
Merchandising Tabulation." July 31, 1934 9-page proposal from
Printed items: 1940 7-page NBC pamphlet, "Merchandising Your Radio Program."
Original, onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda, photographs, drawings, telegrams, and cross reference pages concerning utilization of various types of microphones by NBC and the placement of the NBC logo.
Highlights: September 22, 1939 memo from E. P. H. James to O. B. Hanson concerning a photograph revealing that the CBS microphone nameplate was more visible than was the NBC nameplate.
Printed items: August 20, 1935 photograph of an NBC microphone nameplate. March 28, 1935 blueprints of the new design of a high microphone stand. July 25, 1933 photograph of a table microphone. May 6, 1932 blueprint of the "NBC Nameplate For Velocity Type Microphone." January 12, 1933 photograph of the piano microphone.
Mimeograph and onionskin memoranda concerning the
Highlights: August 6, 1992 letter questions the opening line of the program, "and come with us to the little town of Jonesport," which implies a remote pickup from Jonesport.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and telegrams concerning NBC's policy on missing persons announcements.
Highlights: March 14, 1934 letter from a listener to WBZ Radio requesting to buy commercial time in order to locate a missing relative. September 18, 1933 letter read on WBZ Radio by a District Attorney asking the public's help in apprehending the murderer of a ten-year-old girl.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, and reports concerning turf battles over the appropriation of mobile units.
Highlights: March 3, 1942 memo from O. B. Hanson to C. Menser provides a good perspective on the tug-of-war between the Chicago and Hollywood offices over a scarce mobile unit. February 24, 1942 letter from Sidney N. Strotz of the Hollywood office to Harry C. Kopf of the Chicago office stating that the Hollywood office has more use for a mobile unit, particularly "last night where we could have used the Mobile Unit when the Japanese submarine came up off Santa Barbara and shelled the oil fields."
Original, onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, a cross reference page, a letter, and a press release concerning mobile television units.
Highlights: February 14, 1939 memo, "World's Fair Television Demonstration." December 8, 1937 press release, "America's First Mobile Television Station To Be Operated By NBC."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, cross reference pages, telegrams, and an article concerning the relationship between movie studios and radio.
Highlights: March 27, 1941 representative memo from A. A. Schechter to William
Hillpot concerning the logic of broadcasting a Blue network program featuring
movie stars promoting the upcoming MGM release,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, articles, memoranda, telegrams, cross reference pages, and production codes outlining the relationship between movie studios and radio.
Highlights: October 16, 1939 memo concerning a proposed weekly program
highlighting upcoming movies in the Pittsburgh area. August 31, 1939 memo form
Don E. Gilman to Niles Trammell about attached advertisement in
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, cross reference pages, reports, and telegrams concerning the relationship between movie studios and radio.
Highlights: October 15, 1937 telegram concerning the airing of the rumor on the
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and cross reference pages concerning the relationship between movie studios and television.
Highlights: July 29, 1931 memo from John F. Royal to G. F. McClelland debating whether NBC will produce in-house films for television, acquire outside productions, or do both. November 15, 1941 memo from Art Hungerford to A. H. Morton recommending strategies for negotiating a working arrangement with RKO and their Pathe News subsidiary.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, and scripts concerning radio programs that mention motion pictures.
Highlights: November 21, 1938 lengthy telegram from Lenox R. Lohr to Will H.
Hays, President of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America
Inc., apologizing for the satire of the movie industry that occurred during the
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports concerning the RCA Radio Museum and The NBC Exhibit at the RCA Building.
Highlights: December 14, 1933 14-page report by G. H. Clark of RCA concerning the placing of RCA museum exhibits under company control or placing them in the Rosenwald Museum or the Smithsonian. November 20, 1933 3-page report, "The NBC Exhibit RCA Building 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York City."
Original, handwritten, and photocopied letters, newsletters, memoranda, a press release, program lists, and contracts relating to the Museum of Broadcasting, NBC, and the Library of Congress.
Highlights: August 21, 1978 13-page Instrument of Gift that specifies the terms under which the NBC radio recordings are transferred from the Museum of Broadcasting to the Library of Congress.
Printed items: 1983 Museum of Broadcasting folder contains the following
printed items. 1976 5-page pamphlet, "Mostly
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, a press release, reports, a telegram, and memoranda regarding NBC music.
Highlights: March 25, 1942, 3-page report, "The Use of Music for the Preservation and Strengthening of National Morale." December 12, 1941, telegram recommending the continued broadcast of German classical music and Italian opera while forbidding the broadcast of patriotic music from these countries. December 7, 1938, 20-page report by Samuel Chotzinoff makes extensive recommendations for NBC music programming. 1937 17-page report on NBC musical accomplishments from 1926-37, "Some NBC Firsts." October 5, 1936, original letter from David Sarnoff to Lenox R. Lohr praising Columbia's idea of commissioning six composers to write music specifically for CBS and urging NBC to come up with its own original musical programming idea. November 12, 1931, memo on NBC's music programming from Walter Damrosch to John F. Royal, stating that "most of it is trash-an overwhelming amount of jazz, dance tunes, and crooning."
Original and onionskin memoranda and reports concerning this program.
Highlights: January 29, 1971, memo mentions that there are no scripts on microfilm for the program. 1933 9-page report includes fan mail.
Onionskin and mimeographed reports concerning this program.
Highlights: Ohio State radio station WEAO newsletter of June, 1933. 1930
"Report on the
Original letter announcing the series' sixth season and 11 student notebooks and programs.
Printed items: Four
Original fan letter, instructor's manual, and teacher's guides for this program.
Printed items: 1935-36 62-page
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, a cross reference page, invoices, and contracts concerning music arrangements.
Highlights: August 11, 1936 memo, "Arranging & Copying Costs." September 21, 1936 7-page contract between the musician's union and NBC.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, BMI balance sheets, contracts, and a telegram concerning BMI.
Highlights: May 2, 1940, letter from BMI granting NBC permission to broadcast "BMI music on short wave, television, frequency modulation, and other experimental stations operated by NBC, without the payment of any additional license fees to BMI."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, letters, cross reference pages, telegrams, and a press release concerning music copyright issues.
Highlights: December 28, 1940 "confidential" memo, "NBC Policies On Music Clearance."
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, program schedules, cross reference pages, and telegrams concerning music copyright issues.
Highlights: August 1, 1938 letter from KGIR Radio in Butte, Montana to R. H. Owen of KOA Radio recommends using only public domain or tax free music in all of its own origination. October 2, 1936 program schedule for WMA Radio.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters and memoranda pertaining to the on-air credit to productions from which songs are broadcast.
Highlights: April 24, 1939, letter from Lawrence W. Lowman to John F. Royal
requesting a meeting to discuss the problem of "song plugging on the air."
January 25, 1939, letter from the Edward B. Marks Music Corporation to NBC
requesting that whenever "The Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai" is broadcast, the
show
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda and an article pertaining to criticism of NBC music programming.
Highlights: March 7, 1940, memo criticizing NBC's use of dramatic mood music. January 27, 1938, memo criticizing NBC's popular music as well as its program ideas and talent.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda discussing the problem of song duplication.
Highlights: December 26, 1941, memo asks whether the "Star Spangled Banner" is being played to often.
Onionskin, original, and mimeographed memoranda; an article, a letter, and reports on the proposed NBC Music Foundation.
Highlights: June 22, 1937, 3-page report, "Proposal for an NBC Music Foundation."
Onionskin original, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and letters about the Music Library.
Highlights: April 15, 1931, 2-page agreement of Walter Damrosch's sale of his music library to NBC.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, a contract, and letters between WOR and NBC.
Highlights: March 25, 1937, letter from NBC to WOR canceling the agreement between NBC and WOR for the borrowing of music from the NBC library.
Highlights: January 26, 1942 telegram stapled to blank music release forms.
Printed items: March 28, 1935 77-page bound "confidential" report by A. L. Ashby and Stuart Sprague, "The Music Performing Right Situation."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, a cross reference page, and a blank contract concerning the licensing of music for radio and television.
Highlights: July 15, 1936 memo from John F. Royal to A. L. Ashby inquiring as to whether NBC could play music on their television experiments under the existing ASCAP rules. February 11, 1936 memo from A. L. Ashby to John Royal concerning the stance of music licensors ASCAP, RICORDI, SESAC, and AMP on the playing of music on television.
Onionskin, mimeographed, and handwritten memoranda, a letter, and a proposal on the merchandising of music.
Highlights: August 7, 1937, 4-page proposal from E. E. Oberstein to NBC proposing that NBC begin merchandising sheet music, phonograph records, and even musical instruments.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and telegrams concerning the broadcasting of national anthems.
Highlights: January 28, 1942, telegram stipulating the playing of the Star-spangled Banner in its entirety from beginning to end. January 5, 1942, memo concerning the inattention given to the Star-spangled Banner by cast and crew at the conclusion of programs.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, a telegram, and a letter regarding non-ASCAP music.
Highlights: December 21, 1940, "NBC Catalogue of Safe Music."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, and a telegram discussing NBC opera broadcasting.
Highlights: March 22, 1939, memo from John F. Royal to David Sarnoff, "World's Fair Opera."
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda, a telegram, letters, and reports examining NBC's orchestras.
Highlights: December 21, 1942, 3-page report breaks down the salaries of various musicians. Conductors schedules from July 12 to 18, 1936. June 9, 1936, confidential memo attributes low morale in NBC orchestras to "intimidation of musicians by threats and espionage, favoritism, falsification of records, and other reasons." October 7, 1935, anonymous letter from musicians complaining about the delays in getting paid. November 6, 1934, memo from Frank J. Black to John F. Royal tendering his resignation if NBC insisted on massive pay cuts for the musicians. December 22, 1932, original letter from conductor Sandor Harmati to John F. Royal offering his services.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, telegrams, an article, and reports on NBC music programming.
Highlights: May 12, 1939, 3-page report by Catherine M. Whitaker to John F.
Royal, "Dance Orchestras." March 2, 1937,
Mimeographed memoranda regarding music rights.
Highlights: April 6, 1937, memo from A. L. Ashby to John Royal concerning the suggestion that NBC should buy some smaller music publishing houses and discussions with CBS on obtaining licenses from these firms. April 21, 1933, 7-page report by Mr. Belviso and Mr. Sprague, "Memorandum of Music Control Plan."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, a report, and a press release about the Radio Music Company, Inc.
Highlights: March 15, 1945, memo recommending the dissolution of RMI. December 5, 1929, press release announcing the creation of RMI.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, sheet music, and lyrics containing banned material.
Highlights: December 16, 1941, memo bans the use of sirens, the use of the
words "flash" or "bulletin" on non-news programs, and bomb sound effects which
would alarm the public. 1940 sheet music to "G'wan Now," which was banned for
the last line: "G'wan Now,- before I give in. [sic]in." March 14, 1940, letter
from Joseph Davis, publisher of the song,
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, an article, and sheet music containing banned material.
Highlights: 1939 approved radio lyrics to
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, a contract, and an application for a radio trade-mark, it's release and restriction.
Highlights: March 14, 1936, 8-page list of theme (signature) songs on commercial programs.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, telegrams, an original score and a lyric sheets containing sensitive lyrics.
Highlights: 1939 lyrics to
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, reports, and memoranda regarding NBC's use of Hammond organs.
Highlights: January 11, 1938, 2-page report on commercial programs utilizing
Hammond organs. June 9, 1936, letter from Blackman Advertising promising
"unpleasant repercussions" if NBC fails to replace the "old wheeze box" used on
their
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, a letter, and telegrams concerning the Novachord organ.
Highlights: March 14, 1939, letter from the American Federation of Musicians on the Novachord's tendency to displace musicians and the prohibition against AFM musicians performing with this organ except when used as a solo instrument.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda, a letter, repair bills, schematics, and reports on NBC organs.
Highlights: January 11, 1935, memo from M. H. Aylesworth to John F. Royal criticizing the terrible sound of the new organ purchased by NBC, that "somebody got a lemon!"
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and press releases regarding the Artists Service Department.
Highlights: May 13, 1937, 5-page report, "A Study of NBC Artists Service."
Onionskin memoranda, letters, and a report on the Band Division.
Highlights: May 1, 1936, 20-page agreement of association between NBC and Consolidated Radio Artists, Inc
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the Concert Division.
Highlights: December 9, 1934, memo, "Proposed Merger of Columbia Concerts Corporation and the Concert Division of NBC Artists Service." November 17, 1934, 7-page report, "Columbia Concerts Corporation." November 5, 1934, 9-page report, "Artists Under NBC Management."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the Concert Service Department.
Highlights: October 30, 1941, 6-page report by David Rosenblum to Mark Woods regarding NBC artist services. September 26, 1941, 2-page memo, "Sale of Artists Services." May 12, 1941, 3-page report by A. L. Ashby, "Artists Service Activities of NBC."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed telegrams, memoranda, and reports on NBC orchestra contractors and union issues.
Highlights: 1941 4-page report, "Rules Governing Musicians-AFM-Local 802." April 24-25, 1936, telegrams, and memo from house musician representative John Tracy claims that Mr. Spitalny "seems to be a pet of Mr. Royal," and acts on the orders of corrupt union official Sam Tabak as they conspire in "chiseling the regular men," and recommends the replacement of Spitalny and Tabak.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, an affiliate contract, reports, and telegrams related to Mutual's lawsuit against NBC.
Highlights: Undated 18-page NBC analysis of the Mutual suit.
Printed items: February 14, 1935, 21-page NBC pamphlet,
Photocopied letter, article, and report of NBC recordings held by the National Archives.
Highlights: 1972 31-page report, "List of NBC Recordings Offered to the National Archives 1937-1971."
Printed items: Undated 15-page National Archives pamphlet,
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, and a report concerning NBC stations in Boston as well as music copyright issues.
Highlights: January 31, 1936, report on various music copyright issues, including Thesaurus transcriptions.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed press releases, memoranda, letters, reports, and telegrams concerning Chicago radio issues, including detailed salary information.
Highlights: May 17, 1937, memo from various employees asking for increased compensation instead of a five-day week and stating their lack of interest in joining a union. 1936 confidential "Coverage Survey of WMAQ, WENR, WBBM, WGN, WCFL." March 25, 1935, 40-page report, "Central Division Operations."
Original and mimeographed memoranda, press releases, and a report from the central division.
Highlights: February 6, 1942, 7-page report on the organization of the central division.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, telegrams, press releases, and reports about KNBC and the Western Division.
Highlights: August, 1963 KNBC ring binder with extensive program, production,
research, and rate card information. February 18, 1937, memo concerning Jimmy
Fidler's harsh criticism of the MGM movie
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and letters to KDKA.
Highlights: February 2, 1933, memo concerning personnel at KDKA.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, telegrams, and a press release about the Western Division, KGO and KPO.
Highlights: October 7, 1933, letter from David Sarnoff to Richard C. Patterson Jr. recommending the maintenance of a Pacific coast organization and the elimination certain existing NBC stations. January 29, 1942, 7-page report on the Red network organization for the Western Division.
Printed items: 1938 FCC petition hearing for an NBC construction permit.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed press releases, a memo, telegram, report, and a letter pertaining to the new studios for KPO, KGO, and NBC.
Highlights: August, 1941 report on the new studios includes floor plans and a stunning photograph of the model of the proposed building.
Onionskin, mimeographed, and handwritten memoranda, telegrams, scripts, reports, and an article concerning the change in call letters from KPO to KNBC.
Highlights: Script of the
Printed items: November 24 through December 31, 1947,
Mimeographed memoranda and a report concerning WGY in Schenectady.
Highlights: November 19, 1938, 8-page report, "WGY Field Intensity Survey."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, telegrams, and reports on split Red and Blue network advertising policies.
