The Edward P. Morgan Papers were presented to the Wisconsin Historical Society in several separate gifts. The papers described here were organized at the Historical Society at three different times thus exist in three separate parts. All three parts overlap in date almost completely. All three contain broadcast scripts; Parts I and II contain other materials as well.
Part I is designated the “Original Collection” and includes the contents of Boxes 1-35. The papers date 1955-1964 and consist primarily of fan mail and scripts. The fan mail comprises letters requesting copies of scripts, praising Morgan's reporting, or expressing opinions on current questions. The scripts are particularly interesting for Morgan's commentaries in which he addresses great and small questions of the day. Also in Part I are other small groups of papers: letters relating to the Andrea Doria sinking, in which Morgan's daughter Linda was involved; materials concerning the chapter about Stuart Symington which Morgan wrote for Candidates, 1960; and notes which Morgan took at Kennedy headquarters in Hyannis, Massachusetts, on election night in 1960.
Part II is designated the “1966 Additions”; these materials fill Boxes 36-75, date 1955-1966, and like Part I contain fan mail and scripts but also include personal and business letters, research and subject files, materials relating to his book Clearing the Air, articles, columns, and clippings. Part II also includes 38 tape recordings of news programs, speeches, and other items.
Part III is designated the &; it comprises Boxes 76-101, dates 1955-1964, and consists totally of scripts for Morgan's radio news and commentary and for the program announcer's opening and closing remarks and commercial messages used for these ABC broadcasts. The news and commentary scripts are very nearly complete for the Monday through Friday broadcasts. Each program was divided between the news and Morgan's own commentary on important and interesting issues of the time. Many of the scripts in these additions duplicate those in the Original Collection segment; both sets were saved because those in the Original Collection contain penciled editing probably done by Morgan himself but are printed on very poor and impermanent paper. The scripts in Part III are printed or Xeroxed copies of the originals which incorporate the pencilled editing and are on a grade of paper which is more permanent.
The opening and closing scripts contain all commercial messages used in each broadcast. They are especially significant because the program was sponsored by the American Federation of Labor (and after the merger, by the AFL-CIO). The commercial messages usually editorialize on contemporary issues or center on the labor organization's notable achievements. Consequently they reflect the AFL-CIO's official stand on major social, political, and foreign policy issues and give an accurate picture of the public image which the union sought to create for itself.
