The Utley Papers are organized into three groups: Correspondence, 1938-1959 (sorted by months); Scripts, 1930-1960; and Other Papers which include lectures, publicity materials, distribution and ratings information, and tabulations of mail received.
There are approximately 9,000 pieces of correspondence, almost all of which may be classified as “fan mail.” The letters indicate that Mr. Utley had a very devoted following. By far the major part of his mail was from admirers and from persons requesting copies of particular broadcasts, although there were also letters from critics.
This mail from his listeners was important to Mr. Utley. For instance, in his December 6, 1949, broadcast he mentioned that mail was analyzed and that recommendations would be reflected in his programs; and on his May 12, 1951, program he announced that he would discuss the foreign policy issues which were raised most frequently in his past week's mail.
Also in the correspondence will be found some carbon copies of Mr. Utley's replies, occasional letters sent to Frayn Utley, a few scattered letters concerning sponsors and contractual arrangements, and fan mail from readers of his column which appeared in the Chicago Sun Times. One citation to both Mr. and Mrs. Utley from the English Speaking Union of the United States, given for the Utleys' efforts to increase understanding between the United States and Great Britain, dated May 30, 1956, has been filed with the correspondence.
The bulk of the collection is composed of scripts, both radio and television, which occupy sixty-five boxes and include the years from 1930 to 1960. There are only three scripts prior to 1935. Television scripts are present from 1949 to 1959 and, when available, the cameraman's copy has been retained along with Mr. Utley's. Some of the scripts are annotated and show revisions, but others appear to be file copies.
In addition to the regular daily and weekly commentaries, there are included in the collection scripts of special programs, such as The War That Must Not Come (April 16, 1946), and for occasions on which Utley substituted for other commentators such as H. V. Kaltenborn and Joseph Harsch. In 1945 - 1953 Clifton Utley gave American Commentary for the British Broadcasting Corporation, a series of programs heard only in Great Britain, which were designed to present views of American life and thought. Also included are scripts for dramatizations in which Utley participated, or which he moderated, such as the historical series entitled We Came This Way (1944 - 1945), and Quiz Kids shows in 1946.
Many scripts bearing Frayn Utley's name will be found in the collection. These include news programs delivered by Mrs. Utley for the years in which she gave her own programs, for instance in 1940 - 1941 and in 1957, as well as for the years in which she substituted for and joined with her husband in news broadcasts.
The only large gap in the sequence of scripts occurs from July to December of 1953, the period immediately following Mr. Utley's stroke.
