Guide to the Radio/Television/Film Department Departmental Administrative Records
| Collection Title: | Radio/Television/Film Department Departmental Administrative Records |
| Dates: | 1939-1968 |
| Identification: | 20/30 |
| Creator: | Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Dept. of Radio, Television, and Film |
| Extent: | 12 Boxes |
| Language of Materials: | English |
| Abstract: | This series fills twelve boxes and is arranged in four major subseries: general files; financial records; records relating
to the Summer Radio and Television Institute (1942-1958); and records relating to the summer National Defense Education Act
Media Specialist Institutes (1965 and 1967). The general files occupy two boxes and span the period 1939-1968. They include correspondence and other materials related to a variety of topics including the establishment of radio station WNUR; the operation of the Department's film lending library; and the taping and distribution of the radio series “Lessons in Learning,” narrated by Dean Lindley J. Stiles of the School of Education. The financial records occupy one box and consist of five account books documenting transactions in the department's accounts over the period 1952-67, arranged in chronological order. The records of the Summer Radio and Television Institutes (1942-1958) fill four boxes and include correspondence, completed application forms, schedules, lecture outlines and class handouts, and financial records. Records of the 1965 and 1967 NDEA Media Specialist Institutes occupy five boxes and include correspondence of the Institute director, Charles L. Hunter, and his assistants; letters of inquiry; completed applications; and handouts and information sheets. |
| Acquisition Information: | The bulk of this series was transferred to the University Archives in November, 1977, by Professor Martin Maloney of the Department of Radio, Television, and Film (Accession #77-27). Smaller accretions were received from Professor John Gartley of the Department on October 9 and November 26, 1979 (Accession #s 79-191 and 7Q-228); from Cynthia Gottschalk, on behalf of the Department, on July 17, 1979 (Accession #79-125); and from the Department prior to July 1, 1974 (Accession #74-52). One folder of correspondence was transferred from the Archives' general reference files. |
| Processing Information: | James G. Carson, May 7, 1985. |
| Separated Materials: | Approximately four linear feet of blank forms and duplicates were discarded. Ten photographs of the 1954 Summer Radio and Television Institute were separated to the Archives' photograph collection. Five boxes of academic and course materials were separated to form Record Series 20/31: eleven boxes of radio and television scripts were separated to form part of Record Series 20/32. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Financial records and records of the Summer Radio and Television Institutes and the NDEA Media Specialist Institutes may be used only with permission of the University Archivist. |
| Repository: | Northwestern University Archives Deering Library, Room 110 1970 Campus Dr. Evanston, IL, 60208-2300 URL: http://www.library.northwestern.edu/archives Email: archives@northwestern.edu Phone: 847-491-3354 |
Biographical/Historical Information
Instruction in radio was begun at Northwestern during the 1931-32 academic year, when a course entitled “Radio Advertising Copy” was offered by the School of Journalism. The School of Speech entered the field of radio in the fall of 1935 with courses in radio acting and writing taught by Albert Crews, who received his M.A. from the School of Speech in 1937 and chaired its Department of Radio until 1943.
The Department began offering graduate degree programs in 1946, and added instruction in television in 1949, when its name was changed to the Department of Radio and Television. The first television courses were taught by Donley F. Fedderson. In 1956, instruction in film was added to the curriculum, under the direction of Jack C. Ellis; the Department's name was changed to the Department of Radio, Television, and Film in 1957.
Throughout most of its history, the Department's academic programs have been supplemented by practical experience in radio at the University radio station, WNUR-FM, which went on the air on May 8, 1950. Other Departmental activities include the Radio Playshop (1939-53), a workshop specializing in the production and broadcast of student-written scripts: the Radio Guild (1946-48), devoted to adaptations of literary classics; and a series of public service programs beginning in 1947, produced for various social service agencies and other non-profit groups in the Evanston/Chicago area.
As of the fall of 1983, the Department was organized in two divisions, Radio/Television and Film; offered degree programs at the bachelor's, masters', and doctoral levels; and listed approximately fifty courses and sixteen full- and part-time faculty members.
Scope and Content
This series fills twelve boxes and is arranged in four major subseries: general files; financial records; records relating to the Summer Radio and Television Institute (1942-1958); and records relating to the summer National Defense Education Act Media Specialist Institutes (1965 and 1967).
The general files occupy two boxes and span the period 1939-1968. They include correspondence and other materials related to a variety of topics including the establishment of radio station WNUR; the operation of the Department's film lending library; and the taping and distribution of the radio series “Lessons in Learning,” narrated by Dean Lindley J. Stiles of the School of Education. Also in the general files is a series of papers presented at a symposium entitled “Broadcasting and Public Opinion” sponsored by the Department in 1961.
Material in this subseries is arranged alphabetically by subject.
The financial records occupy one box and consist of five account books documenting transactions in the department's accounts over the period 1952-67, arranged in chronological order.
The records of the Summer Radio and Television Institutes (1942-1958) fill four boxes and include correspondence, completed application forms, schedules, lecture outlines and class handouts, and financial records. Materials in this subseries are arranged chronologically by year and alphabetically by type of material thereunder. Also included is one box of registration cards listing each participant's name, address, and course enrollment; this run of cards is complete for the years 1942-1950 and incomplete (O-Z only) for 1951.
Records of the 1965 and 1967 NDEA Media Specialist Institutes occupy five boxes and include correspondence of the Institute director, Charles L. Hunter, and his assistants; letters of inquiry; completed applications; and handouts and information sheets. These records also are arranged chronologically by year and alphabetically by type of material thereunder.
Subjects
Corporate Name
Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Dept. of Radio, Television, and Film
