Summary Information
Cyril M. Jansky Papers 1917-1974
- Jansky, Cyril Moreau, 1895-1975
Mss 745; Audio 1202A; CA 857; AC 524
6.0 c.f. (15 archives boxes and 1 flat box), 15 tape recordings, and 2 films
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Cyril Moreau Jansky, a radio pioneer and consulting engineer, consisting of correspondence and memoranda; minutes; interviews, speeches, and writings (some also in recorded form); reports; reference material; sound recordings, and films. Pertaining to his early career are blueprints and a thesis on his vacuum tube research, recorded interviews, and correspondence on reception of the signal of WHA, “the oldest station in the nation;” teaching notes from the University of Minnesota and correspondence concerning the development of radio by several Minnesota companies; minutes, reports, and correspondence (some with Herbert Hoover and Frank Kellogg) concerning radio conferences and the Radio Act of 1927; a transcript of testimony in support of his unsuccessful appointment to the Federal Radio Commission, and a diary of radio work in Great Britain during World War II. Records of Jansky & Bailey, consulting engineers, consist of incomplete administrative records and client reports by Jansky and others concerning station coverage and the marine uses of radio. Particularly extensive are reports and films concerning work for Lake Carriers Association. Also included is an extensive file of speeches and articles, financial and legal papers, information on various organizations and societies to which Jansky belonged, and miscellaneous family correspondence. English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00745 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Radio pioneer Cyril Moreau Jansky was born on June 28, 1895 in Delton, Michigan. In 1908, his parents Cyril M. and Nellie Moreau Jansky moved the family to Madison, Wisconsin, where the elder Jansky taught electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin.
After graduating from Madison High in 1913, Jansky attended the University of Wisconsin and earned two degrees in physics, a B.S. in 1917 and an M.S. in 1919. While still in college, Jansky began his long association with radio. Working on radiotelephony and radiotelegraphy under the guidance of Professor Earle M. Terry, Jansky was instrumental in the early broadcasts of station 9XM (WHA). In addition to conducting radio reception tests, he constructed by hand the vacuum tubes required for operation of the station.
After receiving his master's degree, Jansky became an assistant in the Department of Physics at Madison. In 1920, Jansky accepted the position of associate professor of radio engineering at the University of Minnesota. Besides teaching and helping to establish the college radio station (9XI), he also served as a consultant on matters concerning broadcasting facilities and operations.
During the early 1920s, Jansky wrote and spoke extensively on station broadcast coverage. Because of this expertise he was invited to participate in four radio conferences called by Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover between 1922 and 1925. The conferences, which addressed the allocation of broadcast frequencies, resulted in the passage of the Radio Act of 1927. In 1929, Jansky was nominated by President Calvin Coolidge to represent the Midwest as a member of the Federal Radio Commission. However, Congress adjourned without confirming his appointment.
After two years of independent consulting in Washington, D.C., Jansky began a long and successful partnership with Stuart Bailey in 1930. Bailey, a former Department of Commerce radio engineer, had also been a Jansky student at the University of Minnesota. Jansky & Bailey initially represented radio stations before the Federal Communications Commission and conducted radio coverage surveys. They later enlarged the scope of their work to include systems engineering and research and development.
When the company was incorporated in 1953, Jansky became the chairman of the board. Six years later, the company became a division of the Atlantic Research Corporation. Jansky also attended important international conferences and wrote many papers and reports on the subject.
Throughout his career, Jansky was an active member of numerous professional societies and organizations. He helped to organize the National Association of Broadcasters and in 1934 served as president of the Institute of Radio Engineers. In 1957 Jansky received a distinguished service award from the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters. He was also honored many times by the University of Wisconsin for his accomplishments in the field of radio and for his association with WHA, the “oldest station in the nation.”
Jansky was married to Marguerite Sammis in 1919; he died in March 1975.
Scope and Content Note
The Jansky collection, while not large, documents his professional career from his years as a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to his chairmanship of Jansky & Bailey, a radio consulting firm. The facets of Jansky's career that gave him his greatest prominence--his early involvement with WHA, early radio legislation, and his work on station broadcast coverage and marine radio--are fortunately also the aspects of his career best covered by the collection. Less complete are the files detailing Jansky's work as a consultant on radio matters. The relative scarcity of Jansky & Bailey files is due to the fact that the papers were part of approximately eleven cubic feet of files kept in Jansky's home, not records from the company office. From the files at his home, a representative of the Mass Communications History Center selected approximately five cubic feet for transfer to the Historical Society. Records of a technical nature were consciously excluded.
