Elliott M. Sanger papers, 1936-1986

Summary Information

Description

Summary

Included are Sanger's personal diaries (1936-1967) relating to WQXR. Also included is a complete bound file of the WQXR PROGRAM GUIDE (June 1936-December 1963) containing a record of the broadcasting of classical music in New York City, the daily schedule, and essays on composers, music festivals, individual compositions and music in general by such writers as Irwin Edman, Will Durant, M. Lincoln Schuster, Edward Johnson, John Barbirolli, as well as by Sanger and his co-founder, John V. L. Hogan. The collection includes business letters, congratulatory and testimonial letters from listeners and advertisers, reports on the station's history, samples of newspaper clippings containing WQXR advertisements and program listings, market surveys of listeners, and promotional brochures prepared for prospective advertisers. There is a corrected typescript and galley proofs for Sanger's book Rebel In Radio (New York, Hasting House, 1972) and 6 volumes of documents in support of the station's application for "clear channel" status filed with the FCC. Also included are 49 photographs of the station's staff and musical personalities, 4 audiotapes of 1973 interviews with Sanger, and 4 audio cassettes celebrating WQXR's 50th Anniversary.

1980 Addition: A selected file of approximately 150 letters, manuscripts, documents, photographs and printed materials relating to the history of radio station WQXR. There are business letters, congratulatory and testimonial letters from listeners and advertisers, including one each from Will Durant and Sinclair Lewis, office memoranda and reports on the station's history, samples of newspaper clippings containing WQXR advertisements and program listings, market surveys of listeners and promotional brochures prepared for prospective advertisers. There is a corrected typescript and galley proofs for Sanger's book, REBEL IN RADIO (N.Y., Hastings House, 1972), and 6 volumes of documents in support of the station's application for "clear channel" status filed with the Federal Communications Commission in 1948. Also included are 49 photographs of the station's staff, musical personalities who have broadcasted, the studios and transmitters, 4 audio cassettes celebrating WQXR's 50th anniversary, the anniversary album, and the anniversary edition of REBEL IN RADIO.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 4 series.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

Boxes 1A, 2-7 of the collection are located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Elliott M. Sanger papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Ownership and Custodial History

Gift of Elliott M. Sanger, 1979-1980 & 1986.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Sanger, E.M. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1979. Accession number--M-1979.

Gift of Elliott M. Sanger, 1979-1980, 1986.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Processed BRC 11/--/86. KAL/BC - 10/79, rev. BC 1/80, 11/80, 11/86, rev. MTM 4/2000

Katia Shraga, May 2019: fixed finding aid based on physical content of each box; updated AS and stack directory appropriately. Prepared Box 1A to be sent offsite.

Revision Description

2010-03-01 Legacy finding aid created from Pro Cite.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Biographical / Historical

Elliott Maxwell Sanger was born in New York on March 23, 1897. He graduated from the Columbia University School of Journalism in 1917 and began a career in advertising. In 1936 Sanger co-founded with John V. L. Hogan the classical music radio station WQXR. Sanger served as vice president and general manager of the station from 1936 to 1965. In 1944 the station was purchased by the New York Times Company. Sanger died in New York City in 1989.

Subject Headings

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