Highlights: January, 1936 8-page financial report, "Analysis of Split Networks."
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda, a letter, network maps, and reports on NBC radio networks.
Highlights: May 13, 1936, 5-page confidential memo from Frank E. Mason to Lenox R. Lohr concerning NBC's policy not to mix Red and Blue network stations. June, 1935 12-page confidential report, "Plans of Mason, Horn and Russell for Network Improvement." May 5, 1928 territory map of the network. March 14, 1927, 37-page report, "Outline of Development for the National Broadcasting Company Networks."
Printed items: 1928 16-page booklet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, and reports on the Blue network
Highlights: December 2 & 9, 1937, caustic letters between Roy C. Witmer and Sydney Dixon discussing problems with selling split Red/Blue packages in the west to the detriment of Pacific Blue affiliates. 1937 6-page confidential report on Blue network ratings. March 9, 1936, 10-page report, "Status: Blue network Station Negotiations."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, a letter, reports, and a press release pertaining to advertising policies on the Blue network.
Highlights: May 3, 1938, 4-page report, "Report and Recommendations of Program Improvement Sub-Committee."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, a letter, and reports on the Blue network.
Highlights: January 9, 1940, memo from John F. Royal to Lenox R. Lohr regarding NBC having to carry more public affairs programming than Mutual and Columbia.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda, maps, reports, a press release, telegrams, letters, and NBC network maps.
Highlights: Large handwritten chart of Blue network stations stating their
present conditions and needed improvements. October 5, 1935, letter from Hearst
Radio complaining about the weakness of Blue network programming and the switch
from Blue to Red of the
Printed items: February 4, 1935, NBC
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, sales time sheets, and a letter discussing Blue network issues.
Highlights: December 7, 1937, handwritten note from David Sarnoff to Lennox Lohr stating his aspirations for the Blue network. October 4, 1937, NBC Sales Department time schedules for a full week. September 29, 1936, 2-page personal & confidential memo on the Blue network. March 17 & 19, 1936, letters from Gardner Cowles, Jr. from a Blue network affiliate to Frank Mason and Niles Trammell concerning NBC's neglect of the Blue, stating that "NBC should be far more concerned about this problem than I am, but my observation is that although the executives of NBC may talk about it, damn little is actually done." March 20, 1936, 2-page letter from Niles Trammell to Gardner Cowles, Jr., asking him to withdraw the letter to Mason, "and if there is any question in your mind about the advisability of doing this after reading this blast, let me know and I will come out to Des Moines to discuss the matter with you, or, if you are passing through Chicago, we can go over it here."
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports relating to the Blue network.
Highlights: May 12, 1939, 3-page report of recommendations for the improvement of the Blue network. December 9, 1938, 3-page memo from A. E. Nelson to Roy C. Witmer about future plans for the Blue network states that "Columbia employs almost as many men to sell one network as NBC does to sell two." April 19, 1938, 26-page report, "Minutes of the Blue network Meeting." April 3, 1938, 9-page confidential report by William S. Hedges on the Blue network.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, balance sheets, and reports on the Blue network.
Highlights: April 29, 1940, 20-page confidential report on the Blue network presented to David Sarnoff.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, telegrams, balance sheets, memoranda, an article, and a map of NBC network facilities
Highlights: December 31, 1941, 2-page memo from Phillips Carlin to E. P. H. James recommending that the Blue network change its name to the American Broadcasting Company. November 19, 1941, memo from R. C. Witmer to Frank Mullen analyzing the negative financial consequences NBC would bear if "obliged to handle more so-called public service programs." April 11, 1941, 56-page report by Mark Woods, "Estimated Financial Results of Single Red Network Operation."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed telegrams, memoranda, and reports on the financial status of the Red network.
Highlights: June, 1941, 18-page confidential report, "The Pacific Coast Red Network," contains comparative ratings.
Original memoranda and a report on NBC news.
Highlights: January 13, 1963, 13-page report by Reuven Frank advocating the development by NBC of a half-hour television news program.
Onionskin and photocopied press releases and memoranda addressing television issues.
Highlights: December 15, 1941, memo from E. A. Hungerford Jr. to Warren Wade discussing the Hearst organization's proposal to supply NBC with photographs for NBC television.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, and reports on NBC news.
Highlights: June 11, 1968, 7-page report by Richard C. Wald discussing NBC news guidelines for the coverage of riots. 1941 [?] 8-page NBC report, "National Broadcasting Company's Working Manual of Policies as Applied to News Broadcasts." December 15, 1941, memo, "Rebate for Interruptions." April 6, 1939, 2-page memo from Lenox R. Lohr to David Sarnoff analyzing the reasons for recent ratings increases by CBS. 1932 13-page confidentially obtained "Proposal for the Reorganization of Radio Broadcasting Submitted by Ventura Free Press."
Original and photocopied press releases and memoranda concerning NBC news.
Printed items: Black-and-white photographs of the
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, telegrams, reports, and articles about the Press-Radio Bureau
Highlights: December 28, 1933, 5-page transcript of a radio broadcast of KNX radio satirizing the efforts of newspapers in limiting radio news coverage. December 14, 1933, letter from David Sarnoff to M. H. Aylesworth congratulating him on his handling of the press-radio dispute and the acquisition of broadcast rights of the Metropolitan Opera. March 1, 1934, memo, "Press Agreement." February 27, 1934, letter from Edward Klauber of CBS to M. H. Aylesworth declaring that CBS should have to pay only 1/3 of the cost of the Press Radio Bureau, with NBC Red and Blue covering the remainder. 1939 14-page anonymous critique of NBC newscasts and commentators.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, an article, and obituaries of public figures prepared in advance of their deaths.
Highlights: February, 1934 3-page obituary of Adolf Hitler declares, "To millions, he symbolized the restoring of a people's courage. He was the living expression of German patriotism. The world unites in sympathy for Germany in the loss of her leader." The following appears at the end of the script: "In view of the controversial nature of Herr Hitler's contributions, only one possible guest speaker can be suggested the German ambassador, unless, of course, we wish to consider as alternate choice Rabbi Stephen Wise." February, 1934 obituary of Joseph Stalin, "an outstanding figure of history."
Original and photocopied press releases, and an article on the Olympics.
Highlights: February 7, 1977, 12-page report, "How NBC Will Cover the Olympics."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, press releases, and organization charts.
Highlights: August 12, 1959, 19-page departmental organization breakdown. December 8, 1952, resignation letter from Niles Trammell.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, telegrams, an article, and a press release pertaining to changes in call letters.
Highlights: November 29, 1938, memo from Frank E. Mason to Lenox R. Lohr favoring renaming the Red network which "is particularly obnoxious to many people who unpleasantly associate the word red with political implications."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, telegrams, and reports on owned and operated stations.
Printed items: January 10, 1984, 29-page WMAQ-TV booklet,
Onionskin and mimeographed letters and memoranda pertaining to WMAL radio.
Highlights: January 15, 1932, press release, "WMAL, in Washington, to Join NBC Network."
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, telegrams, an article, memoranda, press releases, and reports on WRC radio.
Highlights: October 20, 1926, NBC letter to WRC announcing its takeover of WEAF and the wire network previously owned by the Broadcasting Company of America.
Printed items: 1958 21-page WRC pamphlet,
Photocopied, onionskin, and mimeographed press releases, reports, obituaries, and articles about NBC.
Highlights: Undated 13-page (first page missing) report, "In First Important
Nationwide Radio Poll, 7 First Places in 8 Classifications Were Won by NBC
Stars." January 8, 1970,
Mimeographed memorandum and employee handbooks.
Printed items: April, 1984 47-page NBC booklet,
RCA and NBC employee handbooks.
Printed items: 1965, 1964, 1953, 1945, and 1944 editions of
Original and mimeographed memoranda and employee manuals.
Printed items: September 20, 1966, 23-page book of black-and-white photographs commemorating the WRC / WRC-TV addition.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, a press release, a telegram, and reports on NBC salary and personnel issues.
Highlights: 1943 70-page report, "National Broadcasting Company Salary Rate Schedule."
Onionskin memo and black-and-white photographs of NBC radio personnel
Highlights: 1936 black-and-white photograph of 25 audience applause cards sent to NBC in 1926. 1929 black-and-white photograph of a rudimentary mobile unit, "Broadcasting Zep's Arrival in 1929."
Mimeographed memoranda and reports concerning equal opportunity issues.
Highlights: April 14, 1942, memo from David Sarnoff, "Racial Prejudice Policy."
Printed items: 1961 9-page RCA pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, telegram, an article, and reports on legal issues facing NBC.
Highlights: June 30, 1938, memo, "Famous Jury Trials." January 15, 1936, telegram forbidding comedians from making political comments and news commentators from editorializing because of a Supreme Court decision.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, reports, telegrams, an organization chart, employment applications, and an employee manual.
Highlights: March 11, 1935, telegram from Mr. Love to Mr. Titterton, "In Dramatizing Incidents from Lives of Persons Now Living, it is Essential That We Secure Their Permission."
Printed items: 1946 31-page booklet,
Original article, memo, and report.
Highlights: 1940 American Policy for Radio Broadcasting 252-page "Report of the Committee of the National Economic and Social Planning Association 1939-40."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letter, memo, and a report.
Highlights: 1939 52-page confidential report, "National Broadcasting Company Program Standards."
Printed items: 1939 74-page NBC booklet,
Photocopied memoranda concerning program policy.
Highlights: July 16, 1971, memo, "Payola-Quiz rigging."
Printed items: April, 1973 31-page NAB pamphlet,
Photocopied memoranda, an article, and reports discussing program policy.
Highlights: July 14, 1968, memo addresses television and violence. February 15, 1960, 3-page report on the Department of Standards and Practices.
Printed items: August, 1965 42-page NAB pamphlet,
Original and mimeographed memoranda and reports pertaining to program policy.
Printed items: 1956 43-page pamphlet,
Mimeographed memoranda, a bulletin, and reports on program policy.
Highlights: October, 1947 bulletin, "Is That Gag Blue?"
Printed items: 1947 16-page NAB pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, a press release, and reports dealing with program policy.
Printed items: 1945 32-page booklet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports on program policy.
Highlights: Excerpt from March 16, 1943, memo explaining why a
Printed items: 1944 34-page
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, a telegram, and reports on program policy.
Highlights: November 25, 1941, memo from Phillips Carlin to Sidney Strotz criticizes NBC's "acceptance of bathrooms, underwear, behinds, outhouses, wolves, legs, pusses, bags, skirts, and sex in general." January 31, 1940, 5-page report, "Program Policies Guiding Script Division," includes a table of shows indicating permission for audience mail.
Printed items: October 3, 1939, 4-page pamphlet,
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, a speech, a telegram, and reports on program policy.
Highlights: June 7, 1939, 2-page memo describes risque dialogue from the Maxwell House, Fibber Mcgee and Molly, Bob Hope, and Jack Benny programs.
Printed items: 1939 18-page NBC
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed reports, memoranda, and advertisement copy.
Highlights: April 29, 1938, controversial Royal Crown Cola ad copy. March 18, 1938, memo, "Radio Censorship."
Printed items: March, 1936 11-page pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed telegrams, reports, letters, an article, scripts, and memoranda addressing program policy.
Highlights: October 29, 1941, memo announcing the return of ASCAP music to the
networks. August 8, 1939, 3-page report of rejected programs and the reasons
for their being rejected. February 14, 1939, memo, "Orphans of Divorce,"
mentions that the "programs will be acceptable, provided divorce is always made
unattractive." July 5, 1934, memo from John F. Royal to Bertha Brainard
prohibiting nudist jokes. January 29, 1935, script from the
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and a telegram regarding program policy.
Highlights: August, 1935 8-page report, "Recommendations for Improvement of Commercial Programs." March 4, 1935, "KSD Censorship Policy Announcements," which NBC considered adopting.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed telegrams and memoranda dealing with matters of continuity acceptance.
Highlights: December 14, 1938, telegram, "Please no Reference by any of your
Comedians to George Burns Smuggling Matter." October 31, 1938, telegram
prohibited "Comic References Whatsoever to Last Night's Columbia Martian
Incident." March 2, 1933, memo, "References to Bank Failures or Depressions."
December 17, 1940, memo criticizes
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, telegrams, and reports on program policy.
Highlights: 1934 2-page report, "Topical Outline of Bases for Continuity
Acceptance." November 20, 1933, 11-page Trade-ways report, "NBC Program
Policies." March 13, 1933, memo from Richard C. Patterson to Niles Trammell
"concerning the
Printed items: January, 1934 10-page pamphlet,
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports on program policy.
Printed items: 1956 43-page pamphlet,
Mimeographed memoranda.
Printed items: 15
Onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, reports, and memoranda discussing political broadcast policies.
Printed items: September, 1954 8-page NBC booklet,
Mimeographed reports expressing NBC's policies on political coverage.
Printed items: February 21, 1952, 14-page bound report,
Mimeographed memo, "Political Broadcast Policy."
Printed items: April, 1948 19-page bound report,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports outlining NBC's policies on political broadcasting.
Highlights: April 14, 1944, 18-page report, "Operating Procedures for Commercial Political Broadcasting," includes contracts.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed press releases, telegrams, an article, reports, and letters pertaining to political broadcasts.
Highlights: November 27, 1940, 15-page report, "Information Division Analysis Election Mail-1940." August 23, 1940, report, "Burton Fitts, DA, and His Primary Opponent are Fighting it Out with Spot Radio Dramas."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, telegrams, and reports on political broadcasts.
Highlights: September 7, 1938, memo forbids the insertion of political content into commercial programs. July 2, 1938, FCC press release announcing new rules "governing political broadcasting under Section 315 of the Communications Act."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports on political broadcasts.
Highlights: Ten NBC letters from February 3, 1936, to September 16, 1937, answering audience criticism of NBC's coverage of the Communist Party.
Highlights: September 2, 1936, 2-page report, "Regulations Pertaining to Political Broadcasts." July 10, 1936, 4-page report, "Network Commercial Programs Displaced by Democratic Convention June 23-27, 1936."
Printed items: January, 1936, 18-page CBS booklet,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed articles, memoranda, letters, a telegram, and reports on political broadcasting.
Highlights: November 12, 1935, memo from John F. Royal to Richard C. Patterson Jr. concerning the need to curtail the "methods of chiselling time by Democrats and Republicans." February 14, 1935, 2-page personal and confidential memo from John F. Royal to Richard C. Patterson Jr, "Broadcasts of Members of Congress Policy." 1924 28-page report, "Political Broadcasting-National Campaign 1924," includes copy of a letter from President Coolidge to Charles B. Popenoe.
Printed items: 1932 6-page NAB pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, press releases, and reports on NBC's political coverage.
Highlights: May 1, 1968, 53-page report, "Equal Opportunities and the Fairness Doctrine."
Printed items: July, 1959 39-page booklet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, telegrams, and a script containing political satire.
Highlights: November 19, 1940, telegram mentions complaints received from Democrats and Republicans concerning Bob Hope's political jokes. August, 1940 3-page fill-in-the-blank commercial script designed to sell cigars, cigarettes, and hats which was rejected because of its political content.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, press release, articles, and biographical sketches of NBC presidents.
Highlights: June 7, 1940, letter of resignation from Lenox R. Lohr.
Original, onionskin, mimeographed reports and mimeographed memoranda and an excerpt of a report announcing personnel changes and duties in the NBC Press Department.
Printed items: March 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, and March 28, 1936, editions of
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, a telegram, and reports specifying duties in the Program Department.
Highlights: February, 1936 2-page "analysis of the studio duties of production man and engineer."
Mimeographed memoranda, reports, and several organization charts of the Program Department.
