Martin Agronsky Papers [Finding Aid]. Library of Congress. [PDF Rendered

Martin Agronsky Papers

A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress

Manuscript Division, Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 2017 Revised 2017 July

Contact information: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mss.contact

Additional search options available at: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms006002

LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/mm2001084841

Prepared by Donna Ellis with the assistance of Dan Oleksiw Revised and expanded by Nate Scheible Collection Summary Title: Martin Agronsky Papers Span Dates: 1907-2002 Bulk Dates: (bulk 1940-1990) ID No.: MSS84841 Creator: Agronsky, Martin, 1915-1999 Extent: 30,000 items ; 85 containers plus 1 oversize ; 34 linear feet Language: Collection material in English Location: Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Summary: Radio and television journalist. Appointment books, awards, radio, television, and film scripts, speeches, writings, photographs, and research material pertaining to Agronsky's career as a radio and television journalist.

Selected Search Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein. People Agronsky family--Correspondence. Agronsky, Helen Smathers, 1916-1969--Correspondence. Agronsky, Martin. Eichmann, Adolf, 1906-1962--Trials, litigation, etc. Subjects Cold War. Economics. Foreign correspondents--Asia. Foreign correspondents--Australia. Foreign correspondents--Europe. Politics, Practical. Trials--Israel. World War, 1939-1945--Journalists. Occupations Journalists.

Administrative Information Provenance The papers of Martin Agronsky, radio and television journalist, were given to the Library of Congress by his estate in 2001. Additional material was given in 2003 by David Agronsky. Processing History The papers of Martin Agronsky were arranged and described in 2002. An addition was processed and the finding aid revised in 2017. Transfers Sound recordings, videocassettes, and films have been transferred to the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division where they are identified as part of the Martin Agronsky Papers.

Martin Agronsky Papers 2 Copyright Status Copyright in the unpublished writings of Martin Agronsky in these papers and in other collections in the custody of the Library of Congress is reserved. Consult a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division for further information. Access and Restrictions The papers of Martin Agronsky 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. Preferred Citation Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Martin Agronsky Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Biographical Note Date Event 1915, Jan. 12 Born, Philadelphia, Pa.

1936 B.A., Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.

1936-1937 Reporter, Palestine Post

1937-1940 Freelance newspaper reporter

1940-1943 Foreign correspondent, National Broadcasting Co.

1943 Married Helen Smathers (died 1969)

1943-1957 Correspondent, American Broadcasting Co., Washington, D.C.

1952 Awarded George Foster Peabody Award

1957-1964 Correspondent, National Broadcasting Co.

1961 Awarded Alfred I. DuPont Award

1964-1968 Bureau chief, Paris, France, and moderator of Face the Nation, Columbia Broadcasting System

1968 Received Emmy Award

1969 News anchor, WTOP-TV, Washington, D.C.

1969-1987 Host, Agronsky and Company, WETA-TV, Washington, D.C.

1971-1975 Host, Martin Agronsky's Evening Edition and Agronsky at Large, Public Broadcasting System

1999, July 25 Died, Washington, D.C.

Martin Agronsky Papers 3 Scope and Content Note The papers of Martin Agronsky (1915-1999) span the years 1907 to 2002, with the bulk of the material dating from 1940 to 1990. The papers are organized in the following series: Correspondence, Speeches and Writings File, Miscellany, Addition, and Oversize. The Correspondence series primarily contains letters written by colleagues and the public to Agronsky in response to his newscasts. Incoming and outgoing letters and telegrams document communications between Agronsky and his network supervisors regarding news assignments. The Speeches and Writings File, especially the scripts of Agronsky's newscasts, forms the centerpiece of the papers. The material dates from his career as a foreign correspondent in Europe, Australia, and Asia during World War II and continues through the Cold War years. His coverage of the Adolf Eichmann trial in Israel earned him the Alfred I. DuPont Award in 1962. Other scripts include his work on documentary films. The speech file contains correspondence, notes, and texts pertaining to his lectures on political and economic subjects. Research material includes news clippings, notes, and printed matter relating to the subjects on which Agronsky frequently lectured. The Miscellany series consists primarily of appointment books, awards, biographical material, and items related to organizations with which Agronsky was associated. The Addition series mostly expands upon the material contained within the collection as it was initially processed and includes additional broadcast scripts, speeches, clippings, awards, subject files, and biographical materials. The correspondence includes communications with colleagues and the public regarding news assignments, and also incoming and outgoing correspondence between Agronsky and his parents, and outgoing letters to his first wife, Helen Smathers. The addition also contains photographs and materials associated with Agronsky’s death, including obituaries, letters of condolence, and research materials on Agronsky compiled by family members.

