Although the inclusive dates for material in this collection are 1954 to 1965, these are essentially Mr. Minow's papers during the period when he was chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, 1961-1963. Prior to his taking office in March 1961, there are isolated items, and many congratulatory letters on his appointment; and following his resignation in May 1963, most of the material deals with preparation of his book, Equal Time.
The bulk of the collection is Correspondence, followed by small sections of Articles, Interviews, and Releases; Speeches; Book Manuscript; Clippings; Thesis By Emmett Lally; Tape Recordings; and Films.
The correspondence (Boxes 1-46) is filed alphabetically by subject, with letters arranged by months under each subject. This organization approximates the order in which the papers were maintained in Mr. Minow's office; but it necessarily means that correspondence with the same person or organization may be filed under more than one title. In instances where only one letter was exchanged with a correspondent, such letters are usually filed in the folder bearing the first initial, e.g. C-general.
Because various drafts for speeches, studies concerning the FCC, and plans for the space communications satellite program were so often accompanied by letters or inter-office memoranda, the correspondence includes more than simply letters. For instance, in the correspondence it is frequently possible to follow the development of a Minow speech through various drafts and revisions, including appraisals from his staff. Final copies of each speech, however, are filed in Box 47 under “speeches.”
Mr. Minow received many letters from the public criticising or suggesting improvements in broadcasting, expecially TV, and he frequently corresponded with educators and publishers concerning public reaction to TV programs and commercials. An example of the latter is his exchange of letters with L.S. Fanning of the Chicago Sun Times. Since he considered that it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the merits of a particular TV program, he sometimes marked letters referring to them as “confidential, not for publication;” however, he showed no reluctance to involve the FCC in matters where fairness in controversial televising was concerned.
Four topics treated in the correspondence are of particular note: (1) the unsuccessful attempt by President Kennedy to reorganize the FCC, (2) the development of the government's role in the space communications satellite program, (3) the expansion of educational television, and (4) the public and private life of a government official in Washington as revealed by letters from Mrs. Minow, chiefly to her parents.
Correspondence of particular significance is noted in Appendix 1.
Articles, Interviews, and Releases (Box 46) includes copies of several printed articles by Mr. Minow, as well as articles concerning his work with the FCC. Included in this box are also transcripts of interviews with him by members of the press, radio, and TV; releases relating to his speeches; and statements and biographical data concerning Newton Minow.
Delivering speeches was an important function of Mr. Minow's chairmanship of the FCC. By this means he not only made known FCC policies and expectations, but also brought to public attention his views on the purposes of broadcasting and the obligations of the industry. The many drafts of his speeches (filed with the correspondence) reveal him to be an articulate student of semantics, with definite ideas to express and a concern for audience reaction. The final reading copies in Box 47 probably represent a complete file of his speeches as chairman of the FCC.
The Papers also contained many speeches by others who had close ties with the government or the broadcasting industry. Because so many of these deal with various phases of mass communications and are so closely related to the work of the FCC, they were kept and are filed in Box 48.
Boxes 49-51 show the various stages in the development of the manuscript for Mr. Minow's book of speeches, Equal Time: The Private Broadcaster and the Public Interest. In the working copies, where it was difficult to distinguish between his own writing and that of the editor, Mr. Laurent, the manuscripts remain in their original order. Galley proof not annotated by Mr. Minow was not kept.
A much larger number of clippings have been filed with the Minow Papers than with the usual collection, because these already-organized news accounts are documentation not only of Mr. Minow's own work with the FCC but also of the government's part in the extension of educational TV and the development of the space communications satellite program. The clippings are filed by years, and within each year by name of publication or topic.
The thesis by Emmet Lally is on Minow's influence on broadcasting as chair of the FCC. The tape recordings include speeches by Minow; interviews, news conferences, and other appearances; miscellany; and recordings of programs and events in which he was not involved but which were sent to him. Films primarily concern Minow himself, the FCC, and broadcasting but also include miscellaneous items.