Highlights: November 24, 1942, organization chart of the Program Department. December 9, 1940, organization and control chart of the Program Department. November 24, 1942, organization chart of NBC.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, organization charts, memoranda, and reports on the Program Department.
Highlights: May 18, 1934, 6-page personnel report. December 19, 1933, 15-page report, "Recommendations for the Organization of a Commercial Production Unit in the Program Department of the National Broadcasting Company."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the Announcing Division.
Highlights: September, 1938 10-page report charts the amount of hours and number of programs that announcers work on during one week.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the Commercial Division.
Highlights: 1935 or 1936 6-page report, "Commercial Program Activities."
Onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and an organization chart of the Music Division.
Highlights: May 15, 1936, 3-page report by H. Leopold Spitalny to Frank J. Black about recommendations for the music division. April 12, 1926, 14-page report on the music division, "Synopsis of New Department."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the News & Special Events Division.
Highlights: December 22, 1941, memo from C. L. Menser to A. A. Schechter disagreeing with a request to pay the news staff a bonus for work done in the emergency.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed reports, telegrams, and memoranda about the Production Division.
Highlights: January 9, 1942, memo, "Fees to Production Directors and Writers."
January 20, 1941, memo criticizes the production of the
Onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed reports and memoranda regarding the Script Division.
Highlights: Undated 29-page report, "What Goes on in the NBC Script Division."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the Sound Effects Division.
Highlights: 1937 1-page report, "Gross Earnings of the Sound Effects Department of Program." August 25, 1937, memo from Helen Guy to C. W. Fitch, "Sound Effects Salary Scale."
Onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the Sound Effects Division.
Highlights: February 5, 1936, 3-page report by Alfred H. Morton makes a case for raises in the Sound Effects Division.
Printed items: June 8, 1936, 6-page Sound Effects Department newsletter,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed telegrams, invoices, and reports on the Sound Effects Division.
Highlights: April 29, 1935, memo from Alfred H. Morton to R. J. Teichner regarding an employee hurt by a sound effects machine and requiring hospitalization. January 3, 1935, memo refers to a small fire caused by the firing of blanks from a revolver.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed telegrams, reports, and memoranda related to the Sound Effects Division.
Highlights: October 8-21, 1934, schedule of studio work by sound effects men. July 16, 1934, memo from Alfred H. Morton to Ray Kelly describes extensive studio damage caused by sound effects me June 11, 1934, telegram announcing that NBC will begin charging for sound effects.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the Sound Effects Division.
Highlights: October 23, 1933, 3-page report includes salaries.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports about the Women's Activities Division.
Highlights: September 30, 1935, 3-page report, "Plans for Women's Affairs Department."
Onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, a telegram, memoranda,
reports, a press release, and scripts from
Highlights: May 30, 1935, 8-page script.
Mimeographed press release on
Printed items: May 12, 1980, 76-page NBC report submitted to the FCC,
Onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports on educational programming.
Highlights: March 11, 1946, letter soliciting Winston Churchill's permission to sell his speeches to schools.
Printed items: May, 1934 32-page booklet,
Onionskin, original, handwritten, and mimeographed articles, letters, and reports on NBC programming.
Highlights: January 6, 1954, letter by William S. Hedges recalling the details
of how
Printed items: 1969 35-page booklet,
Photocopied and mimeographed press releases and reports concerning NBC specials.
Highlights: October, 1983 press release, "
Printed items: January, 1962 2-page discussion guide,
Photocopied and mimeographed press releases from NBC Sports.
Highlights: December 30, 1964, press release announces the advent of instant replay. December 4, 1975, press release, "Miked NFL Referee Heard Live for First Time on TV on NBC."
Original and onionskin press releases and newsletters.
Printed items: 43 4-page
Original and mimeographed press releases, a
Printed items: November and December, 1964 4-page editions of
Original and mimeographed press releases and reports concerning radio and television programming.
Highlights: April 8, 1959, extensive confidential report,
Original and photocopied press releases and a press kit.
Printed items:
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed telegrams, an article, audience mail, and NBC letters of reply.
Highlights: Original October 11, 1949, 2-page letter from J. Edgar Hoover to
Thomas McFadden of WNBC complaining about critical comments made against the
FBI on the
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, an article, telegram, audience mail, and NBC letters of reply.
Highlights: March 28, 1942, 2-page letter criticizes H. V. Kaltenborn for
anti-labor bias, among other things. October 9, 1948, letter criticizes the
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed scripts, telegrams, an organization chart, memoranda, reports, audience mail, and NBC letters of reply.
Highlights: June 17, 1941, 2-page perceptive critique by a listener. February
28, 1941, original letter from singer Arthur Fields and Fred Hall denying
responsibility for an objectionable song broadcasted on the
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed telegrams, memoranda, reports, audience mail, and NBC letters of reply.
Highlights: June 28, 1937, memo from J. Ernest Cutting to D. S. Tuthill, "What's the Matter with Our Programs." February 26, 1937, 2-page in-house critique of the Blue network so caustic that the writer's name was removed from the memo.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, a script, telegrams, and critical letters from the general public.
Highlights: August 7, 1936, letter accuses NBC of "exalting the Reds" and
spreading Communist propaganda on the
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and onionskin memoranda, reports, telegrams, audience mail, and NBC letters of reply.
Highlights: May 9, 1935, memo from Frank E. Mason to John F. Royal complaining about anti-Confederacy jokes. July 5, 1935, letter from a listener who, after hearing an ad, took Crazy Crystal Water for a stomach ache and nearly died. October, 1933 55-page report, "Introduction to Analysis of Daytime Programs." November 25, 1932, 2-page witty fan letter.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the monitoring of radio programs.
Highlights: November 16-17, 1934, 3-page report, "Comments on Sustaining programs."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports on program property rights.
Highlights: January 19, 1939, telegram denying the phrase, "seven last words of Christ," for an Easter broadcast. November 6, 1936, 39-page report, "Property Rights in Programs."
Onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda and a letter regarding the NBC-TV Promotion Department.
Highlights: February 16, 1937, memo, "Television and Toscanini."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed reports, memoranda, and a letter concerning propaganda.
Highlights: June 27, 1940, letter from a listener urging NBC to produce programs to counteract the growing sympathy for Hitler in the United States. March 20, 1941, RCA memo, "Special National Defense Listening Posts Will Study Foreign Short-Wave Broadcasts."
Printed items: April 20, 1938, 2-page Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
report,
Mimeographed memoranda and an organization chart of the Public Affairs & Educational Department.
Highlights: November 24, 1942, organization chart of the Public Service Department.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports concerning public relations and addressing NBC's public relations needs.
Highlights: April, 1939 37-page report, "A Study of the Public Relations of the National Broadcasting Company." 1939 350-page original report, "Public Relations," includes sample letters and artist passes.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, a legal release, and transcripts of public service programs.
Highlights: December 22, 1950, release, indemnifying NBC "from any responsibility for physical or mental damage to myself which might arise or result from participation in an unusual contest." September 15, 1950, letter from the United Secularists of America demanding airtime to respond to an NBC broadcast defaming secularism and humanism.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed articles, letters, a resume, press releases, memoranda, and scripts of public service programs.
Highlights: 1949 6-page script of Ivan Sanderson's television program,
Original letter and onionskin report on United Nations Week.
Highlights: February 20, 1948, original letter from Dwight D. Eisenhower promoting Brotherhood Week, sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. (The letter has been heavily stamped and marked on by NBC)
Onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda, a letter, a CBS press release, and reports on public service programs and the United Nations.
Highlights: January 30, 1947, 3-page analysis of several classical music program proposals.
Original and onionskin letters concerning public service broadcasting.
Highlights: May 13, 1946, signed cover letter and attached 15-page memorandum (dated May 10) from David Sarnoff to William Benton, Assistant Secretary of State, regarding international broadcasting. Letters and memoranda concerning the Schwerin Reactometer, an automated device for testing audience response
Original and onionskin letters, an article, and program proposals.
Highlights: 1946 8-page radio program proposal, "Home Sweet Home."
Original and onionskin letters, minutes of a meeting, and a promotional
mailing, all dealing with NBC's
Printed items: promotional folder, National Broadcasting Company's United Nations Project.
Original and onionskin letters, handwritten notes and mimeographed memoranda regarding public service broadcasts.
Highlights: February, 1945, letters and memoranda regarding the NBC program
Original and onionskin letters, memoranda, and hand-written notes regarding Mr. Gilbert Chase, an NBC employee contracted by the Music Division of the Library of Congress to travel to Mexico, South America, and Cuba as the Library's consultant on the American Music Loan Libraries Project.
Highlights: April 18, 1945 letter from Luther H. Evans, Acting Librarian of Congress, to Dr. James R. Angell, Public Service Counselor for NBC.
Original and onionskin letters, a handwritten note, and a newspaper supplement
Printed items: February 25, 1945 edition of
Original, mimeographed and onionskin letters and memoranda regarding public service programming for the year 1944.
Printed items: two
Original and onionskin letters to, from, or about Mr. Evans Clark, Director of the Twentieth Century Fund and a proposed radio series on economic research to be sponsored by the Fund.
Highlights: A 28-page, confidential document: "Proposals For A New Radio Series Offering Popular Interpretations of Economic Research", dated September 26, 1944, that includes a sample script for one of the programs.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed program schedules, reports, and memoranda concerning public service programs.
Highlights: An April 29, 1942 memorandum to Dr. James R. Angell from Sterling
Fisher providing detailed cost estimates for the programs and talent required
for a series entitled
Highlights: 1941 43-page report, "NBC Broadcasts in Behalf of Various Organizations."
Printed items: 1940 12-page pamphlet,
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed reports, an article, and memoranda on public service programs.
Highlights: March 11, 1940, memo labeled, "Confidential * No Record Kept * Please Destroy," compares the amount of time given by the three networks to public service broadcasts. 1940 10-page report, "Red and Blue Networks," classifies opera and college football broadcasts as public service programs. January 21, 1940, 3-page report by Frank M. Russell to Lenox R. Lohr labelled, "Confidential * No Record Kept * Please Destroy," harshly criticizes Columbia's raids on NBC stations and lack of public service programming.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed telegrams, reports, memoranda, a letter, and articles about public service programs.
Highlights: Fifty one-page report, "NBC Blue Network Public Service Broadcasts 1940." Fifty two-page report, "NBC Red Network Public Service Broadcasts 1940."
Printed items: 1940 12-page pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed telegrams and memoranda concerning the correct use of terminology when referring to public service programs.
Highlights: March 12, 1940, memo unsuccessfully requests the labeling of
Mimeographed reports and memoranda about the Public Relations Department.
Highlights: January 24, 1939, 61-page "Report on the Publicity Department." Undated 2-page memo concerning publicity activities of WEAF and WJZ.
Mimeographed, handwritten, and onionskin memoranda, a form letter, and reports on the Information Division.
Highlights: 1936 1-page report, "Observations on Audience Mail."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports regarding the Press Division.
Highlights: April 14, 1938, memo, "Publicity on Forthcoming Programs,"
criticizes Publicity Department for a premature press release on an NBC satire
of Disney's
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed telegrams, reports, letters, memoranda, an FCC press release on the Havana Agreement, and a cross reference page referring to the North American Agreement.
Highlights: January 3, 1940, 2-page memo lists frequency changes on NBC stations necessitated by the Havana Agreement. April 18, 1939, memo addresses the problem of Mexican border stations.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, reports, telegrams, and an FCC press release on the Havana conference.
Highlights: December, 1937 4-page confidential "Minutes of Meeting on Proposed North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement." December 10, 1937, 41-page "North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement."
Onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and a State Department press release concerning the Cairo conference.
Highlights: May 20, 1938, 9-page report, "The International Telecommunication Conferences of Cairo, 1938."
Mimeographed memoranda and a report from the Havana conference.
Highlights: April 5, 1937, 15-page "Report of the American Delegation to the Regional Radio Conference Held in Havana, Cuba, March 15-29, 1937."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, an article, and reports on the radio industry.
Highlights: 1941 153-page "American Policy for Radio Broadcasting Report of the Committee of the National Economic and Social Planning Association." Undated, anonymous 2-page internal critique of NBC.
Original and mimeographed publications, a press release, and an article on RCA.
Printed items: 1960 25-page defense-oriented RCA publication,
Original reports of annual shareholder meetings and annual reports.
Printed items: Shareholder meeting reports from 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, and 1984. Annual reports from 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1985.
Original reports of annual shareholder meetings and annual reports.
Printed items: Shareholder meeting reports from 1965 through 1969. Annual reports from 1965 through 1969.
Original reports of annual shareholder meetings and annual reports.
Printed items: Shareholder meeting reports from 1962, 1963, and 1964. Annual reports from 1960 through 1964.
Original annual reports and various RCA pamphlets.
Printed items: Annual reports from 1950 through 1959. 1955 35-page RCA
brochure,
Original annual reports and a report to employees.
Printed items: RCA annual reports from 1940 through 1949. 1948 16-page
pamphlet,
Original reports of annual shareholder meetings and annual reports.
Printed items: Annual reports from 1921 through 1939. Shareholder meeting reports from 1921, 1933, 1934, 1935, and 1936.
Issues of RCA's
Highlights: Confidential technical report, "Custom 5LSI Symposium," which covers technological challenges and advances in areas such as broadcast electronics as well as missile and surface radar.
Original, photocopied, mimeographed, and onionskin letters, memoranda, a press release, and a report on RCA-NBC cooperation and other issues.
Highlights: September 29, 1935, 2-page list of spot announcements encouraging listeners to maintain their radios. February 25, 1935, memo encouraging NBC to inform RCA Victor whenever a popular song was becoming a hit, "so that Victor could make the recordings in advance of the market." March 9, 1933, letter from David Sarnoff to Richard Patterson Jr. of NBC complaining that a recent NBC manual failed to mention RCA. September 14, 1926, 11-page proposal for a publicity department for NBC from the Broadcast Company of America.
Mimeographed memoranda, annual reports to employees, and reports.
Printed items: RCA
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, a letter, and reports on a wide variety of radio issues.
Highlights: November 11, 1938, 2-page memo concerning the interest of NBC and
CBS in participating in a BBC debate on public versus private ownership of
radio. April 9, 1935, memo from John F. Royal to M. H. Aylesworth expressing
concern over a play called
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed reports concerning the issue of a radio monopoly.
Highlights: March 4, 1937, 26-page report listing extensive NBC financial data.
Mimeographed memoranda, original and onionskin letters and reports on the Radio Technical Planning Board.
Highlights: 1944 "Not to be Published" 13-page "Interim Report on Postwar Television Standards."
Four rate card pamphlets.
Printed items: January 31, 1966 pamphlet,
Two rate card pamphlets.
Printed items: September 9, 1967 pamphlet,
Mimeographed, original and onionskin reports, letters and memoranda regarding television receivers.
Highlights: A letter from H.M. Beville, Chief Statistician at NBC, to Mr. E.P.H. James dated December 16, 1938, suggesting a "scheme" to collect data on home ownership of TV sets by offering a free handbook of radio operation upon receipt of a postcard attached to the set.
Mimeographed, original and onionskin letters, memoranda, and several telegrams regarding both loans and gifts of television sets to various NBC employees, outside VIP's and advertisers.
Highlights: April 22, 1936, letter to Lenox Lohr, President of NBC from David Sarnoff, President of RCA regarding an early field test of television. March 26, 1940, letter to William Clarke from Frank E. Mason informing him that Mr. Lohr wants a television set installed in the Waldorf-Astoria Towers apartment of Will H. Hays.
Onionskin and mimeographed correspondence, memoranda, a folder and a booklet concerning electrical transcriptions and the Electrical Transcription Department.
