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Archives of the
National Friends of Public Broadcasting
Processed by: Melody J. Haymire
May 1998
11.0 lin. ft.
Administrative History | Scope and Content | Provenance | Series Descriptions
Promoting the support of public television and volunteerism, the National Friends of Public Broadcasting is an autonomous and independent national organization for volunteers in public broadcasting. It was born out of a series of meetings held in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The first of these occurred in May 1969, at WNDT (Channel 13) in New York; it was attended by representatives of seven major public television stations, and chaired by Frances Schuman, who at that time was the Chairman of the Friends of 13, the volunteer group at WNDT. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the potential establishment of a national organization for volunteers in public television; the consequence was the creation of the Committee for the Formation of the National Friends of Public Television. Subsequently, additional formal meetings of the organizing committee took place in 1969 and 1970, resulting in the formation of the National Friends of Public Broadcasting in May 1970, with Frances Schuman as chair. During these developmental stages, an Ad Hoc Committee helped to solve initial problems by writing a statement of purpose and draft by-laws; the basic organizational structure, such as the Board of Trustees, officers, and various committees, were also established during this period. Frances Schuman resigned as the group's chair in 1975.
On July 27, 1970, after initial support from Channel 13, NFPB was officially incorporated, therefore receiving non-profit and tax-exempt status. Also, during this period, the organization obtained in-kind support, including working facilities, such as secretarial support and office space, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In October 1970, a grant was received from the Carnegie Corporation of New York for the amount of $281,000, which was distributed over a three year period. In its fourth year, the group received grants from the Markle and Rockefeller Foundations, in addition to continuing support from the Carnegie Corporation. Circa 1974/1975, stations were asked to contribute financially for the first time. Later, after the loss of external funding, NFPB depended solely upon money raised from membership dues (both group and individual) and annual conferences, and occasional in-kind support from stations. Currently, all officers are non-paid.
The purposes of NFPB are several. It helps local volunteer groups organize and exisitng groups to solve difficulties; it encourages community involvement and support for public television, and it creates an informed national constituency of lay people to represent concerned citizens, as well as the needs and problems of public television. Furthermore, it emphasizes the role and importance of the volunteer by aiding the establishment and development of local volunteer groups and by promoting volunteer activities at the station level. NFPB also promotes cooperation between station management and volunteers, the exchange of ideas among local volunteer groups, volunteer efforts to raise funds and increase membership, and the effective use of volunteers. To fulfill these objectives, the organization holds annual and regional conferences; publishes a newsletter; maintains a communications network among station volunteer representatives, station managers, the media, national organizations dedicated to public broadcasting, and the public; and has founded a speakers bureau. NFPB's goals and purpose have essentially remained the same over time.
NFPB holds a conference each year in conjunction with the annual meeting of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)/Association of America’s Public Television Stations (APTS). The first of these occurred in May 1971, in New York City. During these conferences, a series of awards is presented to deserving individuals or groups with multiple winners in each of three major categories, including awards for outstanding public broadcasting volunteers and for community development and fund raising efforts. Finally, the uniqueness of this group lies in its support of both public radio and television, its purpose, and its officers, particularly the fact that the group was established and led by women which continues today
The inclusive dates of this collection range between 1964 and 1994; however, most of the materials date between 1966 and 1974 and between 1983 and 1989. Essentially, the collection traces the foundation and development of NFPB with its attempts to acquire initial funding, its early relationship with CPB and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the group's later developments and endeavors, such as its awards and conferences, as well as its interests, broadcasting and volunteerism. Types of documents include by-laws, correspondence, particularly to and from Frances Schuman, reports and minutes generated by various boards and committees, materials related to taxes and finances, materials, including correspondence, collected or generated by various chairmen, especially Sally Ouweneel and Diane Papedo, relating to the management of the group, conference information, such as advertisements, promotions, and registrations, membership information and directories, award nominations, and program guides. Unless otherwise noted, all series within this collection are organized chronologically.
The collection is divided into eleven series:
- Series 1: Founding Documents
- Series 2: Executive Board Materials
- Series 3: Officers Files
- Series 4: Awards
- Series 5: Chronological Files
- Series 6: Conferences
- Series 7: Financial/Funding
- Series 8: Membership Materials
- Series 9: Program Guides
- Series 10: Subject Files
- Series 11: Publications
The Archives of the National Friends of Public Broadcasting was received by the National Public Broadcasting Archives, University of Maryland Libraries in two sections. The first part of the collection was acquired in January 1995, while the second arrived in October 1996. They were donated by Beverly Lundquist and Diane Papedo.
Series 1: Founding Documents, 1969-1989 (0.25 lin. ft.)
This series documents the meetings leading to the formation of NFPB and its early development. It focuses on the group's creation and organization, specifically its by-laws, its budgets and funding, particularly from the Carnegie Corporation, and its incorporation as a non-profit organization. These topics may be traced through the minutes from various early committees regarding the establishment of the group, the correspondence of Elizabeth Campbell, Duncan McDonald, and Frances Schuman, concerning decisions to be made about routine functioning, and the by-laws and standing rules of NFPB and their subsequent revisions. Also, the by-laws of local Friends groups and the original certificate of incorporation appear in this series.
Series 2: Executive Board Materials, 1971-1990 (0.75 lin. ft.)
This series highlights the routine operations of NFPB and sudivides into two foci: Board of Trustees and Committees and General Materials; each of which has been placed in chronological order. The majority of the documents concern the Board of Trustees, which directs the work of NFPB. Correspondence to the Board of Trustees from the various chairmen, particularly Elaine Peterson and Sally Ouweenel appears frequently. In addition, the series contains minutes of a variety of Board and committee meetings. The two prevelant committees which are documented are the Long Range Planning Committee with correspondence from its chair Jan Mitchell and the Nominating Committee with correspondence from its chair Carol Schave. The major topics covered include by-law changes, conferences, elections, and finances. Also, the Report to Managers, a biography of Frances Schuman, and a photograph of the Board of Trustees of 1974 are filed within this series.
