Martha Brooks Papers
Abstract
Martha Brooks (1908-1999) was a legendary New York broadcaster whose "Martha Brooks Show" aired over WGY-Radio Schenectady from 1937 to 1971. Originally an actress, Ms. Brooks (nee Irma Lemke) began with pioneering radio station WGY in 1931. Later, Ms. Brooks became a TV pioneer, on WGY's sister station, WRGB-TV by writing, producing and often starring in live, on-air productions. The Martha Brooks Papers spans the years 1924 to 1991 and consists mainly of photos from many of the early TV productions on which Ms. Brooks starred (and sometimes wrote).
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This collection is open for research use.
Martha Brooks Papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials page for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Martha Brooks (nee Irma Lemke Forman) (1908-1999) was an American broadcast producer and on-air personality at station WGY-Radio and WGY-TV in Schenectady, NY from 1931 to 1971.
Born on April 25th in Binghamton, NY, Irma Lemke was a 1925 graduate of Albany High School, where she was active in theatrics, and, after high school, attended Emerson College in Boston where she majored in British literature.
Her first job out of college was with the Jenkins Television Company in Jersey City. It is believed she was the world's first television program director, male or female. That ended however in 1931 when the US Communications Commission ruled that television was not yet ready for commercial use. And perhaps they were right: according to Brooks herself, the early images broadcast by Jenkins were of silhouettes or occasionally an old silent movie. Still, such primitive conditions did not prevent Brooks from producing live 24-hour coverage of the opening of the Lincoln Highway, a telecast which featured Ruth Etting, Ethel Barrymore and vacuum tube inventor Lee DeForest.
Brooks joined WGY radio in 1931. She played a small role on a Christmas Eve program. Other acting roles at the station quickly followed including playing the role of "Miss Anne" on "Frontier Days" and on the East Coast version of "One Man's Family," prior to that show's coast-to-coast transmission. In time, Brooks began to write and produce programs along with starring in them. She wrote, directed and performed in "The Mister and the Misses" with Gene O'Haire, and she worked on the series "The FBI in Action," which ran from 1945 to 1955. Typical of the time, Brooks often worked under various other professional names; among them: Alice Lee Underwood, Joan Davis, and Sarada Gray.
In the late 1930s, the station asked her to host its female-oriented, consumer affairs show "Market Basket". . . and to change her name one more time, this time to something with the same initials as the program. Thus was born "Martha Brooks."
Brooks's/Lemke's legendary morning radio talk show, "The Martha Brooks Show" began on the air in 1937 and would endure for a remarkable 34 years!
Originally the program's content was typical "women's news" of the era--fashion tips, interior design, cooking, etc. But, with time, Brooks expanded the perimeters of her program and would bring to the airwaves thoughtful discussion on such once taboo subjects as marital strife, childbirth, and menopause. Brooks said of her program's progression, "I was looking around for something more serious than topics like interior decorating and household hints. I felt that the listening audience of this day and age might appreciate maturity in their programming."
In 1945, Brooks married David Boris Kroman, an area math teacher. Shortly thereafter, the couple took to the air with a morning program, "Breakfast with the Brooks." Kroman would later helm a highly-viewed academic quiz show over WGY-TV.
Just as WGY had been a pioneering force in radio broadcast, so too would they in television.
WRGB-TV began experimental broadcasts in 1928. In the early 1940s over WRGB, Brooks starred in the station's--and some believe the nation's--first commercially-sponsored program, "Keeping Your Home Shipshape." For it, Brooks assumed another alias, Mrs. Ima Fixit, and starred on the program opposite a puppet created by Joe Owens.
Other early WRGB productions in which Brooks appeared included full presentations of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "The Sorcerer," and "Pinafore." As one of the few people on the planet to know anything about television, Brooks often found herself called upon to try to educate and train others about the new medium. New York agencies frequently sent up famous names so that Martha could put them through their TV pacings.
Throughout it all, Martha Brooks remained on radio creating documentaries like "Portrait of a City" and doing her daily talk show, which over the years would feature interviews with the likes of Lillian and Dorothy Gish, Tallulah Bankhead, Imogene Coca, Estelle Winwood, Lillian Roth, Faye Emerson, Gene Autry, Beatrice Lillie, Eva Gabor, Gloria Swanson, Diana Barrymore, Gertrude Berg, Rudy Vallee, Uta Hagen, Sir Cedric Hardwick, Ed Begley, Maragret Truman, Thomas E. Dewey, and others.