Highlights: an undated, 18-page folder entitled "NBC Recorded Program Service For National and Local Spot Advertising.”
Printed items: 1935 booklet
Original and onionskin letters and memoranda, cross references and a mimeographed report concerning electrical transcriptions and the Electrical Transcription Department.
Highlights: May 11, 1937 white paper "NBC Electrical Transcription Service: Its Growth and Volume.”
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and several dossiers concerning electrical transcriptions and the Electrical Transcription Department.
Highlights: 1934 dossier made up of letters, memoranda, and a telegram concerning the agreement with RCA Victor to record and manufacture electrical transcriptions of NBC broadcasts. Original 11-page report Estimated Sales, "Costs and Profit NBC Recorded Program Division For the Calendar Year 1935" by Lloyd Egner.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, a telegram and memoranda sent and received by Mr. Richard C. Patterson, Jr., Executive Vice President of NBC. The materials all concern the development of an electrical transcription business in cooperation with RCA Victor. The items are stapled together in a single dossier, with an attached note from Mark Woods requesting that the papers be kept separate from other files.
Highlights: Onionskin draft of a May 28, 1934, letter from Richard C. Patterson, Jr. to Elmer T. Cunningham, President of RCA Victor proposing specific terms for the relationship between Victor and NBC and the division of labor in their joint electrical transcription venture.
Four mimeographed reports bound in folders.
Highlights: Three copies of the October 24, 1934, "Report of the Committee on Transcriptions” to Mr. David Sarnoff, President, Radio Corporation of America. One copy of the March 13, 1934, "Report of the Committee on Station Representation and Electrical Transcriptions.”
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and a telegram concerning the Electrical Transcriptions Department.
Highlights: October 10, 1934, draft of letter from E.T. Cunningham, President of RCA Victor Records, to David Sarnoff, regarding NBC's electrical transcription recording effort.
An onionskin letter.
Highlights: February 7, 1940, letter from Thomas Hutchinson to Robert P. Myers asking for clarification on the legality of broadcasting commercial 78rpm recordings. He notes that "we have been using this type of record on television and so far, have gotten away with it."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, clippings, reports and a reprinted article on television relays.
Printed items: A reprint from
Original and onionskin letters, memoranda, reports, photographs, a printed program and a map, all relating to the 1947 relay test between New York and Boston.
Printed items: a program dated November 13, 1947,
Onionskin letters, a memorandum, an announcement from the F.C.C., and a printed pamphlet concerning transcontinental radio relays.
Printed items: An AT&T pamphlet
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, telegrams, and reports on the field testing of NBC television relays to Atlantic City.
Highlights: 14-page mimeographed memoranda from Dr. Thomas T. Goldsmith, Jr. to Dr. Allen B. Du Mont: Atlantic City Field Tests. Includes 12 original photographs mounted on the last six pages of the document.
Original, onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports about television relays.
Date(s): Highlights: November 11, 1947, memo compares the cheaper Western Union tariff proposal with that of AT&T
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports describing Philco television relays
Highlights: April 4, 1957, 24-page history of "Philco's Activities as Operator of Radio Relays Along the East Coast."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, a telegram, and reports describing Philco television relays
Highlights: February, 1948 67-page bound report, "NBC Television Monthly
Operations Analysis February 1948," which refers to the NBC-Philco relay
situation. April, 1947 edition of
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, a letter, and Philco press releases announcing developments in Philco television relays.
Highlights: September 29, 1944, memo from John F. Royal to O. B. Hanson expressing NBC's fear of Philco installing their relay system to Washington, D.C. before NBC or the telephone company.
Mimeographed memoranda and cross references concerning the Research Department.
Highlights: Three page memorandum from H.M. Beville, Jr. dated July 19, 1946 that includes an organizational chart of the Department.
Mimeographed memoranda and an organization chart concerning the Research Department.
Highlights: July 1946 organization chart of the NBC Research Department.
Original and onionskin memoranda and a lease from NBC's move into Rockefeller Center
Highlights: September 3, 1931, memo refers to NBC's plans for Radio City.
Printed items: October 29, 1931, lease for Rockefeller Center.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and a newspaper article about NBC's move into Rockefeller Center.
Highlights: 1932 14-page whimsical report by O. B. Hanson, "Building an Air-Castle." December 29, 1932, 8-page report estimates many of the costs of Radio City.
Printed items: 1932 5-page pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and telegrams concerning Rockefeller Center.
Highlights: October 13, 1934, rent statement billing NBC $32,567.67 for the month of October.
Original, onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, correspondence, cross references and departmental reports concerning the Promotional Division of the NBC Sales Department.
Highlights: Six page report to E.P.H. James from W.C. Roux: "Organization, Work In Hand, and Plans of the Advertising Section,” dated March 26, 1935.
Original and onionskin reports and memoranda summarizing policies of radio and television.
Highlights: April 28, 1949, 17-page report by George MacGovern, "Company Policies Regarding the Promotion and Sale of Television and Radio," contains extensive research information.
Original, handwritten, and mimeographed reports and a memorandum about the use of sound effects.
Highlights: Original notebook containing a log listing the date and program each time a gun was used as a sound effect. June 23, 1952, 66-page thesis presented to the University of Michigan by Herman Lebrecht Moekle, Jr., "The Development and Use of Sound Effects in Network Radio, 1926-1936."
Original, onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda and reports regarding the NBC Operated Stations Division. The original folder heading noted that the folder includes the materials previously filed under: Station Relations Managed & Operated Stations 4/16/34 ; Station Relations NBC Operated Stations 3/15/35 ; Managed &Operated Stations Dept. 12/15/36 ; Stations Department Managed &Operated Stations Division 4/27/39-4/19/42.
Highlights: Report "A Study of Local Station Operations 1936,” which includes detailed tables listing specific station expenses and revenues for the years 1931-36.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, reports, telegrams, and press releases announcing the inception of various experimental television stations.
Highlights: June 30, 1941, 4-page FCC press release, "Television Goes
Commercial July 1st; 22 Stations Speed Early Transition from Experimental to
Public Service." May 2, 1940, confidential memo concerning NBC's desire to
circumvent monopoly charges in Washington, D. C. by encouraging the
Original, onionskin, mimeographed, photocopied, and handwritten memoranda, reports, and press releases concerning NBC studios.
Highlights: October 19, 1982, 3-page press release, "NBC to Mark 30th Anniversary of its Burbank Production Center." June 12, 1945, 6-page engineering report, "Special Appropriation Request Studio Addition, NBC Hollywood Building," includes aerial photo of building.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and articles concerning NBC studios.
Highlights: 1934 15-page technical manual on the announcers panel, monitoring
booth, and master control board. November 23, 1933,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, studio tickets, an article, and reports concerning NBC studios ticket policies.
Highlights: April 17 and May 1, 1941, memoranda and an accompanying newspaper article about shady musician jockeys named "Fats" and "Schnitz" who were barred from NBC studios following their convictions for assaulting a "business rival." May 23, 1940, 2-page memo features a frank assessment of the CBS Golden Theatre.
Printed items: Undated studio tickets.
Original, photocopied, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, telegrams, and a press release about NBC studios.
Highlights: January 20, 1940, memo concerning gambling by musicians in the studios. June 6 and July 27, 1937, telegrams concerning the acceptability of public dancing in NBC studios during programs. January 5, 1934, memo (one of many on this subject) recommending the stationing of a fireman in uniform "to instruct people to adhere to the regulations." March 31, 1934, strongly worded memo concerning eating and drinking in the studios. March 3, 1935, memo mentions an incident "where Mr. McCann, of McCann-Erickson, insisted that he bring a small portable bar into our studios for the serving of liquor." 1935 30-page report by O. B. Hanson, "The House That Radio Built." November 17, 1936, memo advising the Engineering Department to plan the construction of television studios in Washington, Schenectady, and Philadelphia.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and newspaper articles about NBC's move to 711 5th Avenue.
Highlights: September 27, 1926, photographic print of the building.
Original, photocopied, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, letters, an article, and a telegram concerning NBC studios.
Highlights: May 16, 1985, press release, "NBC Radio Will Officially Launch Newly Renovated Studio 8B." December 31, 1936, 2-page memo concerning the problems caused by autograph sessions in the studios following programs. January 22, 1934, 2-page memo describes the battle between competitors General Foods and Standard Brands over the use of Studio 8-H and General Foods' threat to cancel their programs and go to CBS. January 7, 1948, 2-page letter mentions early NBC television history.
Printed items: Undated 4-page
Original, onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and a telegram concerning NBC studios.
Highlights: November 3, 1941, telegram, concerning the possible purchase of a Hammond reverberation unit with organ which can be used as an echo chamber. November 7, 1935, witty memo, "Scenery-Curtains in Studios."
Mimeographed and photocopied press releases, articles, and a report on NBC studios.
Highlights: June 24, 1963, 4-page press release, "8H Is Transformed into NBC's Newest, Most Versatile Color Television Broadcasting Facility."
Original, onionskin, mimeographed, and photocopied letters, memoranda, reports, press releases, and articles related to studio tours.
Highlights: October 1, 1934, memo concerning the danger of shattering the illusion of radio by allowing tours to see how sound effects are made. July 23, 1940, memo concerning what appears to have been a bomb threat against Walter Winchell. 1930's NBC tour lecture notes.
Printed items: Undated
Original and photocopied press releases, tour manuals, an article, and promotional material related to the NBC studio tours.
Highlights: February 22, 1984, lengthy tour script and guidelines for tour guides.
Printed items: December 12, 1983, photographs of tour guides. Undated 6-sided
pamphlet,
Onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, budgets, blueprints, a press release, and an article about television.
Highlights: August 3, 1939, 4-page report, "Present Broadcasting Status of
Television." July 3, 1934, organization chart of the Engineering Department.
July 12, 1935, blueprints of proposed Radio City television studios. May 7,
1935, press release by David Sarnoff, "Statement on Television." Printed items:
NBC reprint of a
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, and reports about television.
Highlights: May 1, 1940, 35-page confidential report by Roy Norr, consultant to NBC, "On the Public Relations Aspects of the Television Problem."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed reports, letters, and memoranda regarding television.
Highlights: June 2, 1941, report, "Television Report of Present Status," that defines FCC standards and rules affecting NBC and RCA.
Printed items: 1941 RCA 19-page pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, a press release, and reports about television.
Highlights: October 17, 1945, 7-page technical report by O.B. Hanson, "The Position of NBC in the Present Television Controversy." October, 1944 13-page "Statement of Philip Merryman FCC-Frequency Allocation Hearing."
Printed items: October, 1944 23-page RCA pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports regarding television.
Highlights: July, 1946 report for NBC by the Leo Burnett Company, "Television Report No. 2." April 23, 1948, "confidential" memo from C. R. Denny to Niles Trammell regarding color television developments from the Princeton Laboratories. November 12, 1951, 17-page report by Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr., "NBC TV."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, press releases, reports, memoranda, and an FCC order concerning NBC television.
Highlights: June 14, 1941, letter to the FCC requesting permission to begin commercial broadcasting of station W2XBS and W3XNB. June 30, 1941, FCC press release, "Television Goes Commercial July 1st; 22 Stations Speed Early Transition from Experimental to Public Service."
Printed items: October, 1946 31-page brochure,
Original and onionskin memoranda and a letter concerning television technical research.
Printed items: March and September, 1935 issues of
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports on NBC television.
Highlights: November 16, 1937, 1-page memorandum from C.W. Fitch announcing the creation of the Television Program Division and the appointment of Thomas H. Hutchinson as manager. June 29, 1944, 3-page report by O. B. Hanson includes an organization chart of the television department.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda reporting on references to television on radio programs
Highlights: March 2, 1940, memo requesting the insertion of references to television into radio scripts whenever possible.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, letters, and a report concerning television.
Highlights: February 26, 1945, report, "Summary Outline of Television Program Activities, Station WNBT, National Broadcasting Company-June 1942 to Date," features fan mail to Arturo Toscanini.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and a letter suggesting various terms to represent television.
Highlights: December 4, 1939, memo from O. B. Hanson to A. H. Morton recommending the adoption of the term "radiovision" instead of "television" to describe the new visual medium.
Original and onionskin reports and a letter concerning the TBA.
Highlights: December 8, 1950, 6-page TBA annual report.
Printed items: October 1, 1950, 15-page TBA guidebook,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, telegrams, reports, and memoranda referring to the Television Broadcasters Association
Highlights: December 10, 1947, "Annual Report to Members of Television Broadcasters Association, Inc." Original 59-page report, "Television Broadcasters Association, Inc. Report of the Television Station Operations Committee," includes a glossary of television terms.
Printed items: 1947 3-page TBA pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, press releases, a report, and an invitation concerning the Television Broadcasters Association, Inc.
Highlights: September 7, 1950, press release, "Television and Censorship." May 15, 1950, 6-page report, "The Long Range Effect of Television and other Factors on Attendance at Sports Events."
Printed items: December 8, 1950, 4-page invitation soliciting participation in
a seminar entitled,
Original, onionskin and mimeographed memoranda regarding the 1948 TBA Clinic.
Highlights: November 23, 1948, memo mentions the possible demonstration of a split screen.
Printed items: December 8, 1948, invitation to the 1948 "TBA Television Clinic."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports on broadcasting codes.
Highlights: May 1, 1948, 36-page "Draft of NBC Program Policies." Printed
items: July 1, 1948, 8-page National Association of Broadcasters pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and telegrams concerning the TBA.
Highlights: Confidential series of TBA memoranda concerning FCC hearings pertaining to rates for television network facilities filed by AT &T and Western Union. August 6, 1948, letter concerning the action taken by the Maryland Censorship Board on television motion picture film
Mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and architectural drawings concerning the TBA Engineering Committee.
Highlights: A report and drawings of the proposed Van Alen Tower for Television.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, a telegram, and reports from the TBA Engineering Committee.
Highlights: August 23, 1949, TBA memo concerning FCC allocation hearings.
Original memoranda, reports, and invitations from the TBA.
Highlights: April 27, 1948, TBA memo, "TBA asks F.C.C. to Suspend Proposed Common Carrier Rates Pending Hearing."
Printed items: July 1, 1948, National Association of Broadcasters 8-page
pamphlet,
Onionskin and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports on the TBA-NAB merger.
Highlights: October 26, 1948, confidential 3-page report by the NAB about the proposed merger.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports concerning the Treasurer's Department.
Highlights: January 18, 1939, 8-page report on the Financial and Statistical departments and includes an organization chart.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, a press release, and an article concerning the treasurer's department.
Highlights: July 1, 1936, press release, "Broadcasting Two Conventions Cost NBC
More Than $265,000." January 17, 1935, memo concerning the furious reaction by
Royal Fruit Gelatin and its' agency, the J Walter Thompson Co, to the arbitrary
cancellation of a
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports from the Statistical Division.
Highlights: May 8, 1936, report contains an organization chart.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed reports and memoranda concerning WEAF.
Highlights: March 28, 1935, extensive report, "Study of Radio Field Intensity Coverage of New York-New Jersey Area from WEAF-WJZ and Competing Stations," which includes several coverage maps
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, telegrams, invoices, photographs, and a contract concerning WEAF.
Highlights: February 25, 1939, letter from Pan American Airways Company objecting to NBC's plans to erect a 740-foot radio tower in close proximity to their seaplane base.
Printed items: 1939 advertising leaflet from Queens Radio Labs offering technical solutions to consumer radio problems, including "W-E-A-F Noisy Or Weak?" Two 1938 photographs of the transmitter station building of KYW in Philadelphia.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports regarding WEAF, WJZ, and WFIL.
