A handbook of the American Revolution, 1946-10

This series is one of a group that together represent the speeches and other writings of Col. Robert R. McCormick (1880-1955), editor and publisher of the Chicago tribune. These collections primarily represent McCormick's weekly radio addresses, but they include speeches delivered on other occasions, and writings published as pamphlets and books. (McCormick's unpublished memoirs were also delivered originally as radio speeches). This series contains selected materials that were declared to be redundant by the Tribune Company Archives, but were retained because they represent the best available versions. (This series does not include all materials related to the speeches it contains.) The topics covered by McCormick in his speeches include American history, politics and government, military affairs (foreign and domestic), foreign policy, current events (including the course of the second World War), and descriptions of his travels to Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. McCormick's views on the freedom of the press and other matters contained in the United States Constitution and Declaration of Independence also occur frequently.

McCormick's radio addresses were broadcast over WGN, the Tribune's radio station, and over the Mutual Broadcasting System, usually during the intermission of a weekly musical program. The texts of these speeches (as well as many of McCormick's other public presentations) were reported the next day in the Tribune, usually with the full text of the speech. The radio addresses were also set in type and printed on half-sheets of paper (generally of poor quality) stapled together, and used for internal distribution. (These were probably also used for outside distribution on request.) The weekly radio addresses were typically collected and published as pamphlets. Many of McCormick's other speeches were also printed in pamphlet form, in at least some cases for distribution at the time of the presentation.

Several collections of material related to the speeches were maintained by Tribune staff. The Business Survey (Promotion) department maintained a large collection of materials that primarily represent the production of the speeches and their preparation for publication. Another series appears to have been collected by McCormick's secretaries or aides. Other collections consist of McCormick's memoirs, and of duplicate copies.

This series consists primarily of published versions of McCormick's speeches; some of these materials contain manuscript additions.