Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the WANN Radio Station Records

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0800
Creators:
Blum, Morris
WANN Radio Station (Annapolis, Maryland)
Dates:
1940-1999
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
13 Cubic feet
32 boxes and 12 oversize folders
Repository:
The collection documents the creative, technical and political aspects of managing WANN Radio Station in Annapolis, Maryland during the mid-Twentieth Century. Key areas of research include black radio stations; Annapolis African American communities; marketing to Black communities; political activism through media; Black-Jewish community relationships; church, community and media activism.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection primarily documents the highly-segregated era of radio broadcasting and WANN's position within this historical context. It contains an extensive photographic history documenting the rise of the radio station. Other materials include programming timetables, forum broadcasts, and advertisement segments aired during the station's prime. Documents chronicling the station's business and regulatory history, including correspondence with fans, publicity materials, advertising, certificates and awards and sales reports are also included among these materials. There are newspaper clippings documenting political events and church programs covered by the radio station. Land survey maps for the placement of new station and broadcasting towers are also found among these materials. Morris Blum was involved with the Federal Communications Commission and there is a significant amount of material relating to the Emergency Broadcasting System including tutorials and regulations. Materials relating to Blum's personal life include local Jewish community and organization activities, naval history and a few family papers. Photographs and programming for WANN's sister radio station WXTC can also be found among these materials. In the early 1990s, WANN radio station became Bay Country 1190 in a move to be more profitable. There is a small amount of material relating to this new programming format. WANN radio is significant because the radio station became a place to discuss controversial topics concerning the African American community. Segregation, racial discrimination, and challenging political misrepresentation were all a part of WANN's programming. Blum and his staff did not avoid confronting what were at the time radical issues of racial justice and equality. Members of Congress, politicians and community organizers all appeared periodically on WANN radio. In addition to its talk radio format, WANN radio also played Rhythm and Blues, Gospel music, and hosted numerous dance parties and concerts at Carr's Beach. Blum hired a racially diverse staff, creating pathways to professional careers. Charles "Hoppy" Adams, who eventually became WANN's first executive vice president, began his career as a highly popular radio personality. Adams hosted the Carr's Beach dance parties and concerts featuring many young artists, including James Brown and Sarah Vaughn. The success of the radio station's hiring practices, relevant programming, social activities and political awareness makes it a valuable resource of information for both the Washington DC metropolitan area and the nation as a whole.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into twelve series.
Series 1: Photographic Materials, 1947-1996, undated
Series 2: Correspondence, 1947-1999
Series 3: Programming, 1947-1989
Series 4: Publicity, 1946-1999, undated
Series 5: Advertising and Marketing, 1947-1999, undated
Series 6: Engineering and Construction, 1947-1999, undated
Series 7: Office Files, 1953-1999, undated
Series 8: Communications and Emergency Management, 1946-1999, undated
Series 9: Awards and Recognition, 1940s-1999, undated
Series 10: WXTC Radio Station, 1959-1979, undated
Series 11: Morris Blum Papers, 1954-1997, undated
Series 12: Audiovisual Materials, 1953-1998

Administration

Author
Doretha Williams, Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, and Rebekah Keel
Sponsor
Processing and encoding funded by a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.
Processing Information
Processed by Rebekah Keel, intern, 2015, supervised by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, archivist, 2015.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by Morris Blum in July 2002.
Separated Materials
"Several artifacts were donated to the Museum's Division of Cultural History (now Division of Cultural and Community Life) in 2000. The associated accession numbers for the WANN Radio Station artifacts are as follows:
2000.0165-7,775 include sound recordings, two turntable pads, a microphone, and a studio wall clock, all used at the radio station from 1948-1995.
2002.0319-22 include eight name tags worn by on-air personalities at personal appearances, five pieces of equipment, three banners, two gold records, two public service award plaques, a pith helmet, and two T-shirts also from 1948-1995. "

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
WANN Radio Station Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Researchers must use reference copies of audiovisual materials. When no reference copy exists, the Archives Center staff will produce reference copies on an "as needed" basis, as resources allow.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Radio stations -- Maryland Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American radio stations Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Radio audiences Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Radio broadcasting Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Awards Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Certificates Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ethnic radio programs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Carr's Beach Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Business records -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sales records Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Posters -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising -- 20th century Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Annapolis (Md.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Maryland -- 20th century Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audiotapes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
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