Library-Archives

Mass Communications History Collections

The Mass Communications History Collections were established in 1955 to document the importance of the mass media in 20th-century American life. The collections include the papers of hundreds of important individuals, corporations and professional organizations in the fields of journalism, broadcasting, advertising and public relations. These collections document mass communications on both the national level and in the state of Wisconsin. Our holdings include the records and papers of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC); Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications; Foote, Cone & Belding; Bruce Barton; John W. Hill; National Educational Television; David Brinkley; Charles Collingwood; Joseph Harsch; H.V. Kaltenborn; Clark Mollenhoff; Howard K. Smith; more than 30 Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists; and many other individuals and organizations.

Reference Resources

• To search the Mass Communications History Collections, use ArCat, the Archives Computer Catalog.
• Sources for Mass Communications, Film and Theater Research: A Guide was published by the Society in 1981. This publication may be ordered for $15 plus postage and handling from the Wisconsin Historical Museum Shop, 30 N. Carroll St., Madison, WI 53703 (or call 608-264-6428).
• If you have specific reference questions, visit the Archives Research Room or your local Area Research Center.

Mass Comunications History Collecting

• If you would like to donate a mass communications related collection, please visit the Collections Development page.