The Papers of Robert L. Coe

His knowledge and experience of what was then still new technology qualified Coe for positions of increasing importance; first an assistant manager, by 1928 he had become an executive of radio engineering. Coe remained at the Post-Dispatch throughout the "Roaring" twenties and the Depression, though he branched out from 1926-1928 working at station KMOX. In 1938, in cooperation with the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Coe was the first to attempt radio fascimile transmission of a newspaper.

Coe's experiences during World War II are no less impressive. A Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Air Corps, Coe was sent to Asia, where he built a communications network for the China-Burma-India theatre of the war. For his contribution to the war effort, Coe received medals for his services in the American and Asiatic-Pacific theatres.

Following his discharge in March, 1945, Coe returned to KSD in St. Louis. Shortly thereafter, Coe led efforts to promote television, then just emerging as a viable entertainment medium. Convinced of television's potential, Coe founded KSD-TV, a television broadcasting division of KSD in 1947. During this time Coe contributed material to several articles and wrote others; works authored by Coe, and others to which he contributed form a part of the Library's collection.

In 1948, Coe went to WPIX-TV in New York, where he was vice-president and manager. Subsequently, in 1952, Coe went on to work for the Dumont television network, followed by two positions with ABC-TV--first as a regional manager of station relations, and later as a vice-president of station relations.

In 1967, Ohio University offered Coe a teaching position as a professor of communications. Despite his long experience in the field, Coe prepared extensive notes for his lectures, providing an in-depth look at the field. Along with his teaching responsibilities, Coe was working on the manuscript for a book, A Saga of American Broadcasting, a history of the broadcasting industry in America--drawn from his own experience. Coe taught at the university until 1973, devoting as much time as possible before and after retirement to his manuscript.

However, after 1973, commitments and health problems prevented Coe's ability to complete the book. At his death in 1975, it remained unfinished.

Back to Top

Of special significance in this collection is the unfinished manuscript for the book Coe was writing, A Saga of American Broadcasting, based on his own experiences. However, upon Coe's death, only the first 12 of 20 chapters were completed. A collection of class teaching notes, used by Coe as a Professor of Communications at the University of Ohio, follows closely the structure of the manuscript, and is useful in identifying other historical broadcasting details.

Photographs from this collection, housed in the library's photographic archives, provide an interesting glimpse into the early days of American television. One focus of the collection is the early beginnings of WPIX, in New York City, where Coe was Vice-President and general manager. Included are photos of Coe with Gloria Swanson and Bing Crosby.

Audio recordings associated with Coe, housed in the library's audio holdings, include an interview highlighting his career, as well as a number of broadcasts with which he was associated.

Of related interest is the book written by his wife, Michelle Coe. Entitled How to Write for Television, a copy of this book is in the library's reference library. The collection is divided into the following series:

Series I: Career
Series II: Writings
Series III: Photographic and Audio Materials

Operator's licenses issued to Coe by the Department of Commerce and the Federal Communications Commission cover the early years of Coe's professional life. Also included in this series are records pertaining to Coe's military service between 1941 and 1945, when he designed a communication system for the China-Burma-India theatre of the war.

Business correspondence between Coe and WPIX-TV, documenting his acceptance of the Vice-President and manager positions at the television station, relate to events later in Coe's career.

Correspondence between Mrs. Coe and various acquaintances following her husband's death, many of which pertain to Mr. Coes' unfinished manuscript, forms part of this series. Correspondence pertaining to Coe's involvement as a board member of the Broadcast Pioneers Library of American Broadcasting is included in this series.

Artifacts relating to Coe's life and professional career are housed separately. Included is the log book for Coe's first radio station, 9AON and 9ZV. Later in his career, Coe was active in organizations dealing with training and professional development within the broadcasting field; two diplomas from the Institute of Radio Engineers reflect these activities.

Coe's contributions to the field of broadcasting resulted in awards and other forms of special recognition from his peers. Several of these awards are housed with the collection. Of interest is an award from his colleagues at ABC-TV, and a plaque nominating Coe as a member of the "Society of Television Pioneers". Ohio University also honored Coe's accomplishments with an award, located among the artifacts. (See also photographic and audio holdings.) microfilming.

Series II: Writings 1924-1975 (0.75 lin ft.)

Coe communicated through the written as well as the spoken word, contributing material to several articles, and authoring other works himself. Included in this series is material relating to the reports he co-authored.

Coe prepared extensively for his lectures when teaching at Ohio University. His detailed lecture notes provide an overview of the American broadcasting field. Of special interest is the unfinished manuscript for the book Coe was in the process of writing at the time he died; A Saga of American Broadcasting, a history of the American broadcasting industry based on Coe's personal experiences.

Series III: Photographic and Audio Materials (0.05 & 2.0 lin. ft.)

Photographs and audio materials form an important part of this collection. For purposes of providing greater accessibility as well as increased archival stability, these sensitive materials are stored separately. The photographs--including pictures of Coe with Bing Crosby and Gloria Swanson--are housed in the Library's photographic archives.

The audio materials--including tapes of "Day is Done", "Madam & Eve" and other programs with which Coe was associated are located in the Library's audio holdings. An interview with Coe is also included in this material. The audio collection is searchable via our web site's audio database on our Audio page.

Back to Top

For further information, contact the Library of American Broadcasting.