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Guide to the
WNET Archive Collection
Processed by: Wanda Finney and Mark Walden, November 1996
Revised by: Karen E. King, February 1998
21.0 lin. ft.
Administrative History | Scope and Content | Provenance | Series Descriptions
ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY: ORIGINS OF WNET
In 1946 Bremer Broadcasting Corporation applied for and received a permit to construct a television station to serve the Newark, New Jersey area. The Corporation began construction of a transmitter in West Orange, New Jersey after being awarded use of Channel 13. The corporation gave to the channel the call letters WATV. Because of transmission problems, the station, with the approval of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), moved its transmitter to the Empire State Building where six other channels also were housed.
Atlantic Television Corporation, successor corporation to Bremer, filed a transfer application on October 28, 1957, naming as transferee National Telefilm Associates, Inc. (NTA), a television film distributor, which sought WATV as a commercial outlet. The FCC approved the transfer on March 28, 1958 and the call letters of the station then became WNTA. When it was rumored in 1960 that NTA, because of financial difficulties, intended to sell its license, Dr. John White, Director of the National Educational Television and Radio Center (NETRC), indicated to members of the Metropolitan Educational Television Association (META), a voluntary support group for educational broadcasting, that there might be an opportunity to establish an educational television outlet in New York. White persuaded Howard Shephard, Chairman of the Board of the Greater New York Foundation and retired Chairman of the Board of the First City National Bank, to invest his time and resources in establishing in New York an educational television station. A new committee, Educational Television for the Metropolitan Area (ETMA) was formed to promote the project. Besides Shephard, members included John D. Rockefeller III, Chairman, Lincoln Center; Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., President of Steuben Glass; Devereux C. Josephs, former Board Chairman of New York Life Insurance Company; and Dr. George D. Stoddard, Chancellor of New York University.
Though the State of New Jersey, with the support of Governor Robert B. Meyner, went to court to stop the sale of the station, the State eventually dropped its suit and the FCC approved the sale to ETMA (later to be called Educational Broadcasting Corporation) in 1961. The Station became known as WNDT (which stood for New Directions in Television). In 1970, WNDT merged with National Educational Television to become WNET/Thirteen.
Further information about WNET's history can be found in the Joseph S. Iseman Papers.
Consisting of reports, correspondence, memoranda, surveys, publications, program proposals, scripts, news clippings, press releases, newsletters, and notebooks, this collection documents the activities of Channel 13 in national and local programming, public affairs, funding, planned giving, planning, and the use of educational television. The collection measures 21.0 linear feet and dates from 1952 to 1987, with some undated material.
Information is included on the history of WNET, on its transfer from New Jersey to New York, and on its audience surveys in New York and New Jersey. The collection also documents the history and role of National Educational Television; the history and use of educational television; long-range planning at the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS); and federal legislation that affected public television. Correspondents include John Jay Iselin, President, WNET; Angela N. Solomon, Public Information Department, WNET; Joseph S. Iseman, legal counsel for ETMA; Robert B. Meyner, Governor of New Jersey; Newton N. Minow, Chairman of the FCC; Howard L. Shephard, Chairman, ETMA; Samuel B. Gould, President, Educational Broadcasting Corporation; Hartford N. Gunn, Jr., Vice-Chairman, PBS; and Robert B. Hudson, Senior Vice President, National Educational Television.
The collection consists of eight series:
- Series 1: Departments
- Series 2: Auction Catalogs
- Series 3: Legal and Legislative
- Series 4: Personal Files
- Series 5: Programming
- Series 6: Reports and Surveys
- Series 7: National Educational Television
- Series 8: Public Broadcasting Service
The WNET Archive Collection were donated to the National Public Broadcasting Archives, University of Maryland Libraries by the WNET Reference Library in June of 1994, June and July of 1995.
Series 1: Departments, 1963-1988, (0.75 lin. ft.)
Consisting of reports, memoranda, manuals, booklets, a brochure, and pamphlets, this series documents the status of Channel 13 in the late 1970's and 1980's; the use of educational television in schools; and consumer information. The material is arranged in five subseries, Administration; Boards and Personnel; Education Division; Institutional Development; and Publications.