Organization of the Papers The collection is arranged in five series: • Correspondence, 1907-1991 • Speeches and Writings File, 1939-1996 • Miscellany, 1933-1999 • Addition, 1932-2002 • Oversize, 1952, 1978, undated

Martin Agronsky Papers 4 Description of Series

Container Series BOX 1-12 Correspondence, 1907-1991 Correspondence and memoranda between Agronsky and his friends, colleagues, and the public relating to professional activities. Arranged chronologically.

BOX 13-74 Speeches and Writings File, 1939-1996 Broadcast and film scripts, magazine articles, research material, and speeches. Arranged alphabetically by type of material and therein chronologically.

BOX 75-79 Miscellany, 1933-1999 Appointment books, awards, biographical material, lawsuits, and correspondence relating to organizations and television programs. Arranged alphabetically by type of material and therein chronologically.

BOX 80-85 Addition, 1932-2002 Correspondence, broadcast scripts, awards, speeches, biographical material, newspaper articles, clippings, photographs, and files associated with Agronsky’s death. Arranged alphabetically by name of person, type of material, or subject and therein chronologically.

BOX OV 1 Oversize, 1952, 1978, undated Certificates and photographs. Arranged and described according to the series, container, and folder from which the items were removed.

Martin Agronsky Papers 5 Container List

Container Contents

BOX 1-12 Correspondence, 1907-1991 Correspondence and memoranda between Agronsky and his friends, colleagues, and the public relating to professional activities. Arranged chronologically.

BOX 1 1907, 1939-1942 (7 folders) BOX 1 1943 BOX 1 Jan.-Apr. (3 folders) BOX 2 June-Dec. BOX 2 1944 (5 folders) BOX 2 1945 BOX 2 Jan.-Apr. (2 folders) BOX 3 May-Sept. (7 folders) BOX 4 Oct.-Dec. (4 folders) BOX 4 1946-1947 (5 folders) BOX 5 1948-1949 (5 folders) BOX 5 1950 BOX 5 Jan.-Apr. (2 folders) BOX 6 May-Dec. (3 folders) BOX 6 1951 (2 folders) BOX 6 1952 BOX 6 Jan.-Mar. BOX 7 Apr.-Dec. (2 folders) BOX 7 1953 (7 folders) BOX 8 1954 BOX 8 Jan.-May (7 folders) BOX 9 June-Dec. (7 folders) BOX 9 1955

Martin Agronsky Papers 6 Correspondence, 1907-1991 Container Contents

BOX 9 Jan.-Mar. (2 folders) BOX 10 Apr.-Dec. (7 folders) BOX 10 1956-1971 (3 folders) BOX 11 1972-1981 (9 folders) BOX 12 1982-1991, undated (9 folders)

BOX 13 Broadcast scripts BOX 13 American Broadcasting Co. BOX 13 At Issue BOX 13 Correspondence and financial records, 1953-1954, undated BOX 13 Interviews, 1953-1954 (3 folders) BOX 13 Prospective topics, 1951-1954, undated BOX 13 Daily news BOX 13 1943 (3 folders) BOX 14 circa 1943 (9 folders) BOX 15 (3 folders) BOX 15 1944 BOX 15 Jan.-May (8 folders) BOX 16 June-Sept. (9 folders) BOX 17 Oct.-Dec. (5 folders) BOX 17 1945 BOX 17 Jan.-Feb. (3 folders) BOX 18 Mar.-Aug. (6 folders) BOX 19 Sept.-Dec. (6 folders) BOX 19 1946 BOX 19 Jan.-Feb. (3 folders) BOX 20 Mar.-Aug. (8 folders)

Martin Agronsky Papers 7 Speeches and Writings File, 1939-1996 Container Contents

BOX 21 Sept.-Dec. (4 folders) BOX 21 1947 BOX 21 Jan.-Feb. (4 folders) BOX 22 Mar.-June (7 folders) BOX 23 July-Nov. (8 folders) BOX 24 Dec. (3 folders) BOX 24 1948 BOX 24 Jan.-Mar. (6 folders) BOX 25 Apr.-Sept. (9 folders) BOX 26 Oct.-Dec. (6 folders) BOX 26 1949 BOX 26 Jan.-Feb. (3 folders) BOX 27 Mar.-June (8 folders) BOX 28 July-Oct. (7 folders) BOX 29 Nov.-Dec. (4 folders) BOX 29 1950 BOX 29 Jan. (2 folders) BOX 30 Feb.-May (8 folders) BOX 31 June-Sept. (7 folders) BOX 31 Oct. BOX 31 2-14 BOX 32 16-31 BOX 32 Nov.-Dec. (4 folders) BOX 32 1951 BOX 32 Jan.-Feb. (4 folders) BOX 33 Mar.-June (8 folders) BOX 34 July-Oct. (7 folders) BOX 35 Nov.-Dec. (4 folders)

