Guide to the Murrow Symposium Video Recordings 1978 April 23-25
PC 53

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Creator
Edward R. Murrow Symposium (1978 : Washington State University)
Title
Murrow Symposium Video Recordings
ID
PC 53
Date [inclusive]
1978 April 23-25
Extent
1 Linear foot of shelf space, 1 box, 8 tapes
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
Eight U-matic (3/4" video) tapes containing programming from the 1978 Edward R. Murrow Symposium held on April 23rd-25th at Washington State University. Speakers include Howard K. Smith and Frank Mankiewicz.

Preferred Citation

[Item description Murrow Symposium Video Recordings, 1978 April 23-25 (PC 53)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biography/History

Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965), the distinguished radio and television journalist, was an alumnus of Washington State College (WSC). Hired by the Columbia Broadcasting System in 1935, Murrow worked for CBS until 1961 and then headed the U.S. Information Agency until 1964. Murrow became known first for his "This is … London" radio broadcasts during the Second World War and then as a television journalist who demonstrated the power of the new medium in his documentaries exposing Senator Joseph McCarthy's red-baiting and later the wretched conditions endured by migrant laborers in the United States. Throughout his lifetime, Murrow acknowledged his alma mater in word and deed, returning to campus to speak and to offer his voice to projects such as the 1952 promotional film "This is W.S.C."

During his college years that began in 1926, Murrow studied radio broadcasting in one of the first courses offered in the nation in that field. He graduated in 1930 with a Speech degree and held in high regard the people and the training at WSC. The Speech Department's broadcasting courses that prepared Murrow were merged in 1964 with the Journalism Department to create the Department of Communications. In 1990 that department became the Murrow School of Communication and in 2008 the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

Washington State University recognized the Murrow legacy in eponymous building and program names, lecture series, and awards. In 1973 WSU renamed the home of its communications programs after Murrow when the old Science Hall later Arts Hall connected by a skyway to a new building became the Edward R. Murrow Communications (later Communication) Center. That year also began a panel discussion and lecture series focused on media issues named the Murrow Symposium. The symposium welcomed over the next two and a half decades prominent journalists such as Howard K. Smith, Charles Kuralt, Ted Koppel, and Diane Sawyer. Beginning in 1997, the Murrow Symposium expanded to add recognition of communication leaders through the Edward R. Murrow Award. Sam Donaldson, Ted Turner, Christiane Amanpour, former Murrow colleague Daniel Schorr, and Tom Brokaw are among those to receive the award.

Murrow's lifelong connection to Washington State University was acknowledged again in 1994 when WSU in the Edward R. Murrow Communication Center hosted the dedication of the U.S. postage stamp honoring Murrow's achievements, the first broadcast journalist honored with a commemorative stamp.

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Scope and Content

The collection consists of eight U-matic videocassettes containing programming from the annual Edward R. Murrow Symposium held in Pullman, Washington on April 23-25, 1978. Tapes one to two comprise the first night's speaker, Howard K. Smith, giving a presentation titled The Changing Challenge to America. Tapes three to six are a panel discussion, The First Amendment and Broadcasting: Press Freedoms and Broadcast Journalism, as well as a lunch talk by Frank Mankiewicz, The First Amendment and Public Broadcasting. Tapes seven to eight conclude the panel discussion on the following day. Notably not included is the second day's banquet speech by Richard Wald, with Janet Murrow.

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Arrangement

The videotapes are retained in their original chronological order.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2016

http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open and available for research use.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions apply.

Processing Information

Materials are retained in their original casing and labeling.

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Related Materials

Related Material

Numerous videos, photographs, programs, and other materials from various Murrow Symposia are retained in various collections at WSU MASC. These include:

WSU Buildings, Photographs, 1892- (PC 3) [contains program for 1973 Murrow Communications Center dedication].

Assistant to the President, Records, 1954-1985 (Archives 216) [files related to 1973 Murrow Hall dedication].

Beasley Coliseum, Event Recordings, 1980-1993 (Archives 286) [Murrow Symposia recordings].

NWPR (Northwest Public Radio), Audio Recordings, 1973-1999 (Archives 287) [Murrow Symposia recordings].

Washington State University Murrow College of Communication Event Recordings, 1973-2002 (Archives 318) [1973 Murrow Communications Center dedication, various Murrow Symposia, and the 1994 Murrow Postage Stamp dedication ceremony recordings].

WSU Presents (Archives 320) [includes Murrow Symposia addresses as well as the Murrow Stamp dedication].

WSU Publications, Communications Department (WSU 101-1) [Communicator and other Communications Department newsletters refer to Murrow symposia and their speakers].

WSU Publications, Communications Department (WSU 101-2) [Murrow event documents include programs and publicity for Murrow Symposia and Murrow Stamp dedication].

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Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Edward R. Murrow Symposium (1978 : Washington State University)
  • United States. Constitution. 1st Amendment -- Congresses.

Subject(s)

  • Freedom of the press -- Congresses.
  • Broadcast journalism -- Congresses.
  • Journalism
  • Washington (State)
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Moving Images

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