Florence Sando Manson papers, 1941-2013, bulk 1941-1949

Creator:

Manson, Florence Sando, 1918-2013

Abstract:

Florence Sando Manson (1918-2013) was an American broadcast journalist and actor. Between 1941 and 1949, Manson reported for several radio and television stations in the Greater Pittsburgh area and performed in several theater productions at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. The papers contain clippings, photographs, episode scripts, correspondence, advertisements, and show programs.

Extent:

2 Linear Feet (4 document boxes, 1 flat box)

Language:

English

Scope and content:

The collection contains the papers of Florence Sando Manson and, in the main, relates to her career as a broadcast journalist in Pittsburgh, as represented by Series I-II. The series are arranged thematically and correspond to Manson's careers in radio, television, and acting. There is a small final series that relates to Manson's personal life, which includes clippings about her marriage to Arthur Manson, articles about her extended family, portraits, and additional written material.

The bulk of the collection relates to Manson's career in broadcast journalism, which spanned from 1941 through 1959. The collection contains episode scripts, clippings, advertisements, photographs, and correspondence related to her various radio and television shows on KQV, WCAE, WJAS and WDTV, which turned into KDKA-TV in 1954. Series III, which documents Manson's acting career in Pittsburgh, contains show programs, clippings, and photographs.

Biographical / historical:

Florence Sando Manson was born a few miles east of Pittsburgh in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1918. Manson remained in Western Pennsylvania for college, attending Westminster College on a full scholarship and graduating in 1939. She then enrolled at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, where she earned a master's of arts in Drama in 1940.

After finishing her graduate program, Manson returned to Pittsburgh and started a career in broadcast journalism. Beginning in 1941, she covered news and hosted her own shows for local radio stations, such as WJAS, WCAE, and KQV. Her popular programs included "Everything Under the Sun," "Women's Digest," and "The Florence Sando Show," and she eventually became the Director of Women's Radio at WCAE.

Beginning in 1951, Manson started hosting television shows for the local network, WDTV, which became KDKA-TV in 1954. Alongside Dorothy Randall and Helen Rauh, Manson hosted "Ask the Girls," where the three women responded to questions from viewers. In addition, she hosted "Women's Digest" and "The Florence Manson Show," the latter of which served as a spinoff from her radio program, "The Florence Sando Show." Manson married film executive Arthur Manson in 1953, and the two remained married for 60 years. The Mansons had two children, Cynthia and Anthony.

When Manson wasn't on the air, she was often performing in shows at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, she acted in several productions, including Strange Bedfellows, Post Road, Mrs. Moonlight, and No, No, Nanette. When the Mansons moved to New York in 1959, Manson continued her interest in theater and sat on the boards of the Riverdale Neighborhood House and the Ensemble Studio Theatre.

Manson died on November 25, 2013 from complications connected to dementia. She died at her home in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx. She was 95.

Catalog record:

View in CLIO

Local call number:

MS#2215

Processing information:

This collection was processed by Sophia Scanlan (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 2030). Finding aid written by Sophia Scanlan in July 2025.

The collection was reboxed, refoldered, and relabeled. Order was imposed to organize materials by career (e.g. radio, television, acting) rather than strictly by item type. Duplicate documents were weeded out.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in four series and several subseries.

Accruals:

No additions are expected.

Related material:

The Paley Center for Media holds some material related to Florence Sando Manson, including an interview with Louis Armstrong.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Florence Sando Manson Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection has no restrictions.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least five business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Terms of access:

Single reproductions may be made for research purposes. It is the responsibility of the user to secure permission for publication or use from the appropriate copyright holder.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

RBML Home Page
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535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
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Contact:: rbml@library.columbia.edu

Collection