Administrative Information
Provenance
The National Broadcasting Company donated the NBC Television Master Books to the Library of Congress in 1992.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Processing History
The NBC Television Master Books were processed by the staff of the Moving Image Section.
Related Archival Collections at the Library of Congress
- The NBC Archives at the Library of Congress include the NBC Television Master Books (the subject of this finding aid) as well as the following archival NBC collections.
- NBC History Files
- The National Broadcasting Company History files include memoranda, correspondence, speeches, reports, policy statements, and pamphlets covering the creation of the network, its growth in the field of radio, and its subsequent expansion into television broadcasting.
- National Broadcasting Company Press Releases
- The press releases in the NBC Collection date from January 1924 through December 1989. Digitized copies of the radio and television press releases can be found respectively via National Broadcasting Company press releases. Part I, 1924-1950 and National Broadcasting Company press releases. Part II, 1951-1989.
- Radio Log Books. Manuscript
- The Library holds log books for WEAF and WNBC (1922 - 1955), for WJZ (1923 - 1941), and for WJY (1923 - 1926.)
- Radio Master Books. Manuscript
- Program scripts, advertising copy, news copy and music master sheets (listing musical content) for programs produced at the local station are held on 2,530 reels of microfilm, from WEAF and WNBC (1922 - 84), for WJZ (1927 - 41), for WMAQ in Chicago WMAQ (May 1944 - December 1945), for KFI in Hollywood (August 1943 - December 1945), and for the International (White) Network (August 1936 - September 1948.)
- Radio Programs Sound Recordings
- Lacquer discs from the New York-based archive from the years 1927 to 1971 are being re-recorded by the Library of Congress on tape, and have been indexed by the Library in a database which is available in the Recorded Sound Reference Center.
- Radio News Collection Sound Recordings
- Selected news programs recorded from 1961 to 1985 on 1300 tape reels and 340 cassettes include broadcasts from presidential news conferences and speeches, and important events, such as the first moon landing.
- Radio Programs Index File of 5 X 8 inch Cards
- Six card files maintained from 1930 to 1960 index: commercial programs; sustaining programs (without advertising); radio artists (entertainment professionals); "Negro Radio Artists” (entertainment professionals); radio personalities (guests); and the World War II – European War effort.
- Meet the Press Text Microform
- Transcriptions of programs for the years 1954 through 1984 are held on microfiche.
- NBC Television Program Analysis Microfiche
- The microfiche represent a comprehensive account of the programs, performers, and guests that appeared on NBC television from 1939 through 1985. The Program Analysis Microfiche are composed of four sections: Title Cards, Program Cards, Cross-Reference Cards, and Personality Cards.
- Television Log Books Manuscript
- The Library holds log books for May 1949 through November 1988.
- Television Programs Kinescopes
- The collection of kinescopes recorded from 1948 to 1977 includes approximately 18,000 programs.
Digital Content
Digital versions of the television master books from this collection are available for viewing in the Moving Image Research Center, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C..
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [reel number, date, item], National Broadcasting Company TV Master Books, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Library of Congress