Martha Brooks retired from the air in 1971. She died in 1999.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Martha Brooks Papers spans the years 1924 to 1991, with the bulk of the material dated between 1940 and 1960. This collection includes photos (approximately 300), correspondence, speeches, scripts and short stories, certificates, clippings, station publications, station program schedules, audio tape, film, framed objects, personal items like jewelry, and other items.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
The Martha Brooks Papers was donated to the Library of American Broadcasting, University of Maryland Libraries, by Jane Barton, a friend of the late Ms. Brooks, in May of 1999.
Processing Information
Processed by Cary O'Dell, April 2004. Revised by Melanie Brown, May 2005.
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Cary O'Dell, April 2005. Markup checked and verified by Karen E. King, July 2005.
Arrangement of Collection
Organized as thirteen series:
- Series 1: Biographical
- Series 2: Correspondence
- Series 3: Clippings
- Series 4: Speech
- Series 5: Scripts and Short Stories
- Series 6: Dave Kroman
- Series 7: Stations--WRGB and WGY
- Series 8: Certificates of Achievement
- Series 9: American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) Convention
-
Series 10: Photos
- Subseries 10.1: Martha Brooks
- Subseries 10.2: "Martha Brooks Show" / "Breakfast with the Brooks"
- Subseries 10.3: American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT)
- Subseries 10.4: David Kroman
- Subseries 10.5: Station Staff
- Subseries 10.6: Radio Programs
- Subseries 10.7: Television Productions
- Subseries 10.8: Miscellaneous Photos
- Series 11: Miscellaneous
- Series 12: Artifacts
- Series 13: Media
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Biographical, 1933-1999 and undated (1 folder)
This series contains a handful of items that pertain directly to Ms. Brooks' life, including several company-produced bios, legal documents, and an obituary from 1999 all arranged by date. See also Clippings files.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biographical Materials, 1939-1999; undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
Series 2: Correspondence, 1931-1976 (4 folders)
This series contains letters (111 total) sent to Ms. Brooks from colleagues, fans, sponsors, business associates, friends and others as well as inter-office memos, etc. The majority of these letters pertain to Ms. Brooks' 35th anniversary on the air or to her retirement from broadcasting in 1971. Some of the authors/sources of the letters are E.K. Foster, Emerson College, "The Lux Radio Theatre," Nelson Rockefeller, Kitty Carlisle Hart, and Julie Chase Fuller (of AWRT), among others. This series also contains unused examples of Ms. Brooks personal stationary. The letters are organized by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correspondence, 1931-1969 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Correspondence, 1971-1976 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Correspondence, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Correspondence -- Personal Stationary, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
Series 3: Clippings, 1924-1976; undated (2 folders)
Vast collection (102 items total) of newspaper and magazine clippings documenting nearly every aspect of Ms. Brooks' life and career. While most are related to her on-air activities and her 1971 retirement, some are on her work as an accomplished painter. Some oversize clippings are in Oversize Box #5. This series is arranged chronologically by date, followed by undated materials.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clippings -- Dated, 1924-1976 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Clippings -- Undated, undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
Series 4: Speech, 1943 (1 folder)
Typed copy of a speech Ms. Brooks made to the female employees of the General Electric Company on November 3, 1943.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speeches, 1943 | series 4 | box 1 | folder 8 | |
Series 5: Scripts and Short Stories, 1944-1954 (6 folders)
A prolific writer, Ms. Brooks not only wrote for her radio and TV but for potential publication as well. This series contains 32 examples of Ms. Brooks' works.
Included are the scripts: "The Patchwork Girl of Oz" (2 copies); a radio adaptation by Brooks of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (c. 1944); script, "Portrait of a City" (1952); "Captain Owl" by Brooks (scripts and short stories and a bound but unpublished story); a short story for children, "Mah-Cah The Mighty (1933); the short story, "The Strange and Exciting Adventure of Snuffy..." (undated); a second version of "Snuffy" exists in scrapbook (9" x 11") form, typed and illustrated with cut-and-paste pictures (the scrapbook is in oversize storage box #5); script for "Umptydump" (undated); short story, untitled but labeled "Sarada Gray" (one of the Irma's aliases) (April 21, 1933); and a second short story, untitled but labeled "Sarada Gray" (March 24, 1933).
