Summary Information
Alex Benson Papers
1944-1974
Micro 639
1 reel of microfilm (35mm)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Alex M. Benson, a reporter and NBC news producer, consisting of biographical material, correspondence, writings, and scripts. The fragmentary correspondence includes personal letters to his family written during service with the Army Air Force during World War II. There is also a file of bylined articles for the New York World-Telegram and Sun, 1955-1966, and the New York World Journal Tribune, 1966-1967, and a printed copy of his book, The 48 Hour War. Only a few unidentified scripts document his career with NBC.
English
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Biography/History
Alex Benson, reporter and NBC News producer, was born in 1928 and raised in the New York City area. In 1944 he enlisted in the Army Air Force and, after completing a specialized training reserve program, was stationed in Germany until his discharge in 1946.
He received his B.A. in history from Queens College in 1949. While still a student, he began working for a local news agency, and after his graduation he was employed by the Standard News Association, a wire service that covered Brooklyn for the major New York daily newspapers.
In 1953 Benson joined the New York World-Telegram and Sun, and in subsequent years he distinguished himself as a talented and aggressive journalist, rising from the rank of district reporter to chief city hall reporter. In 1961 he won the Page One Award for Crusading Journalism for his exposé of a ghostwriting syndicate that marketed papers for college students.
After the demise of the World-Telegram and Sun, Benson was named chief political reporter for its successor, the New York World Journal Tribune. When this paper also failed in 1967, Benson joined the National Broadcasting Company. He worked at first with WNBC radio as assignment editor, but in 1969 he moved to NBC television as writer and coordinator for feature stories for the program Sixth Hour News. He returned to the production of radio news in 1973.
During his career Benson made numerous personal appearances on radio, television, and the lecture platform. He was also a contributor to various publications, the editor of The 48-Hour War (1967), a member of the executive board of the Newspaper Guild of New York, and a member of the Newspaper Reporters Association.
Alex Benson died at age 46 on March 12, 1974.
Scope and Content Note
The Alex Benson Papers are a small collection consisting of biographical material, correspondence, writings, and scripts. Other than a few scripts and scattered letters relating to his employment by NBC News, the majority of the documentation in these papers relates solely to his employment as a reporter with the World-Telegram and Sun and the World Journal Tribune.
The Biographical Material, 1961-1967, includes a resumé and several clippings about Benson's career.
The Correspondence, 1944-1974, is of two kinds: general and letters relating to an unpublished book on investigative reporting. The general correspondence, which dates from 1944 to 1946 and from 1962 to 1974, is fragmentary in nature, with the majority of the letters dating from his World War II military service. Of interest in the later correspondence is a brief reminiscence of his first job as a reporter in a 1973 letter to the Page One Yearbook and an open letter to his family written after he learned that he had leukemia in 1969. Prominent correspondents include Paul O'Dwyer and Abraham Beame. The file of correspondence collected in the process of working on a book on investigative reporting includes a manuscript copy of an article on the subject by Benson and Woody Klein and extensive notes on the experiences of various other reporters.
Benson's Writings, 1955-1967, include by-lined newspaper articles, a printed copy of The 48-Hour War, and a magazine article. While representation of his writing for the World-Telegram and Sun is fragmentary, there is fairly complete coverage of his political columns for the World Journal Tribune written between September 1966, and June 1967.
The small file of news Scripts, 1968, 1973, consist of four unidentified stories on John Lindsay, Spiro Agnew, and Gerald Ford. Though the scripts are unidentified as to author, it may be assumed that they were written by Benson.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Originals loaned for microfilming by Mrs. Hannah Benson, New York City, May 11, 1977. Accession Number: MCHC77-030
Processed by Kathleen McDonough (FGH student) and Carolyn J. Mattern, February 1978.
Contents List
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Reel
1
Frame
0
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Biographical Material, 1961-1967
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Correspondence, 1944-1974
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Reel
1
Frame
9
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General Correspondence, 1944-1946; 1962-1974
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Reel
1
Frame
336
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Investigative Reporting Correspondence, 1961
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Writings, 1955-1967
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Reel
1
Frame
409
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Newspaper Articles, 1955-1967
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Reel
1
Frame
460
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The 48-Hour War, 1967
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Reel
1
Frame
885
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Magazine Article, 1961
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Reel
1
Frame
890
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Scripts, 1968, 1973
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