Martin Agronsky Papers 8 Speeches and Writings File, 1939-1996 Container Contents

BOX 35 1952 BOX 35 Jan.-Feb. (4 folders) BOX 36 Mar.-May (6 folders) BOX 37 June-Nov. (9 folders) BOX 38 Dec. (2 folders) BOX 38 1953 BOX 38 Jan.-May (9 folders) BOX 39 June-Dec. (8 folders) BOX 39 1954 BOX 39 Jan. BOX 40 Feb.-July (9 folders) BOX 41 Aug.-Dec. (7 folders) BOX 41 1955 BOX 41 Jan.-Feb. (3 folders) BOX 42 Mar.-Aug. (11 folders) BOX 43 Sept.-Nov. (8 folders) BOX 44 Dec. (3 folders) BOX 44 1956 BOX 44 Jan. (3 folders) BOX 44 Feb. BOX 44 1-14 BOX 45 16-29 BOX 45 Mar.-Apr. (6 folders) BOX 46 May-June (6 folders) BOX 46 July BOX 46 2-21 (2 folders) BOX 47 23-31 BOX 47 Aug.-Nov. (7 folders) BOX 48 Dec. (4 folders) BOX 48 1957

Martin Agronsky Papers 9 Speeches and Writings File, 1939-1996 Container Contents

BOX 48 Jan.-May (6 folders) BOX 49 Program sponsors BOX 49 Cancellations, 1946-1956 (7 folders) BOX 49 Correspondence, 1950-1955 BOX 49 Expenses, 1943-1953 BOX 49 Lists, 1945-1954, undated (3 folders) BOX 50 Miscellany, 1947-1955, undated BOX 50 Radio station affiliates, 1950-1955 BOX 50 Sales, 1946-1956 (6 folders) BOX 50 Sponsor identifications, 1953-1955 (2 folders) BOX 51 National Broadcasting Co. BOX 51 Daily news BOX 51 1939-1940 (4 folders) BOX 51 1941 BOX 51 Jan.-July (6 folders) BOX 52 Aug.-Oct. (3 folders) BOX 52 1942 (6 folders) BOX 53 1957-1968 (7 folders) BOX 53 “Emphasis,” 1960-1964, undated BOX 53 “Look Here” BOX 53 Correspondence, 1957-1958, 1996, undated BOX 53 Interviews BOX 53 1957 (2 folders) BOX 54 1958, undated (3 folders) BOX 54 “The Trial of Adolf Eichmann” BOX 54 Production material, 1961 BOX 54 Scripts, 1961 BOX 54 Unidentified scripts, undated BOX 54 Miscellany BOX 54 Films BOX 54 American Workmanship, 1976 BOX 54 And One to Grow On, 1979-1980, undated BOX 54 Coal slurry pipeline, 1980 BOX 54 Communications Workers of America, 1982, undated BOX 54 CSX-Richmond Corp., 1984

Martin Agronsky Papers 10 Speeches and Writings File, 1939-1996 Container Contents

BOX 55 First Monday in October, 1980 BOX 55 Hadassah Medical Organization, 1985 BOX 55 It's Child's Play, 1961 BOX 55 A Matter of Commitment, 1983 BOX 55 The National Financial Planning Quiz, 1981 BOX 55 Nazareth to Bethlehem travelog, 1961 BOX 55 Magazine articles BOX 55 “I Will Be Back,” undated BOX 55 Life project on Iran, 1947, undated BOX 55 “Iran--Urgent,” undated BOX 55 Miscellaneous, 1943-1952, undated BOX 55 “The Partition of Palestine,” 1937 BOX 55 “The Public and the Act,” 1970 BOX 55 “The Voice of the Supreme Court,” 1955-1956 BOX 55 Radio and television guest appearances, 1968, 1979-1988 BOX 56 Research material BOX 56 Abortion, 1964, 1974, undated BOX 56 American Jewish Congress, 1963-1964 (2 folders) BOX 56 Atomic energy, 1947-1950, undated BOX 56 Automotive advertising, 1956 BOX 56 Battery additive material, 1949-1953, undated BOX 56 Bernstein, Leonard, 1976 BOX 56 Bomb shelters, 1961, undated BOX 56 Burch, Dean, 1964, undated BOX 56 Burrows, Abe, undated BOX 57 Carter, Jimmy, 1977, undated BOX 57 Censorship, 1952 BOX 57 Central America, 1985 BOX 57 Central Intelligence Agency, 1965-1966, 1974-1977, 1985, undated BOX 57 Civil liberties, 1949-1955, undated (2 folders) BOX 58 Communism, 1948-1955, 1963, 1973, undated BOX 58 Condon, Edward U., 1948-1949, undated BOX 58 Crossfield, Scott, 1955-1958, undated (2 folders) BOX 58 Cuban missile crisis, 1963, undated BOX 58 Democratic Party, 1944, 1952, 1981 BOX 58 Disarmament, 1983-1986, undated BOX 58 Dulles, John Foster, 1952-1957, undated BOX 58 Eastern Europe, 1940-1942, undated BOX 59 Economics, 1952-1955, 1977-1978, undated BOX 59 Education, 1952-1954, 1963, undated BOX 59 Eichmann, Adolf, trial of BOX 59 Court documents, 1961 (5 folders) BOX 60 (2 folders)

