Rochester Area Educational Television Association records, 1951-1979, 1962-1967

Summary

Abstract:
The records of the Rochester Area Educational Television Association (RAETA), which date between the years 1951 and 1979, describe the organization's efforts to establish an educational television station in Rochester, New York. The collection includes committee, trustee, and membership records, program guides, FCC court dockets, board minutes, and correspondence. The fight to obtain Channel 13 is well-documented, as is RAETA's subsequent decision to withdraw their petition as it became clear that the FCC's decisions favored commercial, rather than educational, programming.
Extent:
6.0 Cubic Feet 6 record boxes
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Rochester Area Educational Television Association Records, [Box#, Folder#], Local History & Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Background

Scope and content:

The Rochester Area Educational Television Association (RAETA) records document the organization's efforts to establish Rochester's first public broadcasting station and offer a glimpse into the burgeoning world of educational television in the 1950s and 60s. The records illustrate the complex and tedious process of obtaining FCC licensing for a public broadcasting station, as well as the legal procedures involved. The collection spans the years from 1951 to 1979, with the bulk of the records dating between the years 1962 and 1967. The records include information on committee activities, membership, programming and program guides, FCC reports, transcriptions of FCC hearings, board minutes, exhibits, official dockets, the Channel 13 campaign, Channel 21, and WXXI-FM.

Biographical / historical:

The efforts of the Rochester Area Educational Television Association (RAETA) gave the city of Rochester, N.Y., its first public radio and television broadcasting station, WXXI. One of RAETA's founders, Harold Hacker, was also the director of the Rochester Public Library from 1954 to 1978. The library also holds Hacker's personal papers. While petitioning to obtain Channel 13, RAETA partnered with local commercial stations to provide educational programming. However, RAETA withdrew its petition in 1966 when it became evident they would not win the fight for the much-coveted VHF channel, instead focusing their energies on obtaining WXXI Channel 21. Since the station was granted its license in 1966, WXXI has had a history of documenting the cultural, economic, social, and educational history of Rochester. In 1969, WXXI provided live coverage of the FIGHT convention. Two years later, Channel 21 broadcasted election previews, the city-school budget hearing, and 40 half-hour cultural and public affairs programs called "Rochester Eye." In 1970, WXXI launched "Call 21," which would become one of the longest-running phone-in programs on air, and broadcasted Chuck Mangione's Friends & Love concert, as well as a nine-hour hearing on school desegregation and the Urban League's Black Family Conference. In 1974, WXXI-FM 91.5 radio debuted.

Custodial history:

It is unknown when the Rochester Area Educational Television Association collection was donated to the Rochester Public Library. However, it is likely that they were donated by Harold Hacker. While the records relate to the organization, Hacker's distinctive handwriting appears on much of the material.

Processing information:

Processed by Cheri Crist. This project was made possible in part by a grant from the Documentary Heritage Program of the New York State Archives, a program of the State Education Department.

Arrangement:

The collection has been divided into 12 series: Series 1: History; Series 2: Administrative; Series 3: Financial; Series 4: Channel 13 Campaign; Series 5: New York State; Series 6: WXXI Channel 21; Series 7: Programming; Series 8: Educational Partners; Series 9: Facilities and equipment; Series 10: WXXI-FM Radio; Series 11: Educational Television Organizations; Series 12: Miscellaneous publications.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no known restrictions on the use of this collection.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History & Genealogy Division.

Preferred citation:

Rochester Area Educational Television Association Records, [Box#, Folder#], Local History & Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Location of this collection:
Rundel Memorial Building
115 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
585-428-8370
lochist@libraryweb.org