Burt Harrison Papers
Abstract
Burt Harrison spent most of his broadcasting career in the state of Washington. He was station manager of KWSU, Washington State University at Pullman's radio station from 1959 to 1976. During this time he served on the boards of National Association Educational Broadcasters (NAEB), National Educational Radio (NER), and the Association of Public Radio Stations. In addition, Harrison lobbied for the inclusion of radio in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. In 1977, he received the first Edward R. Murrow Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. After retirement, Harrison and his wife, Dee, taped 42 oral history interviews for the Public Radio Oral History Project funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The collection consists of audio cassettes, verbatim and final transcripts of interviews for the Public Radio Oral History Project. The interviewees discuss their roles and memories of public radio.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This collection is open for research use.
Burt Harrison Papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
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Historical Note
Burt Harrison received degrees from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, and the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. While in Kansas, he worked for local newspapers. Harrison's work in radio began in Colorado where he wrote a weekly science commentary, free-lanced for the Rocky Mountain Radio Council, and ran a couple of commercial radio stations in southern Colorado. He was also a member of the University of Denver faculty.
In 1949, Harrison joined Allen Miller at KWSU, Washington State University at Pullman's radio station, and became an Associate Professor of Communications at Washington State University. He took on the job of station manager of KWSU in 1959 and remained at this post until he retired from KWSU in 1976. During this period, he served on the boards of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters, National Educational Radio, and the Association of Public Radio Stations. He also lobbied for the inclusion of radio in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.
Upon retirement from KWSU, he and his wife of thirty-six years, Dee (Nadine), taped forty-two oral history interviews for the Public Radio Oral History Project which was funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He was also a Fulbright Lecturer at Chiengmai University in Chiengmai, Thailand, during this same period, 1977 to 1978. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting presented him with the first Edward R. Murrow Award in 1977. The Washington State Association of Broadcasters also honored Harrison with the 1987 Broadcaster of the Year Award.
Burt Harrison died in 2004.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Burt Harrison Papers consists of audio cassettes, verbatim and final transcripts of oral history interviews by Burt and Dee Harrison with various significant figures in public radio for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting funded Public Radio Oral History Project. The interviewees discuss their particular role in and memories of public radio including such events such as the creation of National Public Radio.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
The Burt Harrison Papers was donated to the National Public Broadcasting Archives, University of Maryland Libraries by Burt Harrison in June of 1991 and in June of 1993.
Processing Information
Susan McElrath, November 1991. Revised by Karen E. King, November 1995
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Karen E. King, November 2004.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Public Radio Oral History Project, 1977-1982 (5.00 linear feet including 65 audiocassettes)
This series consists of audio cassettes, verbatim and final transcripts of oral history interviews by Burt and Dee Harrison with various significant figures in public radio. The interviewees discuss their particular role in and memories of public radio including such events as the creation of National Public Radio. The arrangement is alphabetical by interviewee.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Menzer, Carl., September 3, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Hinz, Robert C., June 26, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Hull, Richard B., July 25, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Burke, Jack., August 21, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Hulsen, Albert., October 3, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Kager, Kenneth., June 28, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Kindred, Lucinda Landreth., July 17, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Hinz, Robert C., June 26, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 8 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- McCarty, Harold B., September 21, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 9 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Hull, Richard B., July 25, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 10 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Menzer, Carl., September 3, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 11 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Miles, James S., September 14, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 12 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Miles, James S., September 14, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 13 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Miller, Allen, July 1977 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 14 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Morris, James M., June 27, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 15 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Morris, James M., June 27, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 16 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- McCarty, Harold B., September 21, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 17 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Estell, Richard., September 12, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 18 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Busch, Martin P., August 25, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 19 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Busch, Martin P., August 25, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 20 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Cordier, Hugh., September 6, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 21 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Crabbe, John C., August 15, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 22 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Hulsen, Albert., October 3, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 23 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- DeCamp, John., September 12, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 24 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Hilliard, Robert L., September 22, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 25 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Fredette, Albert P., October 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 26 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Frischknecht, Lee., November 2, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 27 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Frymire, Lawrence., November 1, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 28 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Girling, Betty T., August 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 29 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Girling, Betty T., August 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 30 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Gregory, John F., July 20, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 31 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Harley, William G., October 29, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 32 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Hill, Ruane B., September 22, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 33 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Crabbe, John C., August 15, 1978 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 34 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Quayle, Donald R., October 23, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Mott, Robert A., July 24, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Mott, Robert A., July 24, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Norwood, Frank W., November 1, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Novik, Morris S., October 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Novik, Morris S., October 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Tyler, I. Keith., October 11, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Young, Elizabeth L., October 10, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 8 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Witherspoon, John., October 31, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 9 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Paulu, Burton., August 29, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 10 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Tyler, I. Keith., October 11, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 11 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Quayle, Donald R., October 23, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 12 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Titus, Ralph., August 22, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 13 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Swenson, Patricia L., July 6, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 14 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Swenson, Patricia L., July 6, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 15 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Summerfield, John D. "Jack", July 27, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 16 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Summerfield, John D. "Jack", July 27, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 17 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Sheppard, Walter P. and Martha., October 13, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 18 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Sheppard, Walter P. and Martha., October 13, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 19 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Scott, Sam., August 23, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 20 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Scott, Sam., August 23, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 21 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Schooley, Frank., September 18, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 22 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Schooley, Frank., September 18, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 23 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Sandler, Jerrold., October 24, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 24 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Sandler, Jerrold., October 24, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 25 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Robertson, James., October 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 26 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Robertson, James., October 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 27 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Regnell, John A., September 27, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 28 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Underwood, Robert E., September 18, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 29 | |
