United Press International (UPI) records, 1970-1990

Summary Information

Abstract

These papers include institutional archives, biographical information, story notes, drafts, and published articles going back to the 1910s. They cover many major events of the 20th century, on both a local and a global scale: from news of California socialites in the 1920s, to a drafted letter complaining about an unauthorized dispatch by the Associated Press in the European Theater of World War II, to photographs and publications of Stanley Hill, the inventor of the 1955 "Flying Platform" machine, to Marin County activist Ann Smart working to remove "smut" from school reading lists in the early 1960s, to the front pages of UPI clients following the assassination of JFK in 1963.

Description

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of files collected by former UPI executives Doug Page, Pamela MacLean, and Bill Adler. This collection includes paper materials typical of the midcentury — memos, printed matter, carbon copies, newspaper clippings.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

Material is unprocessed. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

This collection is located onsite.

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); United Press International (UPI) Records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Content Description

United Press International was first formed under the name, "United Press Associations," in 1907, combining the Publishers Press Association, the Scripps-McRae Press Association, and the Scripps News Association under one name — forming the primary American competitor to the Associated Press, as the organization's own initial release made clear. It began with 460 newspaper clients, and aimed to dominate the Sunday and evening newspaper market. A half-century later, the association had more than 5,000 clients, and was among those leading the way on syndication. The association became United Press International, or UPI, after merging with the International News Service in 1958. UPI still exists today, but in an information world and news market much different than those in which its respective consolidations took place.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Subject
Journalism	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Reporters and reporting	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID