Scope and Content Note
The Transco Collection consists of paper records from the Radio Transcription Company, Transco, which includes correspondence, business records, advertising and marketing materials, scripts, cue sheets, and other production documents. The papers were part of a larger collection the Library purchased in 1978, totaling over three thousand 16" program discs, and two thousand mothers and stampers.
This collection dates from 1931 to 1952 with the bulk of materials dating from 1932 to 1938 and 1950 to 1952. The collection has been arranged in four series: Advertising and Marketing, Business and Legal Documents, Correspondence and Production Materials. The collection totals approximately 2,000 wax cylinders, 4,000 discs, and 50 antique phonographs and related equipment, and assorted objects such as statues of the Victor dog, Edison banks and old needle tins. Some publications, especially record catalogs, donated with the Sayers Collection have been cataloged and added to the Library’s general collections.
Series 1 consists of materials designed to market or advertise radio programs. Catalogs and brief advertising flyers or sheets make up the bulk of this series. Materials are arranged alphabetically by program title. Materials not specific to one program are filed by company. There is one folder of miscellaneous material at the end of the series.
Series 2 consists of business and legal documents. Included are such items as talent releases, contracts, cancelled checks, cost sheets, affadavits, licences, shipping records, and copyright materials. The series is divided into two subseries: Program files and Subject/Genre files.
Series 3 contains correspondence relating primarily to shows, companies, or individuals. Materials date from 1936 through 1952, with most materials dating from 1936-38 and 1951-52. A large set of miscellaneous queries from 1951 are filed at the end of the series.
Series 4 contains documents relating to the production of radio programs. Included are scripts, synopses, program notes, cue sheets, proposals, music lists, talent lists and recording data. The series is arranged alphabetically by program title. Materials which relate to more than one program are filed at the end of the series under the heading “Multiple shows” and thereunder by subject.
Series 5 consists of oversize materials removed from series 1 and 2.