The collection consists of correspondence and memoranda, minutes, speeches and writings, reports, reference material, recordings, films, and photographs arranged into four general categories: personal and biographical material, speeches and writings, early career material, and partnership records.
The PERSONAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL consists of family and miscellaneous correspondence primarily dating from Jansky's early life, financial records from the same period, files pertaining to membership in various professional organization and societies, honors, and other biographical miscellany such as diplomas and a family tree. Among the few personal insights provided by the collection is the correspondence filed here on radio matters which reveal that Jansky worked closely with clients. He devoted a considerable amount of time to marine navigation and radio communication on projects carried out with his father. Even these letters, which date from the period 1920-1924, are professional in character, for Jansky and his father shared research and business interests in radio development. More useful are the 1958 and 1968 interviews concerning Jansky's recollections of the early days of radio at WHA and in Minnesota.
SPEECHES AND WRITINGS contain a fairly complete collection of Jansky's professional papers dating from his master's thesis of 1919 about WHA (Construction of High Power Vacuum Tubes and Their Uses in Radio Telephony) to the late 1950s. Technical reports written under his name for clients of Jansky & Bailey are filed with the Partnership Records. Frequent subjects of Jansky speeches were radio equipment, the uses of radio, frequency allocation policies, and broadcast coverage measurement techniques. The category titled “material for book” is composed of various articles written by Jansky and others. However, the collection contains no evidence that Jansky ever wrote a book.
The EARLY CAREER MATERIAL covers Jansky's work as a researcher and a teacher at both the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Minnesota, his involvement with early radio legislation, the consulting he did prior to the formation of Jansky & Bailey, and his employment by the War Department during World War II. The University of Wisconsin-Madison file contains blueprints of his vacuum tubes and correspondence with the U.S. Army Signal Corps and scientists concerning the reception of the WHA signal. Jansky's work in Minnesota is documented by teaching materials and reports concerning the development of the university radio station and correspondence with the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, the Washburn Crosby Company, and others concerning development of radio. Files on the radio conferences, which Jansky attended during the 1920s, are documented with minutes, agenda, notes, reports, and correspondence with Herbert Hoover, Frank Kellogg, and others. Related to this is a transcript of Jansky's appointment hearing testimony before the Federal Radio Commission. Files on his War Department work during World War II include a detailed typescript diary of his activities in Great Britain during 1942.
PARTNERSHIP RECORDS are primarily composed of Jansky & Bailey material, although a limited amount of information concerning three other business ventures are present. Although the Jansky & Bailey materials are most extensive, they are by no means the complete records of the company. A group of administrative files contain photographic documentation of company facilities and offices, a recording of ceremonies marking the dedication of new corporate offices, and some information on the legal and administrative structure of the company. The project files primarily consist of final reports (some by Jansky himself and some by other staff members) to various Jansky & Bailey clients, particularly Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, and the Lake Carriers Association. Also included are two recorded talks by Colonel J.D. Parker, a Jansky associate.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Moreau Jansky, and Stuart Bailey, Washington, D.C., 1970-1979. Accession Number: MCHC70-69, MCHC76-26, MCHC79-59
Processed by James Russo and Carolyn J. Mattern, 1988.
