Collection ID: C104
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Indiana University. Department of Radio and Television
Abstract:
In 1938, Indiana University began to engage in radio activities. A room was set aside for use as a studio and control room, and a radio director and program director were hired. For years, radio classes were taught through several already established departments such as Speech and Journalism. At the Board of Trustees September 20, 1945 meeting, they approved the establishment of a Dept. of Radio as an "unattached" department under the Dean of Faculties. In 1953 it became the Department of Radio and Television within the College of Arts and Sciences and in 1974 the Department of Telecommunications. This collection contains the department chair's records from 1939-1963 and is comprised of correspondence, budgetary information, annual reports, information on various radio and television stations, and subject files. Records span the tenures of chairs Harry Skornia (1942-1953) and Elmer Sulzer (1954-1964).
Extent:
14.8 cubic feet (16 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Item], Indiana University Department of Radio and Television Chair's records, Collection C104, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

In 1938, Indiana University began to engage in radio activities. A room was set aside for use as a studio and control room and a radio director and program director were hired. Courses such as "Radio Broadcasting" and "Radio Writing" were offered through the Department of Speech and "Radio News" in the Department of Journalism. In addition, two graduate courses were initiated: "Radio in Education" in the School in Education and "Radio Seminar" in the Department of Speech.

At the Board of Trustees September 20, 1945 meeting, they approved the establishment of a Department of Radio as an "unattached department" under the Dean of Faculties. Beginning the fall of 1950, IU offered a B.S. in Radio and listed the courses under the College of Arts and Sciences, but it wasn't until 1953 that Radio officially began a part COAS, when the Trustees approved the establishment of the Department of Radio and Television. In 1974, the Trustees approved a name change to the Department of Telecommunications in order to better reflect the expanded scope of their academic program. This change went into effect on July 1.

Harry Skornia served as Director of Radio Programs (and chair of the department once it was established) from 1942-1953. Following him was Elmer Sulzer, who chaired the department for the decade from 1954-1964. Sulzer was succeeded by Donley Feddersen, who served as department chair from 1966-1970.

Today the Department of Telecommunications is home to over forty faculty members. It offers courses in marketing strategies, multimedia design, radio and television production, processes and effects, and industry and management.

Scope and Content:

This collection is organized into four series: Correspondence; Administrative files; Radio shows; and Radio and television stations. The Administrative files series is further organized into two sub-series: Annual reports and Subject files. The entire collection spans the years 1939-1963 and is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

The Correspondence series was created from files originally labeled "Miscellaneous," and is comprised of correspondence between the chair and colleagues within the University as well as outside contacts. Prominent correspondents include John Ashton, Herman Briscoe, William O. Aldridge, W.G. Biddle, Governor George N. Craig, Norman Ramsey, Dean Frank T. Gucker, and Herman B Wells, and officials from various state universities and several national organizations. The subject matter covered by the correspondence includes award nominations, information on former students, letters pertaining to radio programs at Universities outside of IU, fan mail and mailed questionnaires and surveys. The materials in this series span the period from 1942-1961.

Administrative files, 1937-1962, is the second series in the collection. This series is further organized into two sub-series: Annual reports and Subject files. The Annual reports sub-series includes departmental reports from 1937-1962. The second sub-series, Subject files, 1943-1961, contains records pertaining to various national associations, such as such as the AFM (American Film Market), the FCC (Federal Communications Commission),and the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters). The records in this sub-series deal mostly with radio and telecommunications, Indiana University policies and procedures, the radio-TV departments of other Universities, faculty matters, awards, and educational courses and programs.

The next series in the collection is Radio and Television shows, 1951-1961. It contains scripts of shows put on the air by Indiana University as well as memos and schedules relating to these shows including episodes of "University Spotlight," "Sunday news & sports," and "Once Upon a Time." The folders in this series are arranged alphabetically, and the folders containing records pertaining to television stations are marked as such.

The fourth series in the collection, Radio and television stations, contains information about radio and television stations from all over the United States, but mostly in the Midwest. Some of the folders contain transcripts of particular shows, while others contain show lists and show times listed according to time zone. Many of the school stations were contracted to air Indiana University's program, "School of the Sky". The records in this series span the period from 1943-1952.

Acquisition information:
Accession 0174, 5139-5146
Processing information:

Processed by Rebecca Smith and Maya Lerman.

Completed in 2008

Arrangement:

This collection is organized into four series: Correspondence; Administrative files; Radio and television shows; and Radio and television stations.

Online content

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Collection is open for research.

Advance notice required for access.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Copyrights for records originating with Indiana University administrative units, departments, and other offices are held by the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], Indiana University Department of Radio and Television Chair's records, Collection C104, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu