Guide to the Radio/Television/Film Department Academic and Course Files
| Collection Title: | Radio/Television/Film Department Academic and Course Files |
| Dates: | 1946-1980 |
| Identification: | 20/31 |
| Creator: | Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Dept. of Radio, Television, and Film |
| Extent: | 5 Boxes |
| Language of Materials: | English |
| Abstract: | The Academic and Course Files of the Radio/Television/Film Department are arranged in 4 subseries: graduate program materials; course materials; student papers; and grade sheets. They include reading lists; copies of M.A. comprehensive and Ph.D. final examinations; correspondence with and concerning graduate students; reading lists; handouts; quizzes and examinations; and script excerpts used for classroom discussions or class projects. |
| Acquisition Information: | Most of these records were separated from the Radio/Television/Film Department Departmental Administrative Records (Record Series 20/30), received from Professor Martin Maloney of the Department in November, 1977 (Accession #77-27). Two folders of student papers were added from Accession #79-125, transferred to the Archives by Cynthia Gottschalk of the Department on July 17, 1979. Two folders of course handouts and student papers were transferred from the Archives' general reference files. |
| Processing Information: | James G. Carson, May 15, 1985. |
| Separated Materials: | None. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | This series may be used only with the 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 five boxes and is arranged in 4 subseries: graduate program materials; course materials; student papers; and grade sheets.
The graduate program materials occupy about two-thirds of a box and span the period 1948-66, with the bulk of the materials dated prior to 1955. They include reading lists, copies of M.A. comprehensive and Ph.D. final examinations, and correspondence with and concerning graduate students.
Course materials fill about one and one-third boxes and span the period 1946-80. They include reading lists, handouts, quizzes and examinations, and script excerpts used for classroom discussions or class projects. The great majority of materials are from one course, Radio/Television C83 A & B (Advanced Radio Production) and date from the late 1940's and early 1950's.
Student papers occupy about two and one-half boxes and span the period 1947-70. Most date from the late 1940's and early 1950's. At the end of this subseries is a bound volume of papers by student recipients of the Pierre Andre Memorial Scholarship during the 1963-64 academic year.
Grade sheets fill half a box and span the period 1948-66. One or two sheets exist for each course, listing names of students, grades received on individual assignments during the course, and the final course grade. The sheets also include occasional instructor comments.
Arrangement of Materials
The graduate program materials are arranged alphabetically by type of material.
Course materials are mostly arranged numerically by course number and alphabetically by type of material thereunder. At the end of this subseries are two folders of script excerpts which cannot be identified with a particular course; these materials are arranged alphabetically by title.
Student papers are arranged alphabetically by the author's surname.
Grade sheets are arranged in chronological order by calendar year.
Subjects
Corporate Name
Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Dept. of Radio and Television
Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Dept. of Radio, Television, and Film
Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Radio Dept.
Subjects
Broadcasting--Study and teaching--Illinois--Evanston
