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The Tom O'Connor Collection
Processed by: Charles McNamaraJuly 2001
13.0 linear ft.
BIOGRAPHY
Thomas H. "Tom" O'Connor, a native and lifelong resident of Baltimore, Maryland, was born in 1917. He attended Baltimore schools-Forest Park High School, Johns Hopkins University, and the Peabody Institute-and after completing his studies, he began his career in Baltimore radio. Starting as a music librarian for station WITH in the early 1940's, he moved to WBAL in 1943 as an announcer, eventually becoming Director of Farm Programs. He left WBAL in 1948 to join WBMD, another Baltimore station, and served there as Program Director for nearly a dozen years.
In April 1959, 
O'Connor rejoined the WBAL staff as Program Director for their new FM operations. Named Public Affairs Director in 1965, O'Connor remained at WBAL until his retirement in 1979. In 1978, he became an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech and Mass Communications at Towson State University, where he taught undergraduate courses in Broadcasting History and Introduction to Broadcasting.
Throughout the 1980's, O'Connor worked as a communications consultant and wrote numerous articles for local papers and journals about Baltimore broadcasting past and present. He also contributed a regular column for the MD/DC/Delaware Broadcaster's Association Bulletin. In retirement, O'Connor devoted much of his time researching and compiling materials for a book on the history of broadcasting in Baltimore. 
"I do believe that I have discovered and recorded places, things, events and people who might otherwise have been forgotten," O' Connor once wrote, adding, "...the hundreds of us who have followed down the paths they blazed should at least know who they were and what they did." By 1985, he amassed enough data and documentation to privately publish Baltimore Broadcasting from A to Z, a small paperback trivia quiz book which he called "an amusing offspring of my major project."
Tom O'Connor passed away on July 23, 1990 after a long illness. His "major project" remained in the planning stages.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTES
The Tom O'Connor Collection spans the years 1919 to 1990 and includes undated material. Consisting primarily of materials relating to Baltimore broadcasting, the collection includes newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs and photocopies of photographs, two (2) phonograph discs, business records and correspondence, scripts and promotional materials. The collection comprises O'Connor's accumulated research materials and notes, files on regional radio and television stations, and related subject files. Researchers should note that all photographs in the collection have been photocopied. The photocopies occupy the images' original location in the collection, while the photographs have been housed in a separate series (Series IV), and placed with the LAB's Photograph Collection. Oversize materials are also housed separately.
The collection consists of four series:
Series I: Research Materials and Notes
Series II: Station Files
Series III: Subject Files
Series IV: Photographs
Note: The Library's holdings include the following related items which may be of interest to researchers:
Additional photographs relating to Baltimore radio and television may be found in the Baltimore News American Photograph Collection located in the Marylandia and Rare Books Department at the University of Maryland.
PROVENANCE
Gene Leitner of the Golden Radio Buffs of Maryland donated the Tom O'Connor Collection to the Library in May, 2000. Leitner donated additional material in October, 2000 and February, 2001.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I: Research Materials and Notes, 1922-1985,3.5 lin.ft.
This series contains O'Connor's research materials and notes concerning the history of broadcasting 
in Baltimore, MD. The material spans the years 1922 to 1985. Documents include newspaper and magazine clippings, two audio recordings, business records and correspondence, photocopies of photographs (originals housed separately in Series IV), and publicity and promotional materials related to Baltimore radio stations, particularly WBAL-AM, WFBR,and WCAO and television stations, particularly WBAL, WMAR, and WJZ. The material is arranged chronologically. Audio materials are housed in the LAB Audio Collection.
Series II: Station Files, 1925-1990, 4 lin. ft.
This series contains O'Connor's alphabetically arranged files pertaining to Baltimore area broadcasting stations. The material spans the years 1925 to 1990. 
The bulk of the material dates from 1979-1989. The files consist of newspaper and magazine clippings, business correspondence and records, photocopies of photographs (originals housed separately in Series IV), scripts, and publicity and promotional materials. Series II has been divided into two subseries, 1: Radio and 2: Television.
Series III: Subject Files, 1919-1990, 4.5 lin. ft.
This series contains O'Connor's alphabetically arranged files pertaining 
to general subjects related to broadcasting and communications, such as cable television, satellite technology, and syndication. The material spans the years 1919-1990. The bulk of the material dates from 1980-1989. Items of particular interest include multiple subject files on the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission and Maryland Public Television (MPT), and two scrapbooks of clippings. Series III has been divided into two subseries, 1: Subject Files and 2: Scrapbooks.
Series IV: Photographs, 1922-1989, 1.0 lin. ft.
This series contains 390 photographs (including duplicates), 11 negatives, and 5 positives. The photographs span the years 1922 to 1989. The bulk of the photographs date from the 1940's through the 1960's. Many feature WBAL radio and television personalities and staff.
For further information, contact the Library of American Broadcasting.
labcast@umd.edu
Library of American Broadcasting
University of Maryland, College Park
