RCA Corporation Collection of Television and Company History Photographs and Audiovisual Materials 2464.78
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RCA Corporation collection of television and company history photographs and audiovisual materials 2464.78 This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on September 14, 2021. Description is written in: English. Describing Archives: A Content Standard Audiovisual Collections PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library RCA Corporation collection of television and company history photographs and audiovisual materials 2464.78 Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 Historical Note ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Scope and Content ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................ 6 Related Materials ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Controlled Access Headings .......................................................................................................................... 8 Collection Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Broadcast programming .............................................................................................................................. 8 Communications ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Events ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 History ........................................................................................................................................................ 18 Meetings ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 Popular recordings ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Reference materials ................................................................................................................................... 21 Nippon Television Network ...................................................................................................................... 23 - Page 2 - RCA Corporation collection of television and company history photographs and audiovisual materials 2464.78 Summary Information Repository: Audiovisual Collections Creator: RCA Corporation Title: RCA Corporation collection of television and company history photographs and audiovisual materials ID: 2464.78 Date [inclusive]: 1953-2009 Physical Description: 10.5 Linear Feet General Physical 20 photographic prints : b&w ; 8 x 8 in. and smaller. 30 photographic Description note: prints : b&w ; 7 x 10 in. or larger. 6 reels : sd., col. ; 16mm. 3 sound discs : analog, 45 rpm. 1 sound disc (CD) : digital. 2 video discs (DVD). 5 sound tape reel. 14 sound discs : analog, 33 1/3 rpm. 2 sound discs : analog, 78 rpm. 34 videocassette (VHS) : 1/2 inch. 11 videocassette (Digital Betacam). 1 videocassette (D5) : 1/2 inch, sd., digital. 5 videocassette (U-Matic) : 3/4 inch. 2 videocassette (SVHS) : 1/2 inch. 4 reels : sd., b&w ; 16mm. 1 reel : sd., col. ; 35mm. 17 sound cassettes : analog. Language of the English . Material: Abstract: For over fifty years the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was one of the country's leading manufacturers and vendors of radios, phonographs, televisions, and a wide array of consumer and military electronics products. The Radio Corporation of America was incorporated in Delaware on October 17, 1919, and changed its name to RCA Corporation on May 9, 1969. This collection is primarily made up of moving images and sound recordings collected by the David Sarnoff Research Library relating to the RCA corporation dating from 1953 to 2009. There is a set of photographs related to the Nippon Television Network and two photograph albums, one of 30 Rockefeller Center and the other containing waveform and photo-radio equipment. This collection is organized into eight series: Broadcast programming, Communications, Events, History, Meetings, Popular recordings, Reference materials, and Nippon Television Network. ^ Return to Table of Contents - Page 3- RCA Corporation collection of television and company history photographs and audiovisual materials 2464.78 Historical Note For over fifty years the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was one of the country's leading manufacturers and vendors of radios, phonographs, televisions, and a wide array of consumer and military electronics products. The Radio Corporation of America was incorporated in Delaware on October 17, 1919, and changed its name to RCA Corporation on May 9, 1969. Through subsidiaries, it operated the country's first radiotelegraph, radiotelephone and radio facsimile systems, as well as its pioneer radio and television networks. The company will always be identified with David Sarnoff (1891-1971), who began working for a predecessor company as an office boy in 1906, became vice president in 1922, president in 1930, and served as chairman from 1947 to 1970. Sarnoff was one of the first to grasp the full potential of radio and television and imparted to the company its reputation for research and innovation. Nippon Television Network (NTV) was established in 1952 and was the first corporation to be granted a television broadcasting license in Japan. It began to broadcast black and white content in 1953. Japan's first color television demonstration took place five years later in 1958. Over the next two years public demonstrations of color television were held in train stations, city parks, schools, and various other locations. Most demonstrations showed sporting events such as wrestling and boxing. However one of most popular broadcasts took place on April 10, 1959 when the wedding and royal parade of Japan's then Crown Prince, now Emperor, Akihito was televised. In September 1960 Nippon Television was officially granted license to produce color television programs. Today, the network remains one of Japan's largest nationwide television services. ^ Return to Table of Contents Scope and Content This collection is primarily made up of moving images and sound recordings collected by the David Sarnoff Research Library relating to the RCA corporation dating from 1953 to 2009. There is a set of photographs related to the Nippon Television Network and two photograph albums, one of 30 Rockefeller Center and the other containing waveform and photo-radio equipment. This collection is organized into eight series: Broadcast programming, Communications, Events, History, Meetings, Popular recordings, Reference materials, and Nippon Television Network. The Broadcast programming series includes material created by broadcast companies either about David Sarnoff, the Labs or were used for research purposes. Of note are three films (and Digital Betacam transfers) produced by the NBC Special Film Unit. Several programs about the history of NBC are included and have accompanying shot lists for some of the program. Also included are two versions of "The Story of Television", which celebrated National Television Week. The program shows David Sarnoff, credits him as pioneer of television and explains the history of the process of television. "Color TV with Jimmy Durante & Sarnoff" was a program that introduced color television to the public. Of note - Page 4- RCA Corporation collection of television and company history photographs and audiovisual materials 2464.78 is, "Combat TV", a program created by RCA in collaboration with the Army Signal Corps. This film promoted the use of television within the military and features David Sarnoff. Audio recordings include an entire "Today" show from 1966 and two recordings of "Executive Wire", a business news program in which in one instance Robert Sarnoff is mentioned and another discusses the ABC/International Telephone and Telegraph merger. This sub-series also contains a news story on the Flat Panel display and the first Stereo Audio/Video Transmission on the Tonight Show. Also included is a Digital Betacam videocassette of "The Reasons Why," which focuses on research and development laboratories at Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Communications series is made up of materials that were used to promote the work of the company or used internally for informational purposes are in the Communications sub-series. One audio recording entitled "Old Guards at Princeton", is an address given by C.J. King, Jr. on the David Sarnoff and Library. Two "VideoLine" videos are examples of RCA's in-house employee video magazine. Also included here are videos not produced by the company that may have been used by employees in their work. The series Events contains a 16mm film "RCA Party for Jack Benny" in which Jack Benny is given award and Robert Sarnoff speaks and presents a portable television/radio/alarm clock to Mr. Benny. George Burns is in the audience