Also included is the script "Crisis in Kenishaw" by Edward Langley (1954) and radio ad copy for the following Wel-Tex Clothing for Men (January 30, 1942), Waterville Laundry (undated), and the New York State Bureau of Milk Publicity (9 scripts) (circa 1942).
All items are arranged by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scripts and Stories -- "Captain Owl," "Snuffy," etc., 1944-1945 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 9 | |
| Scripts and Stories -- Ad copy, etc., 1944-1954 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 10 | |
| Scripts and Stories -- "Patchwork Girl of Oz", 1944-1954 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 11 | |
| Scripts and Stories -- "Uncles Tom's Cabin" ", 1944-1954 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 12 | |
| Scripts and Stories -- "Portrait of a City", 1944-1954 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 13 | |
| Scripts and Stories -- "Crisis in Kenishaw", 1944-1954 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 14 | |
Series 6: Dave Kroman, circa 1944-1966 (1 folder)
Various materials pertaining directly to Dave Kroman, Ms. Brooks' husband and frequent on-air partner. Most items concern Mr. Kroman's work as a local actor or his highly successful TV academic quiz show, "The Little Red Schoolhouse." Other items: clippings, correspondence, promo items, blank stationary, and certificates, etc. Items are organized by type and then, internally, by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Kroman, circa 1944-1954 | series 6 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
Series 7: Stations--WRGB and WGY, 1938-1987 (7 folders)
This series has four subseries.
Subseries 7.1: WGY and WRGB Programming Guides, 1944-1954 (2 folders)
Station-produced listening and viewing guides mailed to area viewers. Forty items total. This series is arranged first by station and then by date. Arranged by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stations -- Programming guides -- WRGB, 1944-1947 | series 7.1 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| Stations -- Programming guides -- WGY, 1946-1954 | series 7.1 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
Subseries 7.2: Press Releases, 1957- circa 1969 (1 folder)
Two station-generated press releases: one announcing Ms. Brooks's victory in the nation-wide Grocery Manufacturers of America's "Life Line of America" award for her series on how meat is processed (1957); the second announces Ms. Brooks being included in the forthcoming book, "2000 Women of Achievement" (circa 1969). Arranged by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stations -- Press releases, 1957-circa1969 | series 7.2 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
Subseries 7.3: Public Service Announcement and Interview Schedules, 1957-1961 (1 folder)
This series contains three typed lists noting various PSAs that have aired during "The Martha Brooks Show." These reports might have been created for submitting to the FCC. Arranged by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stations -- PSA reports/Interview schedules, 1957-1961 | series 7.3 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
Subseries 7.4: Station-produced pamphlets/publications/postcards, 1938-1987 (3 folders)
Wide assortment--56 total items--of station-produced booklets, fliers, and hand-outs, including: an audience analysis report from 1958, newsletters, list of sponsors, annual reports. Some of the titles are: "Martha Brooks Party Plans";"WGY News";"GE Report of the 62nd Annual Meeting";"Life at WGY";"Your product in the WGY Kitchen";"Mike and Camera" and "Market Basket Facts" among other titles. Some publications are stored in Oversize Box #6. Items are ordered by date. (Note: A complete list of materials is located at the end of this finding aid.)
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stations -- Station publications, 1938-1987 | series 7.4 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| null -- Station publications -- "Mike and Camera", 1951-1956 | series 7.4 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| Stations -- Station publications, undated | series 7.4 | box 2 | folder 8 | |
Series 8: Certificates of Achievement, 1955-1966 and undated (2 folders)
Contains three certificates bestowed on Ms. Brooks by the following organizations: GE/New York World's Fair Operation (1965); the American Institute of Chefs/American Culinary Association (1966); and an undated document from the US Naval Reserve. (See also Series 17, Artifacts.) This series also contains materials related to Ms. Brooks' 1955 and 1957 awards from the Grocery Manufacturers of America for radio reports she broadcast. Items arranged by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards and Certificates -- General, 1955-1956 | series 8 | box 2 | folder 9 | |
| Awards and Certificates -- Grocery Manufacturers of America, 1955, 1957 | series 8 | box 2 | folder 10 | |
Series 9: American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) Convention, 1958 (1 folder)
This series contains documents related to activities at the above convention held that year in San Francisco. It includes a printed excerpt from an address, "You're More Resourceful Than You Know: Business Needs Ideas," by Dr. G. Herbert True; a printed excerpt from an address, "Educational Programming is Good Business," by Donald H. McGannon; and excerpts from an address by Robert J. Burton on the "responsibility of American women in radio and television." There is also a printed summary of an address by Harold E. Fallows, then President of the NAB, delivered at the conference and a summery of a speech given by Pauline Frederick.
It also contains printed summations of the following panel discussions: "Resourcefulness in Promoting Stations and Programs" with the panelists Charles Russell (BBD&O), Florence Lowe ("Variety"), and Dan Jenkins ("TV Guide"); "Showmanship in Salesmanship," Dorothy Bullitt (King Broadcasting, Seattle), speaker; "New Trends in TV Commercials," Harry V. McMahan, speaker; "Showmanship in Telecasting," Lee Hogan Cass (Fashion Director, Bullock's), Mercedes Bates (advertising food consultant), Norman Hagen, (US Weather Bureau), panelists; "How Believable is Your Copy," Charles Lee Hutchins (McCann-Erickson), James Milton (Honig-Cooper-Miner), Mildred Alexander (WTAR, Norfolk), and Terrence O'Flaherty ("San Francisco Chronicle"), panelists; "Resourcefulness in Promoting Products and Services," Norma Young (KHJ), Dene Raterrman (National 4-H Club), Dean Dickens (WAGA, Atlanta), Ruth M. Glass (National Livestock and Meat Board, Chicago), Peggy Ware (Radio and TV home economist, Dudley-Anderson-Yutsy), and Margaret McDonald (WEAP-TV, Fort Worth), panelists; and "New Resources for Educational Radio and Television," James Day (KQED, San Francisco), Lillian Brown (Washington University), Stanley Donner (Stanford University), and Bill Dempsey (PIZ, San Francisco), panelists.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) convention, 1958 | series 9 | box 2 | folder 11 | |
Series 10: Photos, circa 1940-1963 and undated (0.75 linear foot)
Vast collection of 400-plus photos, most are 8" x 10" and unidentified in terms of date, individuals in them or titles of productions. Where a title could not be ascertained, photos of radio presentations and live TV broadcasts have been grouped based upon commonalties in each picture.
Martha Brooks and her husband David Kroman were often employed as performers in these broadcasts, over both TV and radio, and they are frequently pictured either individually or together in a great many of the stills.
Some oversize photos are in stored in Oversize Box #6.
This series is divided into the eight subseries.
Subseries 10.1: Martha Brooks, undated (4 folders)
This subseries contains photos of Ms. Brooks taken throughout her career. These photos include: portraits and candids of Ms. Brooks, alone, both formal and casual; on- and off-air publicity photos; photos of Ms. Brooks at Howe's Cave (NY); photos of Ms. Brooks with her husband, David Kroman; of Ms. Brooks playing softball or showing one of her paintings; Ms. Brooks being presented an award; at a tribute to her; on remote broadcasts; with school children; or with the following individuals Sandy Greed, Earl Pudney, and Charlie McGarotan.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photos -- Martha Brooks -- Portraits/candids, undated | series 10.1 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
| Photos -- Martha Brooks -- At the Circus, undated | series 10.1 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
| Photos -- Martha Brooks -- Howe's Cave, undated | series 10.1 | box 3 | folder 3 | |
| Photos -- Martha Brooks -- Off-air, undated | series 10.1 | box 3 | folder 4 | |
| Photos -- "The Martha Brooks Show"/"Breakfast with the Brooks", undated | series 10.1 | box 3 | folder 5 | |
Subseries 10.2: "Martha Brooks Show"/"Breakfast with the Brooks", undated (5 folders)
This subseries contains photos realed to Brooks' radio interview programs. These photographs include: Mrs. W. Averell Harriman, Charles Stevenson, Dr. Katherine Blodgett, Earl Pudney, Chef Herman Hodich, the Amsterdam Sisters (club), Ed Hudowolski, Edward Everett Horton, Emerson Markham, Eileen Durning, Bert Lahr, Faye Emerson, June Lockhart, Jeffrey Lynn, Julie Haydon, "Aunt Jemima," Sarah Churchill, Marian Anderson, Billie Burke, and Mrs. Irma C. Clements.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photos -- "The Martha Brooks Show"/"Breakfast with the Brooks", undated | series 10.2 | box 3 | folder 6 | |
| Photos -- "The Martha Brooks Show"/"Breakfast with the Brooks", undated | series 10.2 | box 3 | folder 7 | |
| Photos -- "The Martha Brooks Show"/"Breakfast with the Brooks", undated | series 10.2 | box 3 | folder 8 | |
| Photos -- "The Martha Brooks Show"/"Breakfast with the Brooks" -- Celebrities, undated | series 10.2 | box 3 | folder 9 | |
| Photos -- AWRT, 1958 | series 10.2 | box 3 | folder 10 | |