- Subseries 1: Administration, 1979-1986
This subseries contains documents concerning the administration of WNET in the form of policy manual, administrative guides, bylaws, and financial procedures. The materials are arranged alphabetically by type of document, except the Finance Department budgetary procedures.
- Subseries 2: Boards and Personnel, 1963-1986
This series catalogs the names and activities of various boards and personnel divisions within WNET between 1963 and 1986. All the board materials are arranged first alphabetically, and then chronologically.
- Subseries 3: Educational Division, 1976-1988
This subseries documents the use of educational television in elementary, intermediate and high school grade levels and continuing adult education in the New York metropolitan area. The materials consist of manuals and a booklet and are arranged chronologically.
- Subseries 4: Institutional Development, 1976-1987
Consisting of reports, memoranda, press releases, and brochures, this subseries documents the present and future status of WNET as well as the Department's effort to promote the stations' achievements to insure donor support. Information on the Henry Hudson Hotel and WNET's planned giving program is also included. The material is arranged chronologically.
- Subseries 5: Publications, 1976-1983
Consisting of pamphlets, booklets, a newsletter, manual and report, this subseries documents information provided by WNET's Inter-Community Service Center; consumer information and advice; publicity for WNET; corporate underwriting; and the Congressional debate over federal funding for public television. One booklet also includes a 33-1/3 recording of excerpts from Channel 13's first broadcast, September 16, 1962 with Edward R. Murrow as announcer. Materials are arranged chronologically.
Series 2: Auction Catalogs, 1979-1984, (0.5 lin. ft.)
This series documents televised auctions of art and antiques in support of WNET-TV and consists of auction catalogs with supplements and addenda. The auction catalog for 1983 is missing. The material is arranged chronologically. See also: Personal Files--John Jay Iselin; Personal Files--Ethan Allen Hitchcock.
Series 3: Legal and Legislative, 1970-1980, (0.25 lin. ft.)
This series consists of various legal and legislative matters. Topics include various agreements including the 1970 agreement between National Educational Television and the Educational Broadcasting Corporation; an ongoing dispute over adequate programming efforts aimed at New Jersey regarding license renewal; various Federal legislative acts affecting public broadcasting and an audit of NET Television, Inc. Correspondents regarding the licensing issue include: Edward I. Koch, Mayor of New York City; Hugh L. Carey, Governor of New York; Jacob K. Javitz, U.S. Senator; Joan Ganz Cooney, President, Children's Television Workshop; Fred W. Friendly, Office of Communications, The Ford Foundation.
Series 4: Personal Files 1953-1984, nd (0.5 lin. ft.)
This series documents WNET's 1979 auction; future planning; the sale of Channel 13 to Educational Television for the Metropolitan Area; developments in the field of public broadcasting; and the campaign for a new station headquarters. The series is arranged in three subseries: Ethan Allen Hitchcock, Joseph S. Iseman, John Jay Iselin and Angela N. Solomon.
- Subseries 1: Ethan Allen Hitchcock, 1953-1984, nd
This series documents Hitchcock's activities and interests in fundraising, boards, and programming. Hitchcock served at WNET as first Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1969 to 1981 and then as Chairman of the Board of Counselors from 1981 to 1983. Correspondents include: Joan Ganz Cooney, John D. Rockefeller III, Fred Friendly, Bill Moyers, and Dick Cavett. Materials are arranged alphabetically by topic, and then chronologically within each topic, with miscellaneous files appearing last.
- Subseries 2: Joseph S. Iseman, 1958-1968
This subseries documents the sale of Channel 13 from National Telefilm Associates, Inc. to Educational Television for the Metropolitan Area (ETMA) as well as the financial status, reorganization and bankruptcy petition of the station in the early 1960's. Types of documents include correspondence, financial charts, memoranda, notes, news clippings and press releases. Correspondents include Robert B. Meyner, Governor of New Jersey; Newton N. Minow, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission; Richard D. Heffner, General Manager, WNDT; Howard L. Shephard, Chairman, ETMA; and Samuel B. Gould, President, Educational Broadcasting Corporation. Topics include press coverage regarding the transfer of Channel 13 from New Jersey to New York, WNDT's membership in the Eastern Educational Network and Ford Foundation support of the station. The material is arranged chronologically except for the leases which are placed under heading "Bankruptcy" as the documents provide financial and legal information considered in the 1965 filing.
