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Radio entertainers and announcers collection

Call Number

PR 95

Date

1937-1945 (Bulk 1942-1943), inclusive

Creator

Extent

2.52 Linear feet (Approximately 1,500 photographs)

Language of Materials

The documents in the collection are in English.

Abstract

Photographs depicting popular radio performers during World War II, often engaged in war conservation efforts.

Arrangement

The photographs are organized alphabetically by entertainer, and then by subject. Entertainers with 3 or more photographs were assigned their own folder. A complete list of entertainers is available in the Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections.

Scope and Content Note

This collection features roughly 1, 500 publicity photographs of wartime radio personalities, including Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, and Abbott and Costello. The entertainers are often pictured promoting war conservation and recycling, or broadcasting from bases around the world. ABC, CBS, NBC, WOR-Mutual, and WEVD are among the networks represented. NBC "Helpmate" actors are pictured purchasing war bonds above their regular quotas; in the drive to sell war bonds, the actors bought bonds each time the Allies bombed Berlin. There is also a series of photographs showing radio employees picking up short wave communications at the "listening post," which were then transmitted to the News Room. Overall, this collection documents the impact not only of radio on troop morale but also of the war itself on home front entertainment.

Subjects

Access Restrictions

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Use Restrictions

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as The Radio Entertainers and Announcers Collection, PR 095, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Provenance

Gift of Thomas Calvin Linn, New York Times reporter, Dec. 16 1942 and Sep. 15 1943

Related Material at The New-York Historical Society

Other World War II-era material in the Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections includes WWII Recruiting and Civilian Defense Posters in the Poster File (PR 055), prints in the Subject File (PR 068), and photographs in the John Albok Photograph Collection (PR 001) and World War II Photograph Collection (PR 076).

Collection processed by

Lauren Gilbert

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:49:34 -0400.
Language: Description is in English.

Edition of this Guide

This version was derived from radio.xml

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024