Highlights: November 16, 1935, technical report by O. B. Hanson on WEAF, WJZ, and WFIL includes several coverage maps and population graphs.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and a speech honoring NBC's 20th anniversary and WNBC.
Highlights: November 2, 1946, speech by Governor Dewey honoring NBC on its 20th anniversary.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, telegrams, and articles about World War II.
Highlights: September 16, 1939, memo prohibiting the broadcasting of ship movements. September 8, 1939, telegram discusses difficulties faced by the NBC reporter in Berlin by German censors. December 9, 1941, memo cautioning NBC employees about fifth columnists and the possibility of sabotage. September 16, 1939, 4-page report by NBC Berlin correspondent Max Jordan, "European Coverage."
Printed items: September 7, 1939, 6-page NBC pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, a newspaper article, wire copy, and audience mail regarding NBC's coverage of the war.
Highlights: August 28, 1945, 3-page critique by Niles Trammell of NBC's
coverage of the war. December 16, 1941, memo, "War Policies," suggests that
comedians should "avoid cheap sticking-the-tongue-out gags, fan mail over the
air since this may contain coded information, and sound effects, such as
sirens, which create alarm." September 5, 1939, memo from John F. Royal to
Niles Trammell announcing that NBC is cutting war coverage to the bone and
suggesting that "we have grabbed about all the glory we can get." September 5,
1939, UP wire copy announcing that "The government drafted rules designed to
protect the American public from propaganda and prohibits radio commentators
from attacking severely any belligerent." December 9, 1941, telegram from the
Office of Civilian Defense to NBC requesting NBC to allot several time slots
for the broadcasting of civil defense information to the American public."
December, 1941, 4-page "NAB Wartime Guide" for radio stations. September 26,
1939, 13-page confidential report from Lenox B. Lohr to David Sarnoff
concerning the possible use of television. December 31, 1940, letter from the
Secretary of the Navy requesting NBC to refrain from broadcasting information
on actual or intended movements of Naval ships or aircraft, Marine Corps troop
movements, and technical developments. December 9, 1941, 2-page memo concerning
the erroneous AP bulletin that enemy aeroplanes were approaching New York.
December, 1944 13-page newsletter,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, an excerpt from a speech, an article, and a television script concerning air raid precautions in New York City.
Highlights: February 11, 1942, letter from David Sarnoff to Mayor LaGuardia
inviting him to appear on an upcoming air raid warden show. January 26, 1942,
script,
NBC magazines detail NBC's coverage of World War II.
Printed items: 1945 48-page NBC soft-bound book with a large red V superimposed on a mushroom cloud, includes many photos and transcripts of NBC's coverage of the Pacific campaign (2 copies). 1945 51-page NBC magazine with a large red X superimposed over a map of Western Europe, includes many photos and transcripts of NBC's coverage of the European campaign. 1944 33-page NBC magazine, H Hour - 1944 commemorates NBC's coverage of the Normandy Invasion (2 copies). 1944 174-page NBC book commemorates NBC's coverage of the war and includes biographical information on NBC news personnel.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, a telegram, and reports about wartime rationing of communications material and facilities.
Highlights: January 21, 1943, 3-page order from the Board of War Communications, "Precedence for Telegraph Messages to the War Effort or Public Safety." January 26, 1942, 6-page "Preference Rating Order No-P-100," which prioritizes scarce material needed by government and private industry during the war. September 8, 1941, telegram from R.F. Guy of WMAL to the Office of Product Management urgently requesting one power tube and mentions that WMAL is currently borrowing a tube from WRC.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed press release and minutes from the NBC war clinics.
Highlights: March 9, 1942, 4-page press release, "NBC Executives to Draw War Plan During Conference Tour of Nation." March 26-27, 1942, 101-page "NBC War Clinic," a transcript of candid NBC deliberations on broadcasting challenges during the war. March 17, 1942, 74-page "NBC War Clinic," explores the problem of risque material by Benny, Allen, Cantor, Skelton, Allen, and considers the firing of Bob Hope for the same reason.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports concerning the 1943 NBC war clinics.
Highlights: March 25, 1943, 16-page report of the 2nd annual NBC war clinic relates discussions between NBC and their affiliates.
Printed items: 1943 20-page booklet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, telegrams, press release, memoranda, speeches, and reports from the 1944 NBC war clinics.
Highlights: Black 1944 ring binder, "War Clinic Speeches," includes the March 21, 1944, press release announcing that NBC and the BBC would "pool their resources so that American and British listeners can actually hear the sounds of the invasion battles when the assault is launched on Hitler's European fortress."
Printed items:
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Printed items: Complete set of
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Mimeographed reports comparing network advertising sales.
Printed items: December, 1939 21-page booklet,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed organization charts, a telegram, letters, and reports regarding rates.
Highlights: December 2, 1935, memo from William S. Hedges to Niles Trammell complaining about the planned elimination of spot announcements. October 23, 1934, memo, "Local Announcements on Network Programs."
Printed items: June 15, 1934,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, and reports about rates.
Highlights: December 2, 1935, telegram discusses Proctor & Gamble's request that they receive the contiguous rate discount.
Printed items: February 4, 1935,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, an affiliation contract, a telegram, and reports on rates and discounts.
Highlights: August 6, 1936, price list for NBC/RCA reference and audition
recording. November 30, 1935, original letter from Freeman F. Gosden of
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, and telegrams concerning the structure of NBC.
Highlights: August 10, 1933, 14-page report, "NBC Organization-Constructive Comments."
Original and mimeographed reports, telegrams, memoranda, and organization charts.
Highlights: July, 1935 56-page "Organization Chart and Resume of General Department Operations," includes extensive salary information.
Original and mimeographed memoranda, reports, maps, and organization charts.
Highlights: July, 1933 45-page report, "NBC Organization Charts," contains organization charts from affiliates and various corporate divisions
Mimeographed organization charts and a report.
Highlights: 1932 22-page critical analysis of the pacific division.
Original and mimeographed memoranda, organization charts, and a report.
Highlights: December 19, 1931, 16-page "confidential" report, "Organization."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed reports, letters, and memoranda concerning NBC's cooperation with the National Advisory Council.
Highlights: May 29, 1935, 12-page report, "Report of the President of the National Broadcasting Company to the National Advisory Council." May 29, 1934, memo stating that Levering Tyson of the National Advisory Council "has been double-crossing us for some time." March 11, 1935, memo expressing concern for the use of NBC's airwaves by the Advisory Council as a platform for propaganda. January 21, 1937, study that lists pertinent details of every broadcast of the National Advisory Council on Radio in Education on NBC.
Printed items: January, 1936 16-page ACLU pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports on engineering issues of 1927.
Highlights: February 15, 1927, 6-page report which covers, among other topics, proposed increases in power for WEAF and WRC, as well as a "General Plan for National Wire Line Network."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports for meetings of the Control Board.
Highlights: November 26, 1935, 3-page report of a meeting that covers MCA and the American Federation of Musicians, station power increases, and NBC's lawsuit against Charles T. Freeman, Jr. for stealing program ideas. October 15, 1935, 3-page report covering NBC's desire to increase their shortwave activities and to apply for power increases of five hundred thousand watts for WEAF and WJZ. October 1, 1935, 5-page report on the advisability of accepting dramatized Republican Party campaign programs. July 30, 1935, 5-page report addresses union problems with the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, the impressive financial performance of CBS, and political advertising.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and a telegram concerning Control Board meetings.
Highlights: June 18, 1935, 4-page report covers NBC's reluctance in promoting facsimile, Ben Bernie's inappropriate deviation from scripts, and negotiations with ASCAP. June 11, 1935, 4-page report mentions R. C. Patterson's European visit with the BBC, French and German radio. April 30, 1935, 2-page report describes a demonstration of a facsimile machine and the development of the "NBC Recorded Library," which will utilize electrical transcription recordings. Undated 1-page "Statement of Policies for Programs Dealing with Subjects of Public Interest." April 9, 1935, 8-page report discusses WOR's interest in joining NBC, "wired radio," and CBS's exclusive right to the Kentucky Derby, including the consideration of bootlegging the race from a blimp. March 19, 1935, 5-page report concerning the WEAF-WJZ situation, World Series advertising, and NBC's acceptance from the Reichsrundfunk Gesellschaft of a German exhibit to be displayed by the NBC tour department. March 12, 1935, 7-page report discusses the new acetate-covered aluminum recording discs, recording the speeches of General Johnson, Father Coughlin, and Huey Long for demonstration purposes, and eliminating the use of the word "constipation" from the Fleischmann Hour. February 5, 1935, 5-page report mentions NBC's desire to cheaply record everything that goes on the air using the "Blatnophone" or some other device, and the censoring of political broadcasts.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports concerning the 1934 Control Board meetings.
Highlights: September 18, 1935, 2-page report mentions the Blue network's discontent with not receiving the World Series. May 15, 1934, 2-page report mentions the "Petrillo matter" and a unanimous vote against allowing Walter Winchell to continue conducting his program as he has in the past. April 10, 1934, 3-page memo mentions recent problem with Walter Winchell. March 30, 1934, 3-page report, "Broadcasting Abroad, Ltd."
Confidential onionskin reports of department head meetings.
Highlights: August 10, 1942, 17-page report concerns detailed affiliate relations, advertiser updates, program updates, and employees draft status and deferments. March 9, 1942, 14-page report discusses ASCAP, BMI, Thesaurus, and SESAC, and the jamming of Japanese propaganda directed to the U.S. February 9, 1942, 9-page report mentions new security precautions implemented or considered, due to World War II, including armed guards, the fingerprinting of all employees, artists, and agency people, camouflaging the roof, and maintaining portable broadcasting equipment in case of a bombing. Also, an allusion to an Arch Oboler-Greta Garbo controversy.
Original, onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports concerning 1934 department head meetings.
Highlights: March 21, 1934, 5-page report describes the Eno Incident, which
involved a last-second approval for playing a transcription during a program.
March 7, 1934, 6-page report mentions the SESAC license, public relations
policy for television, and concern for the consequences of Walter Winchell's
broadcasts. February 28, 1934, memo concerning fee paid to NBC by CBS for the
right to broadcast Rosa Ponselle. February 27 memo quotes Roosevelt's speech to
Congress proposing the establishment of the FCC. February 27, 1934, memo
concerning the exchange of Red and Blue network stations in Boston on the
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports concerning 1933 department head meetings.
August 10, 1933, 4-page memo mentions the demonstration of an "apparatus, which
operates by sound waves, [that] is the next step in radio and will be very
interesting to both our advertisers and the radio audience." Mention is made of
the 40,000 scheduled school debates on the subject of the British radio system
versus the American system. NBC and RCA contemplate releasing a "picture
record" (picture disc) of the
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda concerning 1933 department head meetings.
Highlights: June 28, 1933, 2-page report on the offensiveness of the
Mimeographed reports of 1932 department head meetings.
Highlights: December 29, 1932, 3-page report mentions the installation of International Business Machines equipment to handle the audience mail department. October 24, 1932, 3-page report features demonstration of the Remsen aluminum disc as compared with the RCA Victor record. October 17, 1932, 3-page report mentions Will Osborne's complaint that he was being discriminated against in favor of Rudy Vallee. Mr. Royal replied that Will Osborne was inferior to Rudy Vallee.
Onionskin reports of 1925 department head meetings.
Highlights: May 26, 1925, 2-page report mentions the wire network. March 31,
1925, 3-page report refers to lining up the home game of the Giants and Boston
Braves at the Polo Grounds. March 10, 1925, 3-page report mentions the reasons
for the withdrawal of the Victor Talking Machine Company from the
Onionskin reports of 1924 department head meetings.
Highlights: June 4, 1924, 2-page report regarding the broadcasting of football games and the Democratic and Republican National conventions.
Onionskin reports of the 1923 department head meetings.
Highlights: December 11, 1923, 6-page report mentions broadcasting the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and the status of various advertisers. December 4, 1923, 3-page report mentions the broadcast of a President Coolidge speech. November 27, 1923, 8-page report includes a reminder of the importance of avoiding on-air jokes about the telephone companies and a schedule of Trans-Atlantic tests. November 19, 1923, 9-page report contains four charts listing the profit status of the Ohio Bell Telephone Company.
Original and mimeographed memoranda and reports about the Development Board.
Highlights: October 3, 1951, 3-page "Constitution of the Development Board NBC Television."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports of the NBC Emergency Operating Committee.
Highlights: January 8, 1943, 12-page contingency plan for the continuation of broadcast operations in the event of an act of sabotage or an enemy attack.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports concerning various NBC meetings in 1949.
Printed items: April 13, 1949, 12-page pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, and reports regarding items on the agenda of 1948 Management Committee meetings.
Highlights: Undated, handwritten rating studies of NBC affiliate radio stations with local rates. November 10, 1948, memo analyzes, among other topics, the revenue potential of deodorant advertising if it were allowed on owned and operated stations. September 9, 1948, 2-page report, "Television Rating Summary for August 8-14, 1948."
Printed items: Program schedules from WNBC, WMAQ, WRC, WTAM, KNBC, and KOA.
Onionskin and mimeographed reports concerning the annual NBC management meeting.
Highlights: October 2-4, 1948, 11-page report on NBC owned and operated stations.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports concerning management meetings of 1947.
Highlights: 1947 National Spot Sales Report.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, and reports on the 1946 meetings.
Highlights: Comparative ratings history and descriptions of various women's
programming. Confidential Schwerin Research Corporation Audition Reports of
Printed items: June, 1946 25-page pamphlet,
Onionskin and mimeographed reports concerning three management meetings in 1946.
Highlights: Extensive departmental reports presented to the NBC Management Committee on September 12-15, 1946.
Onionskin and mimeographed reports and a memo concerning the three NBC Management Committee meeting hearings in 1946.
Highlights: Undated 201-page report, "Television NBC $," covers challenges and opportunities of early television, including sports, technical developments, and competition from ABC, CBS, and Dumont.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and an ad for Mutual's WOR radio station.
Highlights: September 20, 1945, 43-page "National Spot Sales Report" presented
at the management meeting at the Shawnee Inn. September 13, 1945, memo from
Clay Morgan to members of the Management Committee explaining that while the
Shawnee Inn doesn't compare to the Homestead, "it is owned, as you no doubt
know, by Fred Waring (11:00-11:30 A.M. Monday through Friday)." August 4, 1945,
radio section from
Mimeographed "confidential" reports of meetings of the NBC Management Committee.
Highlights: September 20-23, 1945, 102-page report mentions, among other topics, the hundreds of NBC employees returning from the military, the opening of a state-of-the-art recording facility in Radio City, relations with RCA, radio legislation, ratings, and the activities of NBC affiliates. April 19, 1945, 4-page report mentions that a complete set of the records covering Roosevelt's death will be made available to the National Archives and the Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park.
Mimeographed memoranda and reports of the NBC Management Committee.
Highlights: September 15-17, 1944, 63-page report of the NBC Management Committee analyzes the status of FM and television, recommends publicizing compliments toward radio and attacks on the FCC, and recommends adopting the Sheldon Coons library program that will take care of NBC's history and "must contain anecdotes concerning the events and troubles surrounding them, and it must be some one's job to get these from the people involved and write them for reference use." This report also mentions advertising revenue, cooperative programs, a breakdown of NBC employees by sex, and a classification of public service programs into categories such as religion, women's programs, and the war. June 29, 1944, memo, "Television Organization for NBC," includes a television organization chart.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, telegrams, and reports from the 1943 Management Committee meetings.
Highlights: November 22, 1943, memo, "Radio Legislation," discusses proposed amendments to the Communications Act of 1934. Undated 10-page report listing 40 points needing immediate action and the status of each point.
Mimeographed "confidential" reports of the NBC Management Committee.
