Smithsonian Institution Archives

Production Records, circa 1963-1988

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0586
Creators:
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications
Dates:
circa 1963-1988
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
7.5 cu. ft. (7 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
These records primarily document the activities of OTC under Director Nazaret Cherkezian. A small amount of records were created by Paul B. Johnson. There are also a few records created by OTC's predecessor offices. The records include correspondence, memoranda, proposals, contracts, budgets, reports, newspaper clippings, press releases, scripts, and related materials concerning OTC radio broadcasts Radio Smithsonian and Smithsonian Galaxy; television and film productions, especially "Smithsonian World" and the Emmy award-winning "The Smithsonian Institution with S. Dillon Ripley, Secretary;" production planning; facilities and equipment, including the construction of the OTC studio in the National Museum of History and Technology; and administrative records.

Historical Note

Historical Note
The Office of Telecommunications (OTC) was established on August 15, 1976, as a separate unit reporting directly to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Service. Prior to the creation of OTC, coordination of Smithsonian telecommunication activities was a function of the Smithsonian Museum Service, 1958-1965; the Office of Public Information, 1965-1967; and the Office of Public Affairs, 1967-1976. OTC develops ideas for the production of programs and broadcast series for public and commercial television and radio, films, and related visual and audio materials, which bring a better understanding of the Smithsonian to American and foreign audiences. OTC is also the contact point for all interested outside producers of telecommunications projects relating to all Smithsonian bureaus. OTC broadcast series have included Radio Smithsonian, a national, weekly radio program providing information about the multi-disciplinary activities of the Institution which was in production from 1969 to 1990; Smithsonian Galaxy, a series of short radio features highlighting the work of Smithsonian curators, scientists, and researchers broadcast from 1979 to 1987; and Here at the Smithsonian, a series of short features for television, produced from 1982 to 1989. In addition, OTC produces films of special events of the Institution; provides archival recordings of conferences, symposia, and other programs; and produces films for Smithsonian exhibitions. Nazaret Cherkezian was appointed Director of OTC in 1976. He retired in 1986 and was replaced by Assistant Director Paul B. Johnson who served as Acting Director, 1986-1988, and Director, 1988-2002.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 586, Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications, Production Records

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Cherkezian, Nazaret Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Johnson, Paul B. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Assistant Secretary for Public Service Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Museum Service Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Public Information Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Public Affairs Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Yorktown (Motion picture : 1982) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Reunions: Memories of an American Experience (Documentary film : 1979) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Leaf Thieves (Motion picture : 1963) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mirrors on the Universe: The MMT story (Motion picture : 1979) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sense of Discovery, The National Collection of Fine Arts (Motion picture : 1980) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Galaxy (Radio program) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian World (Television program : 1984-1991) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Radio Smithsonian (Radio program) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution with S. Dillon Ripley, Secretary (Television program) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Here at the Smithsonian (Television program) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Documentary films Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Contracts Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Intellectual property Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Motion pictures -- Production and direction Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television -- Production and direction Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Documentary television programs Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Radio programs Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
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