Series 3: Officers Files, 1964-1994 (2.25 lin. ft.)
This series traces the development of NFPB through its routinue correspondence, which consists mainly of letters and memos, among officers of various ranks and several committees. Secondly, several officers' papers dominate this series: Sally Ouweneel, Diane Papedo, Elaine Peterson, and Frances Schuman. Specifically, notebooks belonging to Sally Ouweneel and Diane Papedo appear; the papers contained within them relate to every major aspect of NFPB, including awards, conferences, finances, grassroots activities, membership, mailing lists, and newsletters; however, most of these papers were not generated by or personally addressed to these officers, but seem to have been collected by them. Series 3 also contains photographs of Mrs. Schuman and personal documents relating to her role as the Chairman of the Friends of Channel 13 and to the early years of NFPB, as well as later certificates of appreciation presented to her. The files are organized alphabetically by officer's name and then chronologically.
Series 4: Awards, 1984-1990 (0.20 lin. ft.)
This series contains information regarding the nominations for and selections of NFPB awards. It focuses on the nomination of individuals or groups and on the winners, rather than the selection process. Documents include nomination forms, letters of notification and rejection, lists of winners and, in some cases, paragraph descriptions of them.
Series 5: Chronological Files, 1968-1981 (0.20 lin. ft.)
Highlighting the early relationship of NFPB with the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Corporation for Public Broadcasting, this series concentrates on the early years in the development and growth of NFPB. Finances and taxes, funding, federal legislation regarding public broadcasting, and station support are the major topics that are covered through correspondence from Frances Schuman, Duncan MacDonald, John W. Macy, Jr., and Eli Evans and the reports from various officers and committees.
Series 6: Conferences, 1971-1994 (2.75 lin. ft.)
Organized chronologically by conference date, this series traces the planning, development, and events of the conferences of NFPB. It focuses on discussions of mailings and numbers of registrants, choice of speakers, organization of events, evaluation of individual conferences, and expenses. Types of documents include registration forms, agendas, evaluations, summaries of events, sessions, or workshops, minutes of meetings of various groups and committees that occurred before, during, and after the conferences, materials about the NFPB Awards and their presentation, materials describing speakers and presenters, and information regarding NFPB elections. Finally, this series contains cassettes recorded at early conferences, photographs taken at presentations and informal gatherings, masters for advertisements and stationery, and occasional materials concerning the Public Broadcasting Service's Annual Meeting.
Series 7: Financial/Funding, 1967-1991 (1.0 lin. ft.)
This series highlights NFPB's finances through correspondence to and from Frances Schuman, Duncan MacDonald, and Eli Evans of the Carnegie Corporation, accounting/financial records, funding proposals, and financial statements. It is subdivided into two major clusters of documents. The first grouping relates to the early funding for NFPB and includes in addition some materials regarding fund raising for Channel 13 in New York. The second subdivision documents NFPB's later income and expenses, particularly concerning the annual conferences. The attainment of funding during the first three years of the group's existence, attempts to influence federal legislation to provide more funding for public broadcasting, the tax status of NFPB, budgets, the raising of additional or new funds and requests to specific foundations are the most important issues covered in this series.
Series 8: Membership Materials, 1968-1990, (0.60 lin. ft.)
This series records the membership history of NFPB. Types of documents include lists of individual and group members and the Board of Trustees, membership applications, and letters encouraging people to join. It also contains materials from the Friends of 13 in New York and manuals entitled How to Be a Friend of Public Broadcasting, which describe NFPB, the formation of new Friends groups, the roles and duties of the volunteer, and increasing audiences and funding. Major topics include the identity of current members, increasing membership, and encouraging volunteerism.
Series 9: Program Guides, 1966-1987, (0.40 lin. ft.)
This series is composed primarily of program guides from WNDT/WNET, Channel 13, in New York. These guides contain articles about public broadcasting, communications, and entertainment, as well as television listings. Updates about the activities of the Friends of Channel 13 appear frequently; in the updates from the later program guides, NFPB is included.
Series 10: Subject Files, 1967-1991, (0.50 lin. ft.)
This series divides into two areas of focus: broadcasting and volunteerism, which contains a subseries consisting of surveys. In addition to correspondence to and from Charlotte Hill and Michael Hobbs and a keynote address by John W. Macy, Jr., proposals, statements, surveys, and materials from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Educational Broadcasting Corporation, and the Public Broadcasting Service, are the dominant types of documents. Topics covered by the first subseries include cable television and public access television, federal legislation, especially concerning funding for public broadcasting during the early 1970s, public broadcasting in general, particularly its roles and the importance and recognition of its volunteers, and NFPB's relationship with public radio. The second subseries examines the concept of volunteerism in general and the roles of the volunteer and supervisor, and contains articles and conference brochures related to volunteerism, as well as the NFPB Volunteer Directory. A small cluster of folders contains surveys, which were conducted in an attempt to understand the state of organized volunteer support groups existing at the station level and station activities.
Series 11: Publications, 1971-1990, (0.10 lin. ft.)
Consisting of materials produced by NFPB, this series is primarily composed of NFPB brochures, newsletters, pamphlets from early conferences, and volunteer directories. Topics covered by these documents include the history of NFPB, its membership, its conferences, and the latest developments regarding the organization.
A complete guide in Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) format can be found here.