Contents List
Mss 745
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Series: Personal and Biographical Material
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Vitas and biographical miscellany
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Oral history outline and information, 1959-1966
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Audio 1202A
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Recorded interviews
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1202A/1
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Interview on the Tex and Jinx NBC program on the early history of radio and the radio conferences of the 1920s, 1957 April 10
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1202A/9
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Interview by H. Engel on the early history of WHA, 1958 October 27
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1202A/6-8
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Interview of Jansky on his early experiences at WHA and at Minnesota, AM and FM broadcasting, regulatory conference and other topics, 1968 November 5
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Mss 745
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Correspondence
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Family, 1919-1924, 1964, undated
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Box
1
Folder
4-5
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Miscellaneous and travel correspondence, 1920-1970, undated
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|
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Financial and legal papers
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Personal financial records, 1919, 1925-1928, 1932
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Box
1
Folder
7-8
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Consulting accounts, 1926-1930
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Miscellaneous financial correspondence, 1920-1964, undated
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Leases, 1922-1929
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Box
16
Folder
1
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Home blueprints, 1929
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Honors, 1962-1970
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Box
1
Folder
12
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Notebook, 1920
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|
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Organizations and societies
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Box
1
Folder
13
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Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers, 1948-1973
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Box
1
Folder
14
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American Institute of Electrical Engineers, 1930-1948
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Box
1
Folder
15
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American Radio Relay League, 1924-1970
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Institution of Electrical Engineers, 1966-1968
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 1965-1975
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Box
2
Folder
4
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International Broadcasters Society, 1968
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Institute of Radio Engineers, 1920-1969
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Operations research conference, 1954-1955
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Journal of Air Law, 1931-1933
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Box
2
Folder
8
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National Association of Broadcasters, 1928-1961
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Box
2
Folder
1
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University of Wisconsin, Class of '17, 1947-1967
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Miscellaneous organizations, 1928-1948
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Series: Speeches and Writings
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Box
3
Folder
1
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Thesis, 1919
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Box
3
Folder
2-3
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1922-1928
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Box
3
Folder
4-5
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EMF Yearbook, 1920-1926, undated
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Box
3
Folder
6
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“Idea Book,” 1925
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Box
3
Folder
7-8
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1930-1934
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Box
3
Folder
9
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Correspondence regarding advertising talks, 1934
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Box
3
Folder
10
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1935-1937
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Box
4
Folder
1-3
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1941-1959, undated
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Box
4
Folder
4
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Material for book
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Box
4
Folder
5
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Reference material
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Series: Early Career Material
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Box
4
Folder
6
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Correspondence regarding employment, 1917-1920
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WHA
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Box
4
Folder
7
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Correspondence regarding radio tests, circuits, 1917-1920
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Box
4
Folder
8
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Blueprints, picture guide, undated
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Box
4
Folder
9
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Correspondence regarding age of WHA, 1953-1968
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Box
4
Folder
10
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40th anniversary, 1958
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Box
5
Folder
1
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50th anniversary, 1968-1969
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1202A/2
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Recording of anniversary ceremonies during which Jansky received a distinguished service award and made brief remarks, 1969 May 23
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Mss 745
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University of Minnesota
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Box
5
Folder
2
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Correspondence regarding employment, 1919-1926
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Box
5
Folder
3
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Correspondence and notes regarding University of Minnesota radio, 1920-1928
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Box
5
Folder
4
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Student radio research, 1924-1925
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Box
5
Folder
5
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Lab notes, undated
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|
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Course notes
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Box
5
Folder
6
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Circuits, undated
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Box
5
Folder
7
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Electron theory, undated
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Box
5
Folder
8
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Radio engineering, undated
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Box
5
Folder
9
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Receiving set design, undated
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Box
5
Folder
10
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Transients, 1927
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Box
5
Folder
11
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Photography
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Consulting
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Bureau of Standards
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Box
6
Folder
1
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Correspondence, 1921-1923
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Box
16
Folder
2
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Blueprints
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Box
6
Folder
2-3
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Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, 1920-1926, undated
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Gold Medal radio service
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Box
6
Folder
4
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Agreement, finances, 1925
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Box
6
Folder
5
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Broadcasts, 1924-1927
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Box
6
Folder
6
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Progress reports, 1925
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Box
6
Folder
7
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Technical drawings, specifications, 1925
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Petroleum work
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Box
6
Folder
8
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Correspondence, 1928-1929
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Box
16
Folder
3
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Map
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Box
6
Folder
9