Highlights: September 17-19, 1943, report mentions, among other topics, the need for an NBC children's show, the adoption by NBC of the Nielson audimeter radio survey service, technical diagrams of frequency modulation and amplitude modulation, war coverage, and affiliate activities.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and telegrams referring to the 1942 NBC Management Committee meetings.
Highlights: September 18, 1942, 15-page report by James R. Angell, "Report to the Management Committee on Public Service."
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, letters, and a telegram from the 1941 NBC Management Committee meetings.
Highlights: October 15, 1941, memo addressing radio problems; including off-color material, the lack of program balance regarding dramas and comedies, and a problem with soap operas.
Original 104-page "off the record" report of the management meeting.
Highlights: Niles Trammell makes a strongly worded statement concerning leaks to the press of sensitive NBC business and various executives speculate on possible sources of leaks. Frank discussions regarding affiliate relations, Blue network litigation, sustaining programs, and the FCC.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda from the 1939 NBC Management Committee meetings.
Highlights: November 16, 1939, 1-page "Summary of the FCC Television Committee Report." June 19, 1939, memo summarizes the meeting and recommends avoiding controversial commentators and subjects on commercial programs.
Mimeographed reports of 1934 NBC Operating Committee meetings.
Highlights: March 13, 1934, 3-page report mentions that sound effects men broke up a marble slab, destroyed a music stand, fried bacon in a studio, and left spilled coffee and partly finished sandwiches in another studio. Ed Wynn was told to abstain from smoking in the studio. Mr. Wynn, "a continual offender, expressing in violent manner that he cared nothing for the Company's orders and there was no one who could stop him." March 6, 1934, 4-page report mentions SESAC license, television, and Walter Winchell.
Mimeographed and onionskin reports and memoranda from 1933 meetings of the Operating Committee.
Highlights: May 12, 1933, 2-page report mentions the state of Kentucky's $15,000,000 lawsuit in connection with the Kentucky Derby.
Mimeographed and onionskin memoranda and reports from 1932 meetings of the Operating Committee.
Highlights: October 31, 1932, 3-page report NBC's policy on the censorship of speeches broadcast over NBC.
Mimeographed and onionskin memoranda and reports from 1930 meetings of the NBC Operating Committee.
Highlights: December 29, 1930, 1-page report mentions the "continued
solicitation by individuals representing themselves as NBC representatives and
promising engagements on the air for children." December 5, 1930, 2-page report
describes "The Fine Trial of Mark Woods," one of many humorous fines assessed
against NBC employees by a harmless kangaroo court. Undated 10-page report,
"Policy and Protective Regulations." September 12, 1930, 1-page report mentions
objection to the use of the words "film" and "decayed teeth" in the
Mimeographed memoranda and reports concerning 1929 meetings of the NBC Operating Committee.
Highlights: December 19, 1929, 3-page report, "Suggested Rules and Regulations." September 6, 1929, form letter of the farcical kangaroo court.
Original and mimeographed "confidential" reports and a memo concerning 1942 meetings of the Chicago Operating Committee.
Highlights: June 8, 1942, 4-page report reports on the status of various suits pending against NBC.
Original and mimeographed "confidential" reports and memoranda concerning 1940 meetings of the Chicago Operating Committee.
Highlights: June 10, 1940, 6-page report mentions the WMAQ transmitter fire, Lennox Lohr's resignation as president of NBC, and the serious problem with ASCAP. April 8, 1940, 5-page memo analyzes a series of tests meant to test the gullibility of the public and the cost of the broadcast rights of Chicago Bears games ($27,500).
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and "confidential" reports concerning 1939 meetings of the Chicago Operating Committee.
Highlights: May 8, 1939, 3-page memo emphasizes the need to "continue the
policy of keeping our programs clean." April 10, 1939, 3-page memo mentions the
negative audience reaction to Charlie Butterworth's use of the word "darky"
during the
Mimeographed memoranda and "confidential" reports concerning 1935 meetings of the Chicago Operating Committee.
Highlights: March 6, 1935, 2-page report mentions the paucity of ribbon microphones and desire of a client to feature, on their program, a speaker on an unknown, controversial topic. The client withdrew their request when informed by NBC that they might have to provide time for a rebuttal.
Original and mimeographed memoranda and "confidential" reports from 1934 meetings of the Chicago Operating Committee.
Highlights: September 17, 1934, 2-page report outlines NBC's contention that the broadcast of the World Series should not be commercially sponsored. May 12, 1934, 3-page report discusses NBC's participation in the 1934 World's Fair. January 13, 1934, 2-page memo mentions the debate over whether NBC will broadcast baseball in 1934 since "the baseball clubs this year are asking that they receive something in return for permitting the broadcasting of their games."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and "confidential" reports from 1933 meetings of the Chicago Operating Committee.
Highlights: August 21, 1933, 3-page report mentions NBC's plan in sending out I-Q questionnaires to all local personnel. April 8, 1933, 2-page report mentions the Father Coughlin controversy and the need for the concentrating censorship power in one person.
Mimeographed reports of 1930 meetings of the Chicago Operating Committee.
Highlights: October 8, 1930, 2-page report mentions NBC's decision to request
the
Mimeographed memoranda and reports concerning 1930 meetings of the Chicago Operating Committee.
Highlights: May 26, 1930, 1-page report mentions the deluge of telephone calls
received demanding that an
Original and mimeographed reports from 1930 meetings of the Chicago Operating Committee.
Highlights: April 22, 1930, 2-page report mentions the success of the
Mimeographed and onionskin reports concerning 1929 meetings of the Chicago Operating Committee.
Highlights: December 27, 1929, 2-page report refers to the request for white
face photographs of
Mimeographed and onionskin reports concerning 1930 meetings of the San Francisco Operating Committee.
Highlights: December 26, 1930, 2-page report refers to a planned NBC New Years Day broadcast by Mussolini. July 25, 1930, 2-page report mentions plans for an interview with the "boy who is establishing an endurance record on tree sitting." July 3, 1930, 2-page report refers to Dr. Lee DeForest's attack on commercial broadcasting in a speech before the Institute of Radio Engineers. January 20, 1930, 2-page report refers to the need for hiring help to deal with the approximately 1,000 fan letters received by NBC daily.
Onionskin reports concerning 1929 meetings of the San Francisco Operating Committee.
Highlights: December 18, 1929, 2-page report refers to the machinations over
the selection of announcers for the upcoming Rose Bowl. December 9, 1929,
2-page report mentions the discontinuance of announcing the fact that there
were birds in the studio during
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports from the NBC policy committee.
Highlights: May 3, 1943, 3-page report mentions the need for tighter scrutiny of scripts of Winchell, Pearson, and Fidler following an incident where Drew Pearson mentioned "parties given by Mr. Monroe (Kaplan) at his house on R Street, Washington."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports from the public relations committee.
Printed items: 1943 12-page NAB booklet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, an article, memoranda, and reports from the radio committee
Highlights: August 1, 1957, 6-page radio affiliation agreement. September 17, 1954, report, "TV-Radio," advocates the development of radio receivers capable of picking up television sound.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and minutes of staff meetings.
Highlights: July 13, 1953, 4-page minutes refers to a study being conducted into reactivating the Brooklyn studios. June 22, 1953, minutes mentions the National Biscuit Company's suit against NBC for violation of trademark.
Mimeographed minutes of staff meetings.
Highlights: December 22, 4-page minutes reports the successful electronic tape recording experiments and the decision to subscribe to the Nielson Television Coverage Survey.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and minutes of staff meetings.
Highlights: July 24, 1950, 3-page minutes reports on Korean War coverage and DuMont's bid of $ 510,000 for the World Series.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, articles, and minutes of staff meetings.
Highlights: September 3, 1946, 2-page report, "Plans for Reorganization of Staff Operations Group." May 28, 1945, 19-page report, "Sets-In-Use, a Problem Affecting NBC's Revenue Today and Tomorrow."
Printed items: 1945 10-page booklet, Where Jobs Come From.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, a letter, reports, and minutes of staff meetings.
Highlights: May 19, 1943, 8-page report by Niles Trammell, "Supreme Court
Decision." December 7, 1942, 12-page minutes mention continuity issues with
Onionskin and mimeographed reports, memoranda, and a press release announcing the NBC Stations Planning & Advisory Committee.
Highlights: Minutes of the April 29 and April 30, 1952, meetings where
affiliates and NBC debate the sponsorship prospects of such shows as
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the 1951 affiliate meetings.
Highlights: October 1, 1951, 6-page report of a meeting in which Sylvester Weaver spoke of the plans for an early morning daily program tentatively entitled Today.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, and reports on the 1950 affiliate meetings.
Highlights: December 1, 1949, "Television Data Chart," which lists estimated TV set ownership in various cities.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports and a speech concerning the 1949 affiliate meetings.
Highlights: Undated speeches by Niles Trammell and Charles Denny which discuss, among other topics, unsuccessful contract negotiations with Jack Benny that led to his joining CBS.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the 1945 affiliate meetings.
Highlights: Report of the April 17 & April 18, 1945, meetings mentions the NBC reaction to the sudden death of Franklin Roosevelt on April 12, 1945.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and reports on the 1943 affiliate meetings.
Highlights: Report from the September 29 & 30 meetings mentions NBC's
"pulling of punches insofar as a realistic treatment of the horrors of war is
concerned." Printed items: July, 1943 10-page NBC pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, an article, and reports on FM and television.
Highlights: December 15, 1943, 15-page report, "NBC Estimated Television Income & Expense January through December, 1944."
Printed items: July 24, 1944, 6-page bulletin,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports from the Television Committee.
Highlights: May 1, 1945, 10-page speech by David Sarnoff at the annual meeting of RCA stockholders
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed reports, an article, press releases, memoranda, and minutes of the Television Committee.
Highlights: December 13, 1945, 15-page press release, "Latest Television Developments Seen in RCA Demonstration."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, reports, telegrams, and articles about the competitive threat to NBC from wired radio.
Highlights: June 12, 1941, memorandum on the activities of Muzak. June 14,
1935, 4-page report, "Wired Wireless." Printed items: July 29, 1935, 11-page
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, two letters, and financial reports from the board of directors meetings.
Highlights: March 27, 1956, 11-page report, "National Broadcasting Company, Inc. Proposed Capital Budget Second Quarter 1956."
Original, mimeographed, and onionskin memoranda, a letter, and financial reports from the board of directors.
Highlights: June 20, 1955, 11-page proposal, "National Broadcasting Company, Inc. Proposed Capital Budget Third Quarter 1955." (3 copies) Also, data concerning the proposal for the Kagran transaction.
Original and onionskin memoranda and financial reports from the board of directors.
Note: This is the last year in which Sarnoff is Chairman of the Board and Weaver is the President of NBC; in 1956 they switch positions.
Onionskin letters concerning the board of directors.
Highlights: April 15, 1953, letter calling for a special meeting of the Board after the death of Gano Dunn in order to fill his place. December 4, 1953, resignation letter from Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr., as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mimeographed reports from the board of directors meetings.
Highlights: April 5, 1951, report includes the outline of a thirty year
agreement between Milton Berle and NBC, including a three year contract for the
8pm-9pm slot on Tuesdays. January 5, 1951, 9-page report including NBC's
financial dealings with the
Mimeographed and onionskin memoranda and reports from the board of directors.
Highlights: November 3, 1950, report includes the resignation of Edward Nally as director of the company, the election of Carleton Smith as the company's Vice President, and also outlines the framework for employee benefits and retirement plans.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda and reports from the board of directors meetings, especially with regard to affiliate additions, current and future programming.
Highlights: October 7, 1949, Board meeting supplement details the agreement
between NBC and the United Nations Radio unit. October 3, 1949, memo outlines
lawsuit brought against NBC by Joseph J. Balaber, owner of "certain Mack
Sennett comedies," who claims NBC agreed to broadcast the films only in the
continental United States. NBC broadcast these films, during the
Original, onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, balance sheets, and reports from the board of directors meetings; details employee pay raises, union agreements, affiliate acquisition, board elections, employment contracts, equipment purchasing, theater leasing.
Highlights: December 1, 1949, report proposing severance pay to NBC employees.
November 2, 1949, report proposing an agreement with the Radio and Television
Directors Guild. October 5, 1949, reports the contract agreement with the Radio
Writers Guild - for the news writers stationed in Chicago. September 1, 1949,
report proposes the acceptance of the NABET contract for Hollywood sound
effects technicians; the reinstatement of the International Broadcast
transmitters at Dixon, CA. May 4, 1949, reports the authorization of the move
of the
Onionskin reports, memos, and balance sheets for board of directors meetings; includes mention of union agreements, salary and severance pay, retirement plans, new employees, profit/loss stats, FCC regulations, theater leases.
Highlights: September 28, 1949, 19-page report discusses the legal actions
taken by the networks against the FCC regulation prohibiting "lottery
programs," also announces new plans for a North American Broadcast Agreement.
September 2, 1949, 30-page report mentions a suit by Frank Paris, a former NBC
puppeteer, who allegedly designed the original
Original and onionskin reports from board of directors meetings.
Highlights: September 3, 1948 shows the programming from the previous month, included are programs concerning the upcoming Presidential election, the speech by the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and the introduction of the Selective Service.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and balance sheets from board of directors meetings; includes information about union contracts, bonus payments, equipment purchasing, theater leasing, employee life insurance and benefits for those who served in the military, changes in the membership of the Board of Directors.
Highlights: July 1, 1948, report mentions NBC's contribution to a fund that would pay for an investigation into the murder in Greece of George Polk, a NBC radio news correspondent.
Onionskin memoranda and reports from board of directors meetings, includes details of the plans for the election coverage, FCC rulings, and the growing interest in network television, union agreements, program listings (including numerous political speeches), employee benefits - esp. those from the military - theater, office, and equipment leasing.
Highlights: November 5, 1948, legal action taken against NBC, Elizabeth
Bentley, and General Foods by William C. Remington for the libelous statements
made by Ms. Bentley on the program
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda and letters documenting actions of the board of directors.
Highlights: the July 29th letters of resignation from A.L. Ashby as Vice President and General Counsel and from Clarence L. Menser as Vice President in charge of Programs.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and balance sheets from board of directors meetings; includes equipment purchase and construction, bonus payments, salary information, Board elections, employee life insurance plans, incentive plan, and pension plans.
Highlights: May 9, 1947, discusses the support of the American Broadcasting Company by NBC through means of office space and services.
Original, onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and balance sheets from board of directors meetings.
Highlights: November 7, 1947, in the FCC section, the proposal of the elimination of Channel 1 as a television station is brought forth, as is the suggestion of super power television stations. September 5, 1947, 22-page report mentions Petrillo's controversial decision not to permit duplication of AM network musical programs on FM stations. September 3, 1947, an agreement between NBC and the BBC for exchange of new film reels is mentioned in the "television" section, as are deals to televise collegiate football games, the home games of the NY Giants and the Baltimore Colts. February 7, 1947, under the heading of the FCC the Columbia proposition for color television is put forth.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda from board of directors meetings; focuses primarily on the decisions made by the FCC.
Highlights: October 25, 1946, memo from AL Ashby to Niles Trammell regarding the CBS petition for color television programming. May 2, 1946, memo from A. L. Ashby to Niles Trammell regarding the FCC's clear channel proceedings.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and balance sheets from board of directors meetings.
Highlights: October 25, 1946, 11-page "Report for Board of Directors for Program Department" lists several one-time-only programs. October 4, 1946, 15-page report mentions NBC's purchase of motion picture cameras for recording television pictures. July 2, 1946, 17-page report mentions a threat from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to sabotage the television broadcast of the Joe Louis-Billy Conn fight unless NBC engaged members of their union to operate the television cameras.
