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Archives of NPR: Office of the General Counsel Files
Processed by: Jennifer Muter
November 2004
12.75 lin. ft.
Administrative History | Scope and Content | Provenance | Series Descriptions
ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
National Public Radio was incorporated in 1970. It was created by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to provide a nation-wide public radio system. NPR serves as the organizational body for public radio stations, produces and distributes programming to member stations, and runs public radio’s satellite interconnection system.
The Office of the General Counsel serves as legal counsel for NPR. It handles all of NPR’s legal affairs, and also provides legal advice to all corporate divisions within NPR. The office handles a wide variety of legal issues, including communications, copyright, trademark, tax, employment, and labor law, as well as contracts in all areas. The Office of the General Counsel also provides legal expertise to member radio stations. The office consists of the General Counsel, who serves as chief legal representative for NPR, and several other lawyers specializing in areas such as copyright or employment. The Office of the General Counsel staff reports to the General Counsel, who reports to the president of NPR.
The Archives of National Public Radio: Office of the General Counsel files span from 1970 to 1986 with some undated materials, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1979 to 1983. The papers include correspondence, legal materials, reports, news articles, and other reports that document the activities of the Office of the General Counsel during this period.
The collection consists of eight series:
- Series 1: Papers of Carol Whitehorn
- Series 2: Papers of Theodora Brown
- Series 3: Federal Communications Commission Legal Documents
- Series 4: Program Distribution Files
- Series 5: Cable Royalty Fees Disputes
- Series 6: Music Cue Sheets
- Series 7: Financial Files
- Series 8: Background Information, Press Coverage, Contracts, and Agreements
The Archives of National Public Radio: Office of the General Counsel Files was donated to the National Public Broadcasting Archives, University of Maryland Libraries by National Public Radio as part of a larger donation in 1991.
Series 1: Papers of Carol Whitehorn, 1970-1986 (1.0 lin. ft.)
This series contains the papers of Carol Whitehorn. Whitehorn served in the Office of the General Counsel in the 1970s and 1980s. She was the Assistant General Counsel, and served as NPR’s Copyright Attorney. Her papers are grouped into two subgroups. The first deals with the various buildings that NPR rented space in from 1970 to 1978. The second subgroup consists of the remainder of her legal papers. Both subgroups are arranged chronologically.
Series 2: Papers of Theodora Brown, 1976-1986, nd (0.6 lin. ft.)
This series consists of the papers of Theodora Brown. Brown served in the Office of the General Counsel as a Copyright Attorney for NPR in the 1980s. Her papers include samples of contracts and agreements, copyright correspondence and documentation for NPR programs. Files are arranged chronologically, with files with no dates filed at the beginning of the series.
Series 3: Federal Communications Commission Legal Documents, 1972-1974 (2.5 lin. ft.)
This series contains documents related to two FCC cases, Docket Numbers 20753 and 20642. FCC Docket Number 20735 was filed in 1972 and deals with channel allocation, licensing, and allocation of station designations. It led to the FCC’s Second Report and Order on the regulation of radio stations. FCC Docket Number 20642 was filed in 1975, and deals with the clear channel broadcasting controversy and requests for “super power” station status. This case led to the end of clear channel broadcasting privileges. The documents include comments and statements of various corporations involved in the cases, such as Clear Channel Broadcasting Services, WSM Incorporated, and American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. Files are grouped by Docket Number, and within that grouping, left in the original order as delivered by NPR.
Series 4: Program Distribution Files, 1978-1984 (2.0 lin. ft.)
This series consists of documentation related to the distribution of programs by NPR. It includes contracts, correspondence, and draft agreements with Dataspeed, National Information Utilities Corporation, and Mobile Communications Corporation of America. In addition, there is information about the Satellite Interconnect System, and FCC documentation related to program distribution. The documents are grouped into four subgroups (INC/NIUC, Nationwide Paging, Dataspeed, and Other Related Folders), and are arranged chronologically within each group.
Series 5: Cable Royalty Fees Dispute, 1977-1985 (2.25 lin. ft.)
This series consists of the legal documents and correspondence regarding the Cable Royalties Fees Disputes. The Cable Royalty Tribunal’s distribution of the 1978 and 1979 cable royalties fund was disputed by many of the involved parties, including NPR. These files include both documents relating to the hearings before the Cable Royalty Tribunal (CRT Dockets 79-1 and 80-4) and subsequent appeals to the US Court of Appeals (Dockets 80-2281, 80-2335, 80-2298, 90-2273, 80-2284, 80-2290, 82-1213, 82-1360, 82-1272). The documents have been grouped into two groups, one dealing with the 1978 dispute, and the other with the 1979 dispute. Within these groups, files are arranged alphabetically by petitioner, and then chronologically.
Music Cue Sheets, 1979-1983 (3.0 lin. ft.)
This series consists of music cue sheets for music played on NPR programs from 1979 to 1983. It includes cue sheets for NPR programs, as well as for programs on NPR Plus Classical, and NPR Plus Jazz. The cue sheet folders include master lists of everything that was played during a week, as well as individual log sheets for each program. Folders are arranged chronologically by program.
Financial Files, 1979-1983 (0.25 lin. ft.)
This series consists of documentation related to financial matters. Included are guidelines on wages and documentation on the NPR budget crisis of 1983. Folders are arranged chronologically.
Background Information, Press Coverage, Contracts, and Agreements, 1971-1981 (0.5 lin. ft.)
This series consists of background information related to the Office of the General Counsel. Included are news clippings of various NPR shows, sample agreements, and AFTRA agreements. The folders are arranged chronologically.
A complete guide in Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) format can be downloaded here.