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Miscellaneous consulting work, 1920-1930
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Box
15
Folder
1
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WGES-WGN interference study, 1926-1927
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Radio conferences and legislation
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, 1922 radio conference
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Box
7
Folder
1
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Agenda, minutes
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Box
7
Folder
2
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Correspondence, reports
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Box
7
Folder
3
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, 1923 radio conference correspondence and reports
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, 1924 radio conference
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Box
7
Folder
4
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Correspondence
|
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Box
7
Folder
5
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Reports
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Box
7
Folder
6
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Correspondence with Frank Kellogg regarding legislation, 1921-1924
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Box
7
Folder
7
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, 1927 Radio Act and conference
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|
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Federal Radio Commission
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Box
7
Folder
8
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Appointment hearings transcripts and clippings, 1929
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Box
8
Folder
1
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Correspondence regarding appointment, 1929
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War Department
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Box
8
Folder
2
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Operational analysis, 1942-1943
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Box
8
Folder
3
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Trip to England, 1942
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Series: Partnership Records
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|
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Advanced Technology Systems
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Box
8
Folder
4
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Correspondence and report, 1969-1973
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Box
8
Folder
5
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Report, 1974
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Box
8
Folder
6
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cmi Data Ways and Telecommunication Consultants International, 1967, undated
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Jansky and Bailey
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General administrative files
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Box
8
Folder
7
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Advertising brochures and facilities, undated
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1202A/3-5
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Dedication ceremonies marking the dedication of new facilities shared by Jansky and Bailey and Atlantic Research, including remarks by Jansky, Bailey, and others, 1955
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Mss 745
Box
8
Folder
8
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Employee material, 1960-1961
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Box
8
Folder
9
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Memos, 1955-1957
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1202A/15
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Jansky and Bailey planning session, undated, for Michigan police communications network project and dictated memo regarding Mycom and digitized voice transmissions, , undated
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Mss 745
Box
9
Folder
1
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Partnership agreements, insurance, employee lists
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Atlantic Research Corporation
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Box
9
Folder
2
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Agreement, stock options
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Box
10
Folder
1
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Miscellaneous material, 1961-1971
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Box
10
Folder
1A
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Project lists, 1934-1955
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Box
10
Folder
2
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Correspondence with secretary Dorothy Dietrich, 1958-1960
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Project files
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General files
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Box
10
Folder
3
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Broadcast allocations, 1943-1948
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Box
10
Folder
4
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Carnegie Institute, Jansky testimony and report, 1934-1939
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Box
10
Folder
5
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Educational broadcasting and WHA, 1960, 1968
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Reports and papers by Jansky and Bailey employees
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Box
13
Folder
6-7
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General, 1953-1970
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Box
14
Folder
1
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Radio Free Europe, 1954
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Box
14
Folder
2-3
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Radio Liberty, 1954-1962, undated
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Box
14
Folder
4-7
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Standard coverage, 1930s-1949
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Box
14
Folder
8
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Miscellaneous charts, graphs, maps, 1930s-1949
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Box
16
Folder
4
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Oversized materials
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Marine work
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Box
10
Folder
6-8
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Comité International Radio-Maritime (CIRM), 1961-1974
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Box
10
Folder
9
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DECCA, Lorain, 1963-1968
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Box
11
Folder
1-2
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International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 1959-1968
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1202A/13
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Recording of proceedings concerning marine communications, 1959
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|
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Lake Carriers Association (LCA)
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Mss 745
Box
11
Folder
3-6
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General papers, 1954-1972, undated
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|
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Radio Technical Commission for Marine Services (RTCM)
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Box
11
Folder
7
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1947-1972
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Box
12
Folder
1-2
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1973-1974
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Films
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CA 859
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Great Lakes Miracle, 1953
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AC 524
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[Launching of the William Sykes], circa 1950
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1202A/12
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Broadcast by Jansky and Bailey's floating laboratory on the Great Lakes, undated
|
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Mss 745
Box
12
Folder
3
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U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Power Squadrons, 1962, 1968, 1970
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Jansky files
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Marine papers and reports by Jansky
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Box
12
Folder
4-6
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1939-1954
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Box
13
Folder
1-4
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1955-1969, undated
|
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Box
13
Folder
5
|
Miscellaneous marine correspondence, 1966-1970
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|
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Miscellany
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1202A/14
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Session of an unidentified international conference concerning international broadcast standards, 1969 : In Spanish?
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1202A/10
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Col. J.D. Parker talk concerning the history of radar training in Great Britain, the use of simulators, and their technical requirements, undated
|
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1202A/11
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Col. J.D. Parker talk on European television broadcast standards, especially the 405 line system, undated
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