Martin Agronsky Papers 11 Speeches and Writings File, 1939-1996 Container Contents

BOX 60 Fact sheets and news releases, 1960-1961, undated (2 folders) BOX 60 Memoranda and notes, 1960-1961, undated (3 folders) BOX 61 Printed matter, 1947-1961, undated (6 folders) BOX 61 Elections BOX 61 1948 BOX 62 1950-1964, 1980-1988, undated (7 folders) BOX 62 Fast, Howard, 1957, undated BOX 62 Finance BOX 62 1945-1954 (3 folders) BOX 63 1957, 1969, undated BOX 63 Foreign policy, 1950-1955, 1963-1967, 1978, 1984-1986, undated BOX 63 Fulbright, J. William, 1959-1965, undated BOX 63 Germany, 1949-1954, 1961-1964, undated BOX 63 Goldwater, Barry, 1964, undated BOX 63 Humphrey, Hubert H., 1963-1968, undated (4 folders) BOX 63 International languages, 1951-1954, undated BOX 64 Israel, 1958-1988, undated (5 folders) BOX 64 Kennedy, John F., assassination investigation, 1970 BOX 64 King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1956-1957, undated BOX 64 Labor organizations, 1952-1964, 1977, undated BOX 64 Lattimore, Owen, 1953-1954, undated BOX 65 League of Nations, 1937, 1974 BOX 65 Leopold, Nathan F., 1957, undated BOX 65 McCarthy, Joseph R., 1954, 1962, undated BOX 65 Miscellaneous BOX 65 Notes, undated (4 folders) BOX 65 Printed matter BOX 65 1948-1955 (3 folders) BOX 66 1956-1980, 1986, undated (3 folders) BOX 66 National Endowment for the Arts, 1976, undated BOX 66 Nicaragua, 1985 BOX 66 Nuclear weapons, 1946-1955, 1964, 1978, undated BOX 66 Pearson, Lester Bowles, 1954-1961, undated BOX 66 Perkins, Anthony, 1958, undated BOX 67 Post World War II economy, 1949-1954, undated BOX 67 Public broadcasting, 1954, 1973, undated BOX 67 Racial discrimination, 1954, 1963-1968, undated

Martin Agronsky Papers 12 Speeches and Writings File, 1939-1996 Container Contents

BOX 67 Rayburn, Sam, 1961, undated BOX 67 Republic of the Congo, 1961-1962 BOX 67 Scientists and national security, 1948-1954, undated BOX 67 Southeast Asia, 1950-1953, 1961-1971, undated (3 folders) BOX 67 Stanley, Kim, undated BOX 68 Stevenson, Adlai E. (1900-1965), 1952, undated BOX 68 Summit meetings, 1960, 1986, undated (2 folders) BOX 68 Taft, Robert A. (1889-1953), undated BOX 68 Tennessee Valley Authority, 1954 BOX 68 USSR, 1953, 1961-1964, 1979-1980, undated BOX 68 U.S. Senate, 1952, 1964-1966, undated BOX 68 U.S. Supreme Court BOX 68 1947-1955 (2 folders) BOX 69 1956, 1968, 1974-1977, undated BOX 69 Violence and television, 1969-1977, undated BOX 69 Von Braun, Wernher, 1957 BOX 69 Voskovec, George, immigration case, 1950 BOX 69 Webb, Jack, undated BOX 69 Weil, Joseph, 1946-1954 BOX 69 Welfare, 1945 BOX 69 Women's liberation, 1975-1977, undated BOX 69 World War II, 1943-1944, undated BOX 69 Yates, Sidney R., 1957, 1978 BOX 69 Yugoslavia, 1955 BOX 70 Speech file BOX 70 1942, 1947-1975 (12 folders) BOX 71 1976-1980 (10 folders) BOX 71 1981 BOX 71 Jan.-Apr. (5 folders) BOX 72 May-Dec. (5 folders) BOX 72 1982 BOX 72 Jan.-Sept. (13 folders) BOX 73 Oct.-Dec. (2 folders) BOX 73 1983-1985 (11 folders)

