The Ziemer Papers are gathered almost entirely from his wartime career as a radio broadcaster for WLW. The collection consists of scripts, writings, correspondence, and memorabilia. Together the materials provide a useful resource for studying the use of radio as a propaganda tool.
The SCRIPTS, 1941-1944, which comprise the largest portion of the collection, pertain chiefly to three WLW programs: Views of the News (MWF) and Background on the News (MTWTFS), both of which consisted of news and commentary; and World Front (Sunday), an informal roundtable discussion and interview program. Many of the scripts relating to the first two programs are unidentified. Because they are virtually identical in content they have been filed together in chronological order. Continuity and advertising scripts are attached to some individual programs. The researcher is warned that the dating was done by Ziemer some years after broadcast and that it may not be completely accurate. The collection also includes a small number of materials relating to World Front. In most cases these materials are not scripts, but rather a series of questions and occasional answers to questions. Materials relating to World Front tend to be fragmentary both in terms of substance and time coverage. A small number of miscellaneous scripts relate to other WLW programs.
Ziemer's WRITINGS, 1940-1942, n.d., represented in the collection include a draft fragment of Two Thousand and Ten Days of Hitler which includes some pages in his daughter's youthful handwriting; two manuscript chapters and drafts from an unpublished book entitled “Right Under Hitler's Nose,” which Ziemer wrote for Ann McNulty, a fellow member of the American contingent in pre-war Berlin; a manuscript and draft version of “Branded by Death,” an article written for Look; and several miscellaneous manuscripts including a proposed outline for a book on sex in Hitlerian Germany. This section also contains a speech written for Mrs. Ziemer to deliver while he was recovering from an automobile accident.
The CORRESPONDENCE, 1929-1945, divides into three categories (Listener, Personal, and WLW) and includes both incoming and carbons of outgoing mail. The Listener Mail, which has been weeded to remove routine correspondence and sorted by month, consists of questions and comments from Ziemer's audience. A letter from Governor John Bricker (June 2, 1942) may be found in this section. The Personal Correspondence includes mail from Ziemer's family, friends, acquaintances, and his literary agent, publisher, and lecture service representative. With the exception of two items (1929, 1936), this segment relates only to the World War II period. Of interest in this section is a letter from H.V. Kaltenborn (January 13, 1944) relating to the Overseas Press Club. The WLW Correspondence includes letters and memoranda relating to the production of news programs. In general, this segment provides disappointing documentation and perhaps the most revealing item is an undated letter dealing with the broadcaster's keen sense of time. Noteworthy correspondents include John H. Bankhead and Lyndon B. Johnson. The Johnson letter, dated February 23, 1943, concerns a mutual interest in the transportation costs of civilian employees of the military. There are
also several letters from Burnett Hershey concerning his appearance on WLW. Also of interest is a letter from a listener to James Shouse, vice-president of the Crossley Corporation, concerning the dispute between Ziemer and Carroll Alcott, another WLW broadcaster, over U.S. military strategic priorities.
The MEMORABILIA, 1941-1943, includes biographical clippings, press releases, and programs.
