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Dick Dorrance Collection
Processed by: Amy MasciolaJune 1995
2.5 lin. ft.
Dick Dorrance worked in the New York office of FM Broadcasters, Inc. until April 1942 when that office was closed because of American involvement in World War II. He worked out of his New York City home until October 1942 when he moved to Washington to work as assistant chief of the Office of War Information Radio Bureau. He continued to work for FMBI and the Office of War Information until January 1944 when he left Washington to become Director of Promotion for the CBS-owned stations in New York.
From about February 1942 until his move to Washington in October of that year, Mr.
Dorrance commuted from New York to D.C. once a week to write the Broadcasters' Victory
Council newsletter. From around October 1942 until January 1944, he worked as assistant
chief of the OWI Radio Bureau under William B. Lewis (former Program Vice President of
CBS) who was Deputy Director of the OWI Domestic Division at the time. It was under
Lewis's direction that Dorrance compiled the War Information Guide to answer media
queries about the war. He also wrote various speeches for Lewis who became Chief of
the Radio Bureau, OWI.
The Dick Dorrance Collection covers the years 1940 to 1945. The bulk of the collection dates from April 1940 to January 1944. It documents the work he did for FM Broadcasters, Inc., the Office of War Information, and the Broadcasters' Victory Council. Types of documents in the collection include FMBI newsletters, BVC newsletters, Radio Background Material and an Information Guide published by the OWI, and various speeches and memos written by Mr. Dorrance. The bulk of the material relates to the rise of FM broadcasting and the role broadcasters and radio could play in the war effort.
The collection consists of four series:
Series I: Newsletters
Series II: Office of War Information materials
Series III: FM Broadcasters, Inc. materials
Series IV: Miscellaneous
PROVENANCE
The Dick Dorrance Collection was donated to the Library of American Broadcasting by Mr. Dorrance in 1977.
Series I: Newsletters, April 1940-January 1943
This series consists of four subseries: "FM: A Bulletin of News and Notes on the Advancement of Frequency Modulation, Issued for All Members of FM Broadcasters, Inc."; "FM: An Institutional Communique on the Doings of Frequency Modulation, Issued Now and Then for Interested People by FM Broadcasters, Inc"; "Broadcasters Victory Council" newsletter; and "The Radio Front" newsletter.
Series II: Office of War Information Materials, June 1942-August 1943
This series is composed of three subseries: "Radio Background Material;" "Information Guide;" and miscellaneous OWI material such as speeches and letters.
Series III: FM Broadcasters, Inc. materials, October 1940-March 1945
This series is composed of items such as memos, a survey, FM demonstration programs, and a speech.
Series IV: Miscellaneous, March 1941-September 1943
The final series contains miscellaneous items such as a rate card, a list of makers of FM receivers, a WGN press release, and FCC order no. 79.
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For further information, contact the Broadcast Pioneers Library of American Broadcasting.
labcast@umd.edu
Library of American Broadcasting
University of Maryland, College Park
