Robert R. McCormick. Recordings of speeches; recordings of operas and operettas

This series was formed around recordings of the speeches of Col. Robert R. McCormick (1880-1955), editor and publisher of the Chicago tribune. (The series contains both the original transcription discs, and later copies on magnetic tape.) These speeches are primarly those given during a weekly musical broadcast, but include a few speeches delivered on other occasions. 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. This series also includes many recordings of musical performances given during broadcasts of the weekly Chicago Theater of the Air program (and materials related to those performances), as well as a few speeches and other broadcasts of historical interest that are not directly related to Col. McCormick.

When a speech was given during the broadcast of a musical program, and when the labels for the musical program indicate that the speech is present, the finding aid contains separate entries for the musical program and the speech. When the labels do not indicate that the speech is present, it is nevertheless likely that the recording includes the speech, but this cannot be determined until the recordings are played.