| Oral History Audiocassettes -- Sheppard, Walter P. and Martha., October 13, 1978 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 30 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Burke, Jack., August 21, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Busch, Martin P., August 25, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Cordier, Hugh., September 6, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 3 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Crabbe, John C., August 15, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 4 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- DeCamp, John., September 12, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 5 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Estell, Richard., September 12, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 6 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Fredette, Albert P., October 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 7 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Frischknecht, Lee., November 2, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 8 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Frymire, Lawrence., November 1, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 9 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Girling, Betty T., August 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 10 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Gregory, John F., July 20, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 11 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Harley, William G., October 29, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 12 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Hill, Ruane B., September 22, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 13 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Hilliard, Robert L., October 31, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 14 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Hinz, Robert C., June 26, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 15 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Hull, Richard B., July 25, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 16 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Hulsen, Albert, October 3, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 17 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Kager, Kenneth, June 28, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 18 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Kindred, Lucinda Landreth, July 17, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 19 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- McCarty, Harold B., September 21, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 20 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Menzer, Carl, September 3, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 21 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Miles, James S., September 14, 1978 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 22 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Miller, Allen, July 1977 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 23 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Morris, James M., June 27, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 1 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Mott, Robert A., July 24, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 2 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Norwood, Frank W., November 1, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 3 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Novik, Morris S., October 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 4 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Paulu, Burton, August 29, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 5 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Quayle, Donald R., October 23, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 6 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Regnell, John A., September 27, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 7 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Robertson, James, October 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 8 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Sandler, Jerrold, October 24, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 9 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Schooley, Frank, September 18, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 10 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Scott, Sam, August 23, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 11 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Sheppard, Walter P. and Martha, October 13, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 12 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Summerfield, John D. "Jack", July 27, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 13 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Swenson, Patricia L., July 6, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 14 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Titus, Ralph, August 22, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 15 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Tyler, I. Keith, October 11, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 16 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Underwood, Robert E., September 18, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 17 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Witherspoon, John, October 31, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 18 | |
| Oral History Verbatim Transcripts -- Young, Elizabeth L., October 10, 1978 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 19 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Burke, Jack, August 21, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 1 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Busch, Martin P., August 25, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 2 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Cordier, Hugh, September 6, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 3 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Crabbe, John C., August 15, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 4 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- DeCamp, John, September 12, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 5 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Estell, Riachard, September 12, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 6 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Fredette, Albert P., October 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 7 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Frischknecht, Lee, November 2, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 8 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Frymire, Lawrence, November 1, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 9 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Girling, Betty T., August 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 10 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Gregory, John F., July 20, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 11 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Harley, William G., October 29, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 12 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Hill, Ruane B., September 22, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 13 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Hilliard, Robert L., October 31, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 14 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Hinz, Robert C., June 26, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 15 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Hull, Richard B., July 25, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 16 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Hulsen, Albert, October 3, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 17 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Kager, Kenenth, June 28, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 18 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Kindred, Lucinda Landreth, July 17, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 19 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- McCarty, Harold B., September 21, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 20 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Menzer, Carl, September 3, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 21 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Miles, James S., September 14, 1978 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 22 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Miller, Allen, July 1977 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 23 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Morris, James M., June 27, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 1 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Mott, Robert A., July 24, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 2 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Norwood, Frank W., November 1, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 3 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Novik, Morris S., October 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 4 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Paulu, Burton, August 29, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 5 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Quayle, Donald R., October 23, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 6 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Regnell, John A., September 27, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 7 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Robertson, James, October 30, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 8 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Sandler, Jerrold, October 24, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 9 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Schooley, Frank, September 18, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 10 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Scott, Sam, August 23, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 11 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Sheppard, Walter P. and Martha, October 13, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 12 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Summerfield, John D. "Jack", July 27, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 13 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Swenson, Patricia L., July 6, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 14 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Titus, Ralph, August 22, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 15 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Tyler, I. Keith, October 11, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 16 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Underwood, Robert E., September 18, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 17 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Witherspoon, John, October 31, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 18 | |
| Oral History Final Transcripts -- Young, Elizabeth L., October 10, 1978 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 19 | |
Related Material
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.
Selected Search Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.
Subjects
- Harrison, Burt -- Archives.
- National Public Radio (U.S.) -- History -- Sources.
- Public radio -- United States -- History -- Sources.
Names (Added Entries)
- Crabbe, John C.
- Harley, William G., 1911-
- Norwood, Frank W., 1928-1983.
- Novik, Morris S., 1903-
- Paulu, Burton, 1910-
- Quayle, Donald R.
- Robertson, James.
- Schooley, Frank E.
- Witherspoon, John.
- Young, Elizabeth L.