Onionskin memoranda, and reports from board of directors meetings.
Highlights: August 28, 1945, memo from A.L. Ashby to Niles Trammell reports on FCC decision that permits AM licensees to operate FM stations and to permit FM licensees to duplicate on their FM stations all the programs broadcast on their AM stations.
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and balance sheets from board of directors meetings.
Highlights: November 2, 1945, report describes FCC hearings on the television
allocation plan. September 7, 1945, 13-page report lists several programs
celebrating the Japanese surrender on August 10, 1945. May 4, 1945, 12-page
report describes the programming challenges and financial sacrifices undertaken
by NBC when President Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. This report also
describes nine programs planned for V-E Day, including
Onionskin memoranda, reports, and balance sheets from board of directors meetings.
Highlight: August 13, 1945, 13-page report mentions the reduction in time for
the
Onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and balance sheets from board of directors meetings.
Highlights: August 13, 1945, 13-page report mentions the
Original, onionskin and mimeographed memoranda, reports, and balance sheets from board of directors meetings.
Highlights: September 1, 1944, 13-page report mentions the August 14, 1944, evening tipoff of NBC that "a development of military importance was pending." Consequently, NBC stayed in operation all night and was able to broadcast a report the next day at 6 A.M. of the allied invasion of southern France. May 5, 1944, 14-page report announces new "facilities for the metalizing of master recordings immediately after recording. May 5, 1944, 14-page report outlines NBC's plans to cover the possible invasion of Europe.
Onionskin memoranda, reports, and balance sheets from board of directors meetings.
Highlights: December 3, 1943, 11-page report describes several new programs,
including
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports to the board of directors.
Highlights: October 10, 1939, letter from Lenox R. Lohr to General James G. Harbord, chairman of the Board of RCA regarding the Al Jolson case. May 25, 1939, 7-page report by O. B. Hanson, "Problems of Relocation of WEAF."
Onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports to the board of directors.
Highlights: October 20, 1938, 3-page analysis of NBC coverage of the Czechoslovakian situation. August, 1938 24-page "Analysis of Program Audiences and Listening Habits in Rural Areas vs Large Cities."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, an article, and reports to the board of directors.
Highlights: December 30, 1935, memo announcing Merlin H. Aylesworth's resignation as president of NBC and the election of Lenox R. Lohr as his replacement.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, an article, and reports to the board of directors.
Highlights: Undated 2-page report describes NBC's ordeal in preventing the
But my
greatest delight
Was when she stood naked
Of her flowing
garment;
And like a bending branch
Of a willow, uncovered to me
Her
beauty, an unfolding rose
Which breaks its bud
And displays all its
loveliness.
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, and reports to the board of directors.
Highlights: 1935 5-page report mentions the Louis-Baer fight causing the "Mount Everest" of electrical consumption, more than doubling the amount used during the April 28 "Fireside Chat" by President Roosevelt. Excerpt from a 1935 report shows that 563,631 pieces of audience mail were received in November, 1934.
Original, handwritten, mimeographed, and onionskin memoranda, an article, and minutes from board of directors meetings.
Highlights: May 25, 1935, 18-page "Report of the Activities of the Washington Division."
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports to the board of directors.
Highlights: December 20, 1934, 5-page report discusses conflicts between radio, theaters, and motion pictures regarding NBC and Columbia inviting audiences to watch at on charge broadcasts at studios and theaters. Undated excerpt from a report where Walter Damrosch is asked if the quality of music has improved. He replies: "True, it certainly iss true. It iss so true that those dregs of civilization, the manachers of advertising achencies, and the vice presidents of automobile companies, haf begun to realize it." [sic] September, 17, 1934, congratulatory letter from M. H. Aylesworth to David Sarnoff on the occasion of Sarnoff's acceptance as chairman of the board of NBC.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and reports to the board of directors.
Printed items: January, 1934 10-page pamphlet,
Original, onionskin, mimeographed, and photocopied letters, memoranda, reports, maps, press releases, and telegrams related to the NBC network and affiliates.
Highlights: February 5, 1937, 42-page "Report on the Study for Improving National Broadcasting Company Network Facilities." April 17, 1939, NBC network facilities map. June 28, 1934, 3-page letter from WSYR of Syracuse, New York to NBC complaining of NBC's neglect of the Blue Network in favor of the Red Network. May, 1951 4-page report on the growth and development of the NBC television network. June, 1941 11-page report on the Pacific Coast Blue network, "Let's Do Something About the Blue." March 25, 1941, 25-page report, "The Growth of the Blue Network During 1940."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, contracts, a letter, and a report on station contracts.
Highlights: Undated 5-page report from the "NBC Contract Committee."
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, fan mail, articles, and reports related to radio stations WCAP and WRC, as well as unrelated correspondence concerning NBC's attempts to receive permission to distribute transcriptions of speeches to schools.
Highlights: July 17, 1925, letter from F.P. Guthrie to Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith about WCAP's reluctance at WRC signing on immediately following their sign off. November 7, 1924, letter from David Sarnoff to F.P. Guthrie praising him for taking "criticism in the proper and manly way" after Guthrie's apology for sending an indiscreet letter to the phone company and the Department of Commerce that could have hindered RCA's radio plans. October 2, 1923, letter from RCA to Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, requesting exclusive rights to the Army-Navy football game. April 30, 1946, letter from Madame Chiang Kai-shek's secretary granting NBC permission to include her speeches in a NBC educational catalogue. March 28, 1946, letter from Winston Churchill's private secretary denying NBC request to include Churchill's speeches in the catalogue. March 20, 1946, letter from the White House granting NBC permission to include the President's speeches in the catalogue.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, contracts, and reports from the NBC radio affiliates executive committee.
Highlights: June 23, 1958, letter from WOOD radio & television to NBC urging the dropping of daytime drama from the weekday schedule. May 1, 1958, 11-page "Station Affiliate List."
Printed items: April 15, 1958, 35-page booklet,
Original and mimeographed press releases, reports, a memorandum, and a letter concerning the committee.
Highlights: December 17, 1959, 3-page committee report recommends, among other
things, to minimize the offbeat and "egghead" segments and to "take the bedroom
out of the weather" by removing Miss Monitor from the
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, press release, telegrams, and reports from the executive committee.
Highlights: October, 1959 closed circuit speech to radio affiliates. 1959
8-page NBC speech from NBC radio to its affiliates demanding their 100%
clearance on
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, speeches, telegrams, memoranda, reports, and an article regarding NBC radio affiliates.
Highlights: December 5, 1960, NBC telegram to affiliates not clearing enough network programming.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed press releases, memoranda, a speech and reports from both radio and television affiliates.
Highlights: November, 1960 Robert W. Sarnoff speech to NBC Television affiliates. NBC television program listings from May 1 through September 7, 1960.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, reports, memoranda, a telegram, and an affiliation contract from the executive committee meeting.
Highlights: November, 1957 7-page report to affiliates, "How to Understand the New Simplified NBC Radio Compensation Plan. September 12, 1957, 11-page speech by Robert W. Sarnoff to NBC radio affiliates. August 6, 1957, letter from KVOO radio to NBC requesting an increase in local ad rates. August 5, 1957, 5-page report compares NBC radio & television with the competition.
Printed items: October 1, 1957, 16-page booklet,
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, telegrams, reports, an article, and a speech from the executive committee meeting.
Highlights: November 5, 1956, 11-page report from the radio affiliates meeting. October 19, 1956, 4-page report outlines the 46 tasks that need to be done in preparation for the November 19, 1956, affiliates meeting.
Original, onionskin, photocopied, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, press releases, a speech, and a telegram regarding NBC affiliates conventions.
Highlights: 1938 15-page report, "NBC Network Facilities 1926-1938."
Printed items: November, 1951 8-page NBC program, the
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, speeches, and letters relating to the affiliates convention.
Highlights: October, 1950 11-page convention speech by Niles Trammell, "The Radio-Television Challenge." 1950 5-page report, "List of Possible TV Questions and Their Answers Which May be Raised by Affiliates at Greenbrier."
Mimeographed and onionskin letters, memoranda, press releases, speeches, a telegram, and a report from the affiliate convention.
Highlights: March 1, 1949, 25-page speech by Wayne Coy of the FCC to the affiliates convention. March 1, 1949, telegram mentions the CBS talent raids.
Printed items: March 28, 1949, 25-page booklet,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda, letters, speeches, an article, and reports from the affiliates convention.
Highlights: October 18, 1949, 13-page summary of Hugh M. Beville's speech and slide presentation at the September affiliates convention. October, 1949 speech by Sylvester J. Weaver at the convention.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, speeches, and reports from the affiliates meetings.
Highlights: September, 1948 11-page report, "Sales Outlook for Sound Broadcasting and Television."
Printed items: 1948 brochure,
Mimeographed and handwritten reports from the affiliate meetings.
Highlights: March 17, 1950, 12-page report includes list of proposed NBC radio programs, their stars, and the cost of each program.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed reports, letters, press releases, and memoranda from the affiliates meetings.
Highlights: October 18, 1951, letter from NBC to the BBC inviting Sir William Haley to meet with Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr. about cooperation between the two organizations. October 18, 1951, 3-page report on the latest technical developments in television equipment and technique.
Printed items: November 28-30, 1951, 15-page NBC pamphlet,
Onionskin and mimeographed reports, memoranda, and a press release from the affiliates meetings.
Highlights: October 5-12, 1959, daytime television schedule with list of sponsors.
Photocopied memoranda and reports from the NBC affiliates meetings.
Highlights: November 13, 1963, 111-page report includes extensive ratings data.
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, letters, a telegram, and speeches from the NBC television affiliates meetings.
Highlights: June 11, 1954, letter from Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr. to WTMJ-TV
justifying the commercial pattern of the
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, reports, a speech, and a letter from the NBC television affiliate meetings.
Highlights: June 28, 1955, 10-page report describes the reaction of NBC
continuity acceptance to profanity on the
Mimeographed memoranda and reports from NBC-operated stations managers meetings.
Highlights: August 9-15, 1936, program schedules and audience ratings from Boston radio stations WEEI, WBZ, WBZA, WNAC, and WAAB.
Onionskin and mimeographed reports concerning NBC monthly meetings.
Highlights: March, 1934 25-page mimeographed "National Broadcasting Company, Inc. General Report."
Original and mimeographed press releases and reports concerning NBC and RCA.
Highlights: December 30, 1954, 12-page report, "Close of Banner Year for WRCA And WRCA-TV." February, 1947 98-page report, "An Analysis of NBC's Network Operation."
Printed items: 1956 52-page
Original and handwritten lists of programs on transcription discs
Printed items: Several transcription disc labels of the NBC radio recording division.
Mimeographed and onionskin listings of programs & repertoire of the NBC Concert Orchestra and a list of Toscanini recordings.
Highlights: 1954 8-page summary of the NBC Symphony Concerts.
Onionskin and mimeographed press releases, a newsletter, reports, program
listings, and a
Highlights: December, 1970 newsletter,
Original and mimeographed program notes, a letter, and graphic proofs of programs of the NBC Symphony Orchestra.
Highlights: March 12, 1938, 3-page "Program Notes" of an NBC broadcast.
Printed items: Nine programs of the
Mimeographed descriptions of the radio performances of the NBC Symphony Orchestra and a memo concerning a change in schedule for conductors.
Printed items: March 11, 1945, 4 page newsletter, Symphony Notes, from the
Graphic proofs of programs for NBC Symphony performances.
Printed items: February 5, 1938, program card for a performance conducted by Toscanini.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed cast lists, press releases, biographies, a letter, and articles about NBC ballet programming.
Highlights: Undated 11-page MCA press manual for the dancing duo of Marge and Gower Champion.
Printed items: Undated black and white photographs of ballet rehearsals and performances.
Highlights: Undated 3 page report, "The Royal Ballet." April 29, 1957, 11-page
report on the history of
Printed items: Undated black and white photographs of rehearsals and
performances of
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, press releases, memoranda, reviews, biographies, telegrams, and articles on the NBC opera company.
Highlights: January 14, 1959, 4-page report of
Printed items: June 21, 1958, 2 page letter from singer Herbert Handt includes
two black and white photographs. 1958 program,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed reports, press releases,
articles, biographies, memoranda, cast lists, reports, and synopses on NBC
classical and opera programming, particularly the program,
Highlights: Undated 14 page report on landmark NBC classical and opera programming, "Some NBC Firsts."
Printed items: February 8, 1952, photograph of Jascha Heifetz, Artur Rubinstein, and Gregor Piatigorsky preparing for an NBC music special.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, press releases, memoranda, biographies, telegrams, and articles on the NBC opera company.
Highlights: February 2, 1964, 3 page press release, "Samuel Chotzinoff, NBC Music Consultant, Dies."
Printed items: July 10 19, 1963, 6-page UCLA brochure,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed reports, biographies, articles, memoranda, a letter, and a telegram about the NBC opera.
Highlights: May 9, 1963, 2-page press release, "Exceptional Mail Response
Praises NBC Opera Company's TV Presentation of Bach's St. Matthew Passion."
March, 1963 2-page report on the history of
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, and press releases from NBC opera productions.
Highlights: January 15, 1962, press release, "Critics Vote Leontyne Price Musician of the Year, Soprano Stars in Opera, Don Giovanni, on NBC TV."
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, biographies, articles, press releases, a telegram, and audience mail regarding NBC opera productions.
Highlights: June 3, 1960, letter from the Department of State concerning the possible inclusion of a Leonard Kastle opera, "Deseret" in a USA/USSR cultural exchange program. June 1, 1960, memo, "Menotti Contract."
Printed items: 1959 12 page program, "Deseret." (2 copies)
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed articles, press releases, memoranda, fan mail, cast lists, a letter, and reports about NBC opera productions.
Highlights: April 28, 1960, 4-page report lists excerpts of fan mail concerning
the NBC production of
Printed items: Undated 4-page promotional pamphlet,
Onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed press releases, memoranda, reports, and articles about NBC opera productions.
Highlights: May 19, 1959, 3 page press release, "Two Hour Colorcast of
Printed items: December 5, 1958, black and white photograph of a rehearsal for
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed reviews, memoranda, press releases, reports, and telegrams regarding the NBC opera company.
Highlights: 1957 telegrams from President Eisenhower and Vice President Nixon congratulating the South Bend, Indiana Chamber of Commerce for its celebration of the NBC opera company performance.
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed press releases, reports, press books, a biography, a letter, and memoranda regarding the NBC TV opera theater.
Highlights: 1957 28-page NBC opera company press book, "The Marriage of Figaro." 1956 38-page NBC opera company press book, "Madam Butterfly." 1957 31-page NBC opera company press book, "La Traviata." 1956 27-page NBC opera company press book, "The Marriage of Figaro." Undated 3-page report, "Prokofiev's Opera War and Peace." Undated 2-page report on the history of the NBC-TV opera theater.
Printed items: Undated 26-page booklet,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda, program synopses,
articles, program descriptions, biographies, press releases, and reports on the
Highlights: December 29, 1955, press release, "
Printed items: 1956 31-page press book,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed memoranda, articles, a letter, press releases, program descriptions, cast lists, biographies, and reports on NBC opera productions.
Highlights: May 11, 1955, memo recommending the decline by NBC of the Canada
Lee Foundation award for NBC's casting of Leontyne Price in the opera,
Printed items: Undated 2- page program,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed press releases, articles, telegrams, awards, cast lists, reports, memoranda, and cast biographies from NBC opera theater productions.
Highlights: June 24, 1954, memo discusses the opera,
Printed items: April 14, 1954, copy of the
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed memoranda, press releases, program descriptions, cast lists, articles, and biographies from NBC opera theater productions.
