Scope and Content Note
The papers of Bryson Brennan Rash (1913-1992) span the years 1918-1992 and consist of broadcast scripts, correspondence, speeches, photographs, news clippings, a book draft, and miscellaneous biographical material. Reflecting Rash's pioneering role in radio and television broadcast journalism, the papers include material from a 1939 experimental television remote location transmission, the Army-McCarthy hearings, the hydrogen-bomb test in 1956 at Eniwetok (later known as Enewetak), Rash's years as White House correspondent during the Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower administrations, and his work on local Washington, D.C., history.
Dates
- Creation: 1918-1992
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Bryson B. Rash are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Copyright Status
Copyright in the unpublished writings of Bryson B. Rash in these papers and in other collections of papers in the custody of the Library of Congress has been dedicated to the public.
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
- 1913, Aug. 18
- Born, Los Angeles, Calif.
- 1925
- Voice of Buster Brown, KMOX radio, St. Louis, Mo.
- 1933 - 1934
- Announcer, KWK radio, St. Louis, Mo.
- 1934 - 1935
- Announcer, KMOX radio, St. Louis, Mo.
- 1936
- Announcer, WLW radio, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Staff announcer, Columbia Broadcasting System, Washington, D.C.
- 1937 - 1942
- Newscaster and liaison with White House and State Department, National Broadcasting Co., Washington, D.C.
- 1939
- Participated in the first remote television broadcast in the United States
- 1940
- Married Esther Julie Jenkins
- 1942 - 1956
- Newscaster, White House correspondent and director of special events and public affairs, American Broadcasting Co. and WMAL, Washington, D.C.
- 1947
- Produced and reported the first Senate hearing to be televised (Foreign Relations Committee)
- Produced and reported the first White House speech by a president on television
- 1948
- Pool correspondent for the first televised political convention
- 1954
- Pool correspondent for all television networks, Senate Army-McCarthy hearings
- 1956
- Pool correspondent for American radio networks, hydrogen bomb test at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands
- 1956 - 1970
- Newscaster and reporter, National Broadcasting Co. and WRC, Washington, D.C.
- 1963
- President, National Press Club
- 1970 - 1977
- Manager, editorial services, WRC-TV, Washington, D.C.
- 1979 - 1983
- Local history reporter, "P.M. Magazine"
- 1983
- Published Footnote Washington . McLean, Va.: EPM Publications
- 1988 - 1989
- Reporter for "Of Monuments and Myths" and "Landmarks and Legends," WETA, Public Broadcasting System, Washington, D.C.
- 1992, Nov. 10
- Died, Washington, D.C.
Extent
2,300 items
8 containers
3.2 linear feet
Abstract
Journalist. Correspondence, speeches, broadcast scripts, book draft, biographical material, news clippings, and photographs documenting Rash's career in broadcast journalism.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged alphabetically by subject, name of person, or type of material.
Catalog Record
Provenance
The papers of Bryson B. Rash, television and radio journalist, were given to the Library of Congress in 1994 by Brennan Rash and Julianne Rash Weir.
Transfers
Items have been transferred from the Manuscript Division to other custodial divisions of the Library. Motion picture films and sound recordings have been transferred to the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division. Some photographs have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs Division. All transfers are identified in these divisions as part of the Bryson B. Rash Papers.
Processing History
The papers of Bryson B. Rash were arranged and described in 1996. The finding aid was revised in 2008.
Source
- Rash, Bryson B. (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. (Person)
- Rash, Bryson B. (Person)
- Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945. (Person)
- Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972. (Person)
- Title
- Bryson B. Rash Papers
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Karen Linn Femia with the assistance of Sherralyn McCoy
- Date
- 2008
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
Manuscript Reading Room
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James Madison Building, LM 101
Washington, DC 20540-4683
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