- Subseries 3: John Jay Iselin and Angela Solomon, 1975-1984
The John Jay Iselin portion of this subseries consists of a memorandum concerning WNET's 1979 auction and a report regarding the station's effort to plan for the future. The material is arranged chronologically. The Angela N. Solomon portion of this subseries documents relatively recent developments in the field of public broadcasting and the funding campaign to help finance a new station headquarters and broadcast center in the Henry Hudson Hotel. The material consists of memoranda, news clippings, and press releases. Also included is a press release on "The Last Ballot" an episode in the "Ourstory" series. The materials are arranged chronologically.
Series 5: Programming,
1960-1987, (5.5 lin. ft.)
This series documents monthly programming on Channel 13; program proposals; program descriptions and summaries; and awards won by WNET. Types of documents include schedules; inventories; booklets; lists; schedules; proposals; memoranda; drafts; and research notes. The series is arranged in three subseries, Lists, Reports, Schedules; Monthly Station Guides and Individual Programs.
- Subseries 1: Lists, Reports, Schedules, 1960-1984
Arranged chronologically, materials in this subseries document the wide variety of programming on both a local and a national level, beginning with WNTA in 1960. Types of materials include inventories, program descriptions, schedules, and proposals from WNET for the PBS Station Program Cooperative.
- Subseries 2: Program Guides, 1962-1987
This subseries documents monthly programming on WNDT and, later, WNET. The issue for March 1963 is missing. Information is included on programming; schedules for WNDT's school television service and on membership fees. The material is arranged chronologically.
Subseries 3: Series and Individual Programs, 1970-1987, nd
This subseries documents specific programs and series through proposals, scripts, press packets, and program guides. Programs documented include The Brain, Ourstory, The McNeil/Lehrer Newshour and Heritage: Civilization and the Jews. The documents are arranged alphabetically by program title, and then chronologically.
Series 6: Reports
and Surveys, 1956-1986 (0.75 lin. ft.)
Reports in this series document the potential use of television in education in New York State and in other states as well as the use of technology in educational television. TV programming and radio distribution, issues of importance to educational television, satellite interconnections, licensee and system financing and future trends affecting licensees' financial status, federal funding alternatives for public broadcasting and the use of television in business and industry. Organizations represented include the Educational Broadcasting Corporation, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and the Ford Foundation. Individuals represented include Samuel B. Gould, President, Educational Broadcasting Corp.; Donald W. Skelton, Associate Director, Education Division, WNET; and Samuel C.O. Holt, Consultant, Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Materials are arranged chronologically. The surveys in this series document audience opinions of WNDT and WNET and the impact of the performance and contribution of WNDT on metropolitan New York. Organizations represented include Louis Harris and Associates, Inc.; McGraw-Hill Research, Inc.; and the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University. Materials are arranged chronologically.
Series 7: National Educational Television, 1952-1981, (1.5 lin. ft.)
This series chronicles the development of National Educational Television from its beginnings as the Educational Television and Radio Center. Types of documents include correspondence, minutes, program descriptions, and reports. The series is divided organizationally, and then alphabetically by topic, and then chronologically.
Series 8: Public Broadcasting Service, 1969-1986 (1.0 lin. ft.)
Consisting of memoranda, reports, speeches, surveys, a magazine, a newsletter, and a notebook, this series documents program planning and general information on the Public Broadcasting Service as well as a project to help public television stations which sought assistance with the development of long-range planning. Correspondents include Hartford N. Gunn, Jr., Vice-Chairman, PBS, and Tyrone Brown, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission. The series is arranged chronologically.
A complete guide in Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) format can be downloaded here.