Highlights: Undated 2-page biography of the contralto, Winifred Heidt.
Printed items: Black and white contact prints from
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed reports, biographies, press releases, telegrams, cast lists, program descriptions, and articles about NBC opera productions.
Highlights: December 24, 1951, 44-page script of the NBC opera theater
performance,
Printed items: Undated posters, NBC Feature Photos. May 1, 1955, 4-page
program,
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed reports, biographies, press releases, a telegram, cast lists, program descriptions, and articles about NBC opera theater productions.
Highlights: November 25, 1949, 31-page script,
Original, onionskin and mimeographed press releases, a letter, and reports on NBC classical and opera programming.
Highlights: 1948 35-page report, "Outstanding Programs," covers the period from
1927-48. Undated 3-page press release, "Opera on Television is Mass
Entertainment." Undated 11-page report, "Music." 1950 2-page report lists NBC
Opera Company productions from 1949-50. 1966 6-page report, "
Original, onionskin, handwritten, and mimeographed letters, reports, and memoranda from miscellaneous NBC performers.
Highlights: 1937 3-page report on NBC music firsts, "Pioneering Achievements of NBC." September, 14, 1964, letter from Walter Toscanini to NBC. July 22, 1940, dramatic letter from Arturo Toscanini to his orchestra bidding them farewell until the next season. September 11, 1941, original letter from conductor Leopold Stokowski to Niles Trammell. Undated 4-page report, "Toscanini Retires."
Printed items: 1964 black and white photographs of actor Teno Pollick. 1955 original letter from Dinah Shore Montgomery.
Original and mimeographed reports, articles, a letter, and press releases regarding Arturo Toscanini.
Highlights: January 18, 1943, 4-page press release, "Toscanini to Blast Dictators with Work by Verdi Written in 1862 to Attack Political Oppressors." August 25, 1943, 2-page press release, "Toscanini Shares his Library with Italian Prisoners Who Fought for Fascism He Hates." May 24, 1944, press release, "Soldiers, Natives in Italy Now Hear Daily Program by Toscanini and the NBC Symphony."
Printed items: November 19 through December 17, 1944, 4-page program,
Original, handwritten, onionskin, and mimeographed reports, letters, articles, memoranda, and press releases concerning Arturo Toscanini.
Highlights: December 8, 1965, letter from Walter Toscanini to NBC announcing
the dedication of the Toscanini Memorial Archives and requesting NBC TV &
radio coverage. Undated 2-page report, "Toscanini Memorial Archives." March 12,
1967, 27-page NBC TV script from the
Printed items: Undated 7-page pamphlet,
Mimeographed press releases
Highlights: November 22, 1949, 2 page press release, "He Loves Television Sports, Puppet Shows, Music Most of the Time He's Quiet, Charming," mentions his interest in professional wrestling. April 5, 1950, press release, "Kill the Referee!," refers to Toscanini's love of boxing and how "he jumps up to spur his fighter on, and calls the referee and judges names when they don't agree with his version of a bout."
Onionskin and mimeographed press releases and articles on Arturo Toscanini.
Highlights: March 17, 1938, press release, "Clockless Studio Is Legacy Left by Arturo Toscanini." November 3, 1938, 2-page press release, "NBC Symphony Orchestra Concert Made Audible to Helen Keller."
Original, onionskin, and mimeographed letters, memoranda, contracts, and reports on Arturo Toscanini.
Highlights: April 7, 1948, letter from David Sarnoff to Toscanini concerning NBC's upcoming gift to him of a 1948 Cadillac equipped with a mobile telephone. July 7, 1944, letter of agreement between Toscanini and NBC. November 26, 1943, letter from Arturo Toscanini to NBC concerning his possible return to America to conduct his symphony. December 22, 1938, letter of agreement between NBC and Toscanini for several radio performances of the NBC Symphony Orchestra.
Printed items: April 8, 1954, 6-page program of the 30th anniversary reunion of
the members of the NBC Symphony Orchestra. 1950 RCA 23-page booklet,
Onionskin and mimeographed press release, letters, reports, and articles on Arturo Toscanini.
Highlights: February 8, 1937, copy of a letter from Toscanini to David Sarnoff stating his desire for a commitment to quality from NBC for NBC symphony. Twenty three reports from 1937 to 1954, "Listing of Programs and Repertoire" of the NBC concert orchestra. Materials relating to Toscanini's funeral and memorial services.
Printed items: Black and white photograph of members of the NBC opera company.
January February, 1957 excerpts from
Mimeographed press releases and the schedule for Toscanini's 1950 tour.
Printed items: Large, undated mock up of a
Speeches by David C. Adams, Dr. James Rowland Angell, Frank A. Arnold, Harry Bannister, Edward P. Bertero, Hugh M. Beville, Jr., Thornton F. Bradshaw, and David Brinkley.
Printed items: November 18, 1954, pamphlet of a Hugh M. Beville, Jr. speech on television ratings. April, 1956 technical manual on color video effects by Edward P. Bertero. March 18, 1959, pamphlet of a Hugh M. Beville, Jr. speech on cost and sales trends in network television. October 18, 1957, booklet of a Hugh M. Beville, Jr. speech on the methodology of television ratings. December 8, 1948, booklet of a Hugh M. Beville, Jr. speech on television advertising.
Press releases and speeches by Lester M. Crystal, Thomas E. Coffin, Joe Culligan, Mathew J. Culligan, Reid R. Davis, Charles R. Denny, Don Durgin, and John J. Carty. July 2-3, 1968 memoranda on television violence.
Printed items: May 13, 1969, pamphlet of a Don Durgin speech on television program development. October 23, 1956, pamphlet of a Mathew J. Culligan speech on network radio advertising. December 15, 1965, pamphlet of a Thomas E. Coffin speech on the impact of color television on audiences. October 17, 1972, Don Durgin speech on the Fairness Doctrine. September 23, 1952, booklet of a Charles R. Denny speech on television's responsibility and opportunity for serving the public.
Press releases and speeches by Thomas E. Coffin and Corydon B. Dunham.
Printed items: October, 1955 pamphlet reprint of Thomas E. Coffin's article
from
Press releases and speeches by Rueven Frank.
Printed items: June 22, 1972, pamphlet of a Rueven Frank speech, "If Benjamin Franklin had Invented Television." May 5, 1971, Rueven Frank speech on freedom of the press. February 17, 1970, Rueven Frank speech in the wake of Spiro Agnew's Des Moines speech attacking the press. November 11, 1971, booklet of a Rueven Frank speech on censorship. Press releases about accuracy in election reporting (1983), network editorializing on the air (1966), and the "Fairness Doctrine" (1968).
Speeches by Don E. Gilman, Lawrence E. Gershman, Howard C. Gronberg, and Nicholas Gordon.
Printed items: May, 1954 television technical manual by Howard C. Gronberg.
Speeches, text of statements made before various communication committees, memoranda, press releases, an article, letter to Senator Mike Mansfield from Julian Goodman concerning attacks on NBC for its coverage of the Laotian incursions, and an index to Julian Goodman's speeches and testimony (1966-1974).
Printed items: August 5, 1966, pamphlet of a Julian Goodman commencement
address. October 1, 1966, pamphlet of a Julian Goodman speech on the effect of
satellite technology on television. October 25, 1966, pamphlet of a Julian
Goodman speech on television trends. November 11, 1966, pamphlet of a Julian
Goodman speech comparing print and electronic journalism. April 26, 1967,
pamphlet of a Julian Goodman statement before the U.S. Senate. April 12, 1967,
pamphlet of a Julian Goodman speech on television's influence on world
communications. October 11, 1967, pamphlet of a Julian Goodman speech on color
television. August 29, 1967, pamphlet of a Julian Goodman speech in West Berlin
on the global impact of color television. November 9, 1967, booklet of a Julian
Goodman speech on the educational nature of commercial television. January 26,
1968, booklet of a Julian Goodman speech on the future of television. April 23,
1969, booklet of a Julian Goodman speech on television in the 1970's. January
27, 1969, booklet of a Julian Goodman speech on television journalism in a free
society. August 25, 1969, reprint of a
Speeches, addresses, text of statements by Julian Goodman to various congressional communication committees, and copies of letters to Senators Alan Cranston and Sam J. Ervin, Jr.
Printed items: April 21, 1971 pamphlet of remarks from speech to Canadian
Assoc. of Broadcasters. Pamphlet of Oct. 12, 1971 statement before Senate
subcommittee. Booklet of March 9, 1972 remarks at acceptance of IRTS Gold Medal
Award. Pamphlet of remarks on freedom of the press and censorship delivered at
the "Great Issues Forum" October 11, 1972. January 1973 remarks on
counter-advertising. Pamphlet of remarks on the Fairness Doctrine vs. Free
Speech make May 18, 1973. Pamphlet of remarks made at commencement of the
University of Florida on Aug. 25, 1973. Pamphlet of remarks made at television
advertising workshop on October 4, 1973. Pamphlet on May 31, 1974 speech about
freedom of the press. December 6, 1975, pamphlet of a speech by Julian Goodman
on freedom of the press. Pamphlet of March 22, 1976 remarks at the National
Association of Broadcasters Convention. Pamphlet of address given at the
Anti-Defamation League Dinner December 6, 1975. October 22, 1976, pamphlet of a
speech by Julian Goodman on broadcast journalism's role in the democratic
process. January 31, 1977, pamphlet of a speech by Julian Goodman on the
relationship between the press and government. 1977
Speeches by Peter B. Kenney, Fred B. Rooney, Robert E. Kintner, and Robert D. Kasmire. Press releases, memoranda, an article, and Robert Kintner's resignation letter.
Printed items: Reprint of keynote address by Robert E. Kintner to the National
Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters convention. June 3, 1965,
pamphlet of a Robert E. Kintner speech on global television. February 2, 1960,
pamphlet of a Robert E. Kintner speech on television advertising. July 1, 1964,
reprint of the
An article and speeches by Robert E. Lee, Robert F. Lewine, Stephen B. Labunski, Bill Ladd, Carl B. Lindstrand, and Merrill Lindsay.
Printed items: Clipping from September 27, 1954 article in
Press releases and speeches by George F. McClelland, Joseph H. McConnell, William K. McDaniel, Joseph A. McDonald, R. W. McFadyen, Tom McAvity, William McAndrew, Glen McDaniel, and Clair McCollough.
Printed items: Booklet of a 1952 address by Joseph H. McConnell to the North Carolina Bar Association, pamphlet of remarks of Clair McCollough on freedom and responsibility in broadcasting given to the Institute for Education by Radio-Television at Ohio State University on May 5, 1960.
Speeches by Edward D. Madden, Frank E. Mullen, Bill Monroe, David J. Mahoney, Robert F. Mason, John F. Meagher, Mitch Miller, and Keith E. Mullenger.
Printed items: February 16, 1972, pamphlet of Bill Monroe's statement before the Senate on the relationship between the government and the press. May 25, 1955, report of David J Mahoney's speech on the status of radio in 1955, May 1954 booklet by Keith E. Mullenger on color television film reproduction.
A press release and speeches by John L. Burns, Frank M. Folsom, and Charles B. Jolliffe.
Printed items: March 12, 1956, pamphlet of a Frank Folsom speech on the outlook for electronics. January 4, 1954, pamphlet of a Frank Folsom year end statement. February we, 1954, booklet of a Frank Folsom speech reporting the non-discriminatory hiring practices at RCA. September 23, 1954, pamphlet of a Frank Folsom speech on the business of electronics. December 7, 1955, booklet of a Frank Folsom speech on electronics.
Reprints of speeches.
Printed items:
Press releases, a transcription of a Tom Snyder interview with Howard K. Smith, speeches by Walter D. Scott, Thomas W. Sarnoff, Richard S. Salant, Nancy Salkin, Robert E. Shelby, William Small, Edward Stanley, Marion Stephenson, John Scuppo, Robert D. Swezey, Carleton D. Smith, and James A. Stabile.
Printed items:
Press releases and speeches by Herbert S. Schlosser.
Printed items:
Press releases, a memo, and speeches by Walter D. Scott.
Printed items:
Press releases and speeches by Fred Silverman.
Printed items:
Press releases, speeches, and newspaper clippings of articles by Niles Trammell.
Printed items:
Speeches, press releases, and clippings of newspaper articles by Sylvester L. Weaver, Jr.
Printed items:
Mimeographed speeches and articles by Sylvester Weaver
Printed items: October 16 and 23, 1954, 32-page reprint of articles from
Onionskin and mimeographed program schedules and transcripts.
Highlights: Extensive transcripts of D Day coverage.
Onionskin and mimeographed program schedules and transcripts.
Highlights: Extensive transcripts of D Day coverage.
Onionskin and mimeographed program schedules and transcripts.
Highlights: Extensive transcripts of D Day coverage.
Onionskin and mimeographed program schedules and transcripts.
Highlights: Extensive transcripts of D Day coverage.
Original, handwritten, mimeographed, and onionskin program schedules and transcripts.
Highlights: First full day of
Original, handwritten, and mimeographed schedules and transcripts.
Highlights: This is the last Master Book compiled for WNBC-TV.
Mimeographed reports of speakers, air times, commercial breaks, and descriptions of NBC coverage of the Republican and Democratic Conventions.
Highlights: August 23, 1972, report of the fifth session mentions the scene outside; "On knees. For third time tonight sprayed with pepper gas. Eyes burn you can't breath properly [sic]. Sounds very filled up. Someone offered help."
Mimeographed reports of speakers, air times, commercial breaks, and descriptions of NBC coverage of the Democratic National Convention and the activity outside the convention.
Highlights: August 28, 1968, excerpt from correspondent Bill Ryan, "Says brutal military tactics are being used on the people in Chicag. They are dragging and clubbing people as they are making arrests."
Handwritten television coverage log, a mimeographed press release, and newspaper articles concerning the convention.
Highlights: July 5-15, 1960, 22-page handwritten television coverage log.
Loose leaf notebooks, bound folders, printed booklets.
Highlights: Position recommendations and personnel reports on candidates being considered for executive positions at NBC.
Bound consultant reports, supplements, and attachments.
Highlights: Two copies of Report No. 484-2 prepared by the Toeppen Company on the nature and costs of telephone, teletypewriter, and similar communication arrangements used by NBC with supplements on PBX Facility provision practices and PBX extension arrangements.
Bound report, 52 pages.
Highlights: Report contains organizational chart, proposed duties and brief descriptions of responsibilities for development of a NBC television network.
Bound volumes (2).
Highlights: Volume I contains reports on surveys of costs and rates; volume II contains recommended facilities programs, recommended organization programs, and a final chapter called "The Next Step."
Bound volumes (2), correspondence.
Highlights: contains a report of the organization survey paying particular attention to the objectives, organization structure, methods and costs of operation of the Radio Recording Department. Attention is also given to the existing inter-relationships between the NBC Radio Recording Department and the RCA Victor Division and the existing relationships between Radio Recording and other departments within NBC, particularly Engineering and Accounting. The report contains findings of the survey and recommends a course of action. Appendix to the General Survey Report on custom record manufacturing.
Bound volume
Highlights: contains confidential report containing detailed tabulations of nationwide field interviews with present, former or prospective customers and competitors.
Bound volume, correspondence.
Highlights: consultant report activities and recommendations of RCA L
Bound reports, correspondence.
Highlights: three bound reports on different aspects of the transcription service, including a special report on comments made about Frederic W. Ziv, Inc.
Pamphlets, books, and folders containing extensive reports on the critical issues faced by NBC.
Highlights: February 28, 1941, minutes of the Advisory Council of NBC covers topics such as the FCC monopoly report, the reorganization of NBC, and the ASCAP-BMI controversy. This is a representative report from this huge file.