The Tom Luljak Collection of WTMJ Records, mostly from 1976 to 1991, was compiled by Luljak who was a broadcast journalist and eventually news director of WTMJ-TV, WTMJ-AM, and WKTI-FM. Some of the audio and visual materials pre-date Luljak's arrival at WTMJ around 1976, but most of the materials seem to be from his tenure at the stations until about 1991. The records document the news division of the stations with a nearly complete run of a daily news budget and many television news scripts. To complement the paper records there are also some photographs, films and videos, and audio recordings.
The Evening News, 1977-1991, series consists of a “television book,” daily news budget, and television scripts. The television book breaks down stories for the day by subject, with the name of the reporter/anchor, a sentence or two on the story, sometimes with direction, and "time stamps." The daily news budget is very similar to the television book without the time stamps. The television scripts appear to be drafts of the final scripts used on camera for the evening news, sometimes including time stamps and names of reporters. The series also includes scripts for news reporter Chris Bury who served as a political and investigative reporter from around 1979 to around 1980.
The Subject Files, circa 1968-circa 1989, series covers a few subjects reported on by WTMJ, the most extensive being the Milwaukee Mayor. The media notes subject files are extensive and cover all aspects of the media including the news and broadcast television from 1984 to 1989. Also includes advertising promotions for the news.
The Policies and Procedures, 1976-1983, series consists of memos sent to staff concerning station policies such as the acceptance of gifts; directions on how to report sports; media and terrorism; and reminders of state and federal laws.
The Contests and Award, 1983-1987, series includes possible submissions of news stories to several local and national newscasting awards.
The Visual Materials, circa 1950s-circa 1980s, series contains a small amount of promotional images such as headshots of the news team going all the way back to the 1950s. The images are mostly unidentified, so headshots may be of news teams from any of the three stations. Of interest may be a promotional shot of former football player Lionel Aldridge who was a sports analyst for WTMJ-TV; shots at a few sporting events including an auto race, Brewers game, and a Marquette Warriors basketball game; and transparencies from the 1968 presidential election.
The Films and Videos, 1976-1977, consists mostly so outtakes such as snow, Halloween, Green Bay Packers, heating tips, and dogs. Also included are promotions and the special news report entitled "Faces: The Germans," which aired in February 1976 (see Subject Files for research on the story).
The Audio Recordings, 1949-1956, consists of original audio disc recordings used for either WTMJ-AM or WTMJ-TV stations. Many of the recordings are reports on the Milwaukee Braves. Also included are the First Wisconsin National Bank Program, the Charlie Grimm Show, and a report on the train wreck in Waukesha on May 7, 1956.
