Peter Bekker Papers, 1970-1989, bulk 1936-2001

Summary

Creator:
Peter Bekker Jr. and Peter Bekker Sr.
Abstract:
Peter Bekker Sr. entered the air force in 1944 and became involved in the Far East Network (FEN), an internal radio and television programming station for the U.S. Military. Over the course of 1944 and 1945, Senior toured Europe with his platoon, documenting the destruction of the war for the FEN. After World War II, Bekker continued his work for the FEN. Over the course of his time in the military, and rose to the rank of Major.mWhile enlisted, Bekker Sr. and his wife had two sons, Peter Bekker Jr. and Fred Bekker. Junior grew up to become a radio personality himself. Junior wrote, produced, and hosted “On Record” and hosted “Between the Lines”. In the 1990s Junior transitioned his focus and began writing and publishing for magazines on computers. Junior opened a small consulting company, Computer Management Advice, where he helped develop client facing websites, continued to write articles promoting new technologies, and began to write technical manuals for software and hardware. Junior continued this work until the early 2000s. This collection contains materials from both Peter Bekker Sr. and Peter Bekker Jr. These materials encompass both Senior’s and Junior’s careers, and highlight key facets of their professions. The highlight of Junior’s materials is the 163 Open Reel Tapes and the hundreds of cassettes from his radio career.
Extent:
29 Boxes 163 Open Reel Tapes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Description of item, date, location of item in order of series, box number, folder number], in the Peter Bekker Papers, Archives and Special Collections, James A. Cannavino Library, Marist College

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains materials from both Peter Bekker Sr. and Peter Bekker Jr. These materials encompass both Senior’s and Junior’s careers, and highlight key facets of their professions. In Senior’s materials, there are documents from his military career, photos from the FEN, and some personal materials. In Junior’s materials, there are documents from his time at CBS, Between the Lines, On Record, and the publishing of books and magazine articles. There are photos from Junior’s careers and vacations, as well as buttons and magnets, clothing, and various other ephemera. The highlight of Junior’s materials is the 163 Open Reel Tapes and the hundreds of cassettes from his radio career.

Biographical / historical:

Peter Bekker Sr. was the descendant of Paul Bekker, an immigrant from Hungary. After graduating from high school, Senior entered the air force in 1944 and quickly became a combat pilot in the Pacific. Senior also became involved in the Far East Network (FEN), an internal radio and television programming station for the U.S. Military. Over the course of 1944 and 1945, Senior toured Europe with his platoon, documenting the destruction of the war for the FEN. After World War II, Bekker was briefly discharged from the military, but quickly reenlisted and continued his work for the FEN. Over the course of his time in the military, Bekker went on to receive multiple college degrees on the GI bill, and rose to the rank of Major. As a Major for the Air Force, Senior continued his work for the FEN. Much of his work focused on developing and planning programming for the FEN. Bekker also pioneered the closed-circuit television system for the FEN.

While enlisted, Bekker Sr. and his wife had two sons, Peter Bekker Jr. and Fred Bekker. As part of his duty for the FEN, Senior was able to bring his family to live with him in Japan in the late 1950s. While there, Junior attended Japanese schools and was influenced by his fathers work in the television world.

Junior grew up to become a radio personality himself. Attending Lindwood College in St. Louis, Junior became an editor and programming director of his college’s radio station, KCLC. Junior also worked for KMOX, completing two specials on poverty and the Nazi party in St. Louis. After college, Junior went on to work for WCBS as a managing editor. At the same time, Junior wrote, produced, and hosted “On Record”, a bi-weekly album review radio program. Junior also wrote, produced, and hosted “Between the Lines”, a series of 20-part specials that showcased top recording artists such as Barry Manilow, Hall and Oates, and Paul Anka.

Junior continued to grow as a writer, producer, and host on the radio and went on to create more programming, including “In The Microbase”, “Rock Line”, and “Hard News”. Junior opened Cumulonimbus Communications, which started as producing primarily radio programming, but eventually moved on to discovering and producing new music artists, with Mitch Clarvit being one of the most successful artists of Cumulonimbus Communications. Later on, Junior also ventured into the world of TV writing scripts for proposed network television and hosting a news broadcast, CODE 3.

In the 1990s Junior transitioned his focus and began writing and publishing for magazines on computers, including ITC Desktop Magazine and the Microsoft Network. Junior opened a small consulting company, Computer Management Advice, where he helped develop client facing websites, continued to write articles promoting new technologies, and began to write technical manuals for software and hardware. Junior continued this work until the early 2000s.

Acquisition information:
Materials were donated by the estate of Peter Bekker Jr. to the Marist College Archives and Special Collections.
Arrangement:

This collection is organized into two primary series, 1. Peter Bekker Jr. and 2. Peter Bekker Sr. Both of these series are further divided into subseries. In series 1. Peter Bekker Jr. there are 10 subseries, 1.1 CBS Broadcasting, 1.2 Television Broadcasting, 1.3 Music Production, 1.4 Publishing, 1.5 Technical consulting, 1.6 Personal Materials, 1.7 Photos, 1.8 Audio Recordings, 1.9 Electronic Media, and 1.10 Ephemera. In series 2. Peter Bekker Sr, there are X subseries: 2.1 Far East Network, 2.2 Military Documents, 2.3 Correspondence, 2.4 Personal Materials, 2.5 Paul W. Bekker, 2.6 Miscellany, 2.7 Photographs, and 2.8 Ephemera.

Accruals:

No accruals are expected

Physical / technical requirements:

Materials in this collection may require a cassette player, a mini cassette player, a fidelipac player, an open reel tape player, a ZIP disk reader, or a floppy disk reader to access materials.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no restrictions on this collection

Terms of access:

Individuals requesting reproductions expressly assume the responsibility for compliance with all pertinent provisions of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. ss101 et seq. Patrons further agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Marist College Archives & Special Collections and its staff in connection with any disputes arising from the Copyright Act, over the reproduction of material at the request of patrons. For more information please visit the following website: https://www.loc.gov/copyright/title17/.

Preferred citation:

[Description of item, date, location of item in order of series, box number, folder number], in the Peter Bekker Papers, Archives and Special Collections, James A. Cannavino Library, Marist College

Location of this collection:
3399 North Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
845-575-3364
library.archives@marist.edu