Martin Agronsky Papers 13 Speeches and Writings File, 1939-1996 Container Contents

BOX 74 1986-1990, undated (20 folders)

BOX 75 Appointment books BOX 75 1982-1986 (3 folders) BOX 76 1987 BOX 76 Awards BOX 76 Alfred I. DuPont Award, 1961 BOX 76 George Foster Peabody Award, 1952-1953, undated BOX 76 Hall of Distinguished Alumni, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., 1995 BOX 76 Heywood Broun Award, 1948-1949 BOX 76 Miscellaneous, 1952-1953, 1984, undated BOX 76 National Headliners Club, 1948 BOX 76 Sigma Delta Chi Radio Award, 1949 BOX 76 Biographical material BOX 76 1933, 1939-1944, 1950-1959 (2 folders) BOX 77 1960-1991, 1999, undated (6 folders) BOX 77 Jerusalem Post, 1945-1953 BOX 77 Lawsuits BOX 77 Alexander v. Agronsky, 1981-1982 BOX 77 Reed v. Agronsky, circa 1944 BOX 78 Organizations BOX 78 National Theatre Corp., 1980-1986, undated (4 folders) BOX 78 Radio Correspondents Association, 1948-1953, undated BOX 78 Photographs, 1939, 1950-1983, undated BOX 78 Telephone messages, 1980-1981 BOX 79 Television programs BOX 79 Agronsky and Company, 1974-1987, undated (2 folders) BOX 79 Evening Edition, 1971-1976, undated (2 folders) BOX 79 Hindsight, undated BOX 79 Proposals, 1963, 1988

Martin Agronsky Papers 14 Addition, 1932-2002 Container Contents

BOX 80 Agrons, Isadore Noah and Marcia Dvorin, 1967-1971, 1994 BOX 80 Agronsky and Company, 1979-1986 BOX 80 Articles by Agronsky, 1943-1962 BOX 80 Awards BOX 80 General, 1944-1953, 1961-1968, 1975-1984 See also Oversize BOX 80 George Foster Peabody Award, 1952-1953 See also Oversize BOX 80 Biographical material BOX 80 General, 1932-1965, 1975, 1987, 1997 BOX 80 Oral history interview, 1980 BOX 80 Broadcast scripts BOX 80 General BOX 80 1940-1951 (4 folders) BOX 81 1953-1958, 1964, 1978, undated (3 folders) BOX 81 Interviews, 1948-1967, 1977, undated (2 folders) BOX 81 Clippings, 1941-1992, undated (5 folders) BOX 81 Correspondence BOX 81 1940-1944 BOX 82 1945-1994, undated (10 folders) BOX 82 Death of Agronsky BOX 82 Condolences and donations in name of, 1999-2000 BOX 83 Family member research, 2000-2002 (2 folders) BOX 83 Miscellany, 1999-2002 (2 folders) BOX 83 Obituaries, 1999 BOX 83 Humphrey, Hubert H., 1968, undated See also Oversize BOX 83 Investment ideas, 1980-1982, 1988, 1996 BOX 83 Miscellany BOX 83 1941-1957 (2 folders) BOX 84 1961-1969, 1977-1992, undated (3 folders) BOX 84 Photographs, circa 1940-1999 See also Oversize (6 folders) BOX 85 Proposals for television programs, 1950-1957, 1963, 1975-1982, 1988, undated (3 folders) BOX 85 Speeches BOX 85 Commencement, 1983-1987 BOX 85 General, 1942-1990, undated

Martin Agronsky Papers 15 Addition, 1932-2002 Container Contents

BOX 85 Smathers family, 1941-1951, 1994

BOX OV 1 Oversize, 1952, 1978, undated Certificates and photographs. Arranged and described according to the series, container, and folder from which the items were removed.

BOX OV 1 Addition Awards, general, honorary citizen of New Orleans certificate, 1978 (Container 80) Awards, George Foster Peabody Award, certificate, 1952 (Container 80) Humphrey, Hubert H., photograph, undated (Container 83) Photographs, Martin Agronsky's Washington, advertisement, undated (Container 85)

Martin Agronsky Papers 16