This finding aid is made available for public use following the Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons designation.
Contents list, 1p
This collection is arranged into 4 series.
Boxes 1A, 2-7 of the collection are located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Included are Sanger's personal diaries (1936-1967) relating to WQXR. Also included is a complete bound file of the WQXR PROGRAM GUIDE (June 1936-December 1963) containing a record of the broadcasting of classical music in New York City, the daily schedule, and essays on composers, music festivals, individual compositions and music in general by such writers as Irwin Edman, Will Durant, M. Lincoln Schuster, Edward Johnson, John Barbirolli, as well as by Sanger and his co-founder, John V. L. Hogan. The collection includes business letters, congratulatory and testimonial letters from listeners and advertisers, reports on the station's history, samples of newspaper clippings containing WQXR advertisements and program listings, market surveys of listeners, and promotional brochures prepared for prospective advertisers. There is a corrected typescript and galley proofs for Sanger's book Rebel In Radio (New York, Hasting House, 1972) and 6 volumes of documents in support of the station's application for "clear channel" status filed with the FCC. Also included are 49 photographs of the station's staff and musical personalities, 4 audiotapes of 1973 interviews with Sanger, and 4 audio cassettes celebrating WQXR's 50th Anniversary.
1980 Addition: A selected file of approximately 150 letters, manuscripts, documents, photographs and printed materials relating to the history of radio station WQXR. There are business letters, congratulatory and testimonial letters from listeners and advertisers, including one each from Will Durant and Sinclair Lewis, office memoranda and reports on the station's history, samples of newspaper clippings containing WQXR advertisements and program listings, market surveys of listeners and promotional brochures prepared for prospective advertisers. There is a corrected typescript and galley proofs for Sanger's book, REBEL IN RADIO (N.Y., Hastings House, 1972), and 6 volumes of documents in support of the station's application for "clear channel" status filed with the Federal Communications Commission in 1948. Also included are 49 photographs of the station's staff, musical personalities who have broadcasted, the studios and transmitters, 4 audio cassettes celebrating WQXR's 50th anniversary, the anniversary album, and the anniversary edition of REBEL IN RADIO.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Elliott M. Sanger papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Source of acquisition--Sanger, E.M. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1979. Accession number--M-1979.
Gift of Elliott M. Sanger, 1979-1980, 1986.
Elliott Maxwell Sanger was born in New York on March 23, 1897. He graduated from the Columbia University School of Journalism in 1917 and began a career in advertising. In 1936 Sanger co-founded with John V. L. Hogan the classical music radio station WQXR. Sanger served as vice president and general manager of the station from 1936 to 1965. In 1944 the station was purchased by the New York Times Company. Sanger died in New York City in 1989.
Gift of Elliott M. Sanger, 1979-1980 & 1986.
Processed BRC 11/--/86. KAL/BC - 10/79, rev. BC 1/80, 11/80, 11/86, rev. MTM 4/2000
Katia Shraga, May 2019: fixed finding aid based on physical content of each box; updated AS and stack directory appropriately. Prepared Box 1A to be sent offsite.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
The series contains files related to Sanger's radio station, WQXR. The bound volumes contain monthly program guides from July 1936 through December 1956.
Includes photos of Sanger, James Farley, John Barbirolli, and Herbert Lehman, as well as photos of studio equipment.