Subseries 10.3: American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT), undated (1 folder)
Photos pertaining to the work of AWRT and Ms. Brooks' activities on its behalf.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photos -- David Kroman -- Portraits, undated | series 10.3 | box 3 | folder 11 | |
Subseries 10.4: David Kroman, circa 1947-1963; undated (6 folders)
This subseries contains photos of Ms. Brooks' husband, David Kroman. These photos include portraits, production candids and stills from his programs: "The Record Shop" (c. 1947); "Answer Please" (c. 1963); and "Little Red Schoolhouse" (c. 1963) as well as photos related to such program sponsors as Coca-Cola and Woodco.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photos -- David Kroman -- Casual/Programs, undated | series 10.4 | box 3 | folder 12 | |
| Photos -- David Kroman -- Unidentified/Coca-Cola, undated | series 10.4 | box 3 | folder 13 | |
| Photos -- David Kroman -- TV commercial for Woodco, late 1940s | series 10.4 | box 3 | folder 14 | |
| Photos -- David Kroman -- "Answers Please"/"Little Red Schoolhouse", undated | series 10.4 | box 3 | folder 15 | |
| Photos -- David Kroman -- Other, undated | series 10.4 | box 3 | folder 16 | |
Subseries 10.5: Station Staff, circa 1943 (2 folders)
Also includes photos of station musician Gordy (Gordie?) Randall and Gary Stevens.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photos -- Station staff -- Portraits, circa 1943 | series 10.5 | box 3 | folder 17 | |
| Photos -- WGY/WRGB musicians, undated | series 10.5 | box 3 | folder 18 | |
Subseries 10.6: Radio Programs, circa 1940-1945; undated (5 folders)
Backstage and on-air photos from several radio programs Ms. Brooks produced, including: "FBI in Action," featuring Peg Houpt (sound effects artist), Jerry Coyle, Howard Reig, Lola Sommers, and Ed Dalstead; "Those Who Mourn" (August, 10, 1945) featuring, among others, Florence Sanford and Dave Kroman; "The Children's Hour" (c. 1940s) featuring, among others, Bob Stone, the show's director and pianist; "Sports Spotlight" (1960) featuring Bill Carpenter and Herb Koster; and unidentified programs. When dated, photos are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photos -- Radio programs -- "FBI in Action", undated | series 10.6 | box 3 | folder 19 | |
| Photos -- Radio programs -- "Those Who Mourn", August 10, 1945 | series 10.6 | box 3 | folder 20 | |
| Photos -- Radio programs -- "Children's Hour", 1940s | series 10.6 | box 3 | folder 21 | |
| Photos -- Radio programs -- "Sports Spotlight", 1960 | series 10.6 | box 3 | folder 22 | |
| Photos -- Radio programs -- Miscellaneous productions, various | series 10.6 | box 3 | folder 23 | |
Subseries 10.7: Television Productions, 1944; undated (34 folders)
Production still and candids from various television presentations by Ms. Brooks. These presentations include titled and untitled programs such as: a cooking demonstration with Martha Brooks; "Flight 40"; "Backstage"; "Enemy"; "ABC's Town Meeting"; "Glory in the Daytime"; a WWII South Pacific dramatization; and many unidentified presentations.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Cooking demonstration, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 1 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- "Flight 40", undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 2 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- "Backstage", undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 3 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- "Enemy", 1944 | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 4 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- "ABC's Town Meeting", circa 1947 | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 5 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- "Glory in the Daytime", undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 6 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- WWII South Pacific Drama, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 7 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #1 -- Clara the Cleaning Woman, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 8 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #2 -- Martha with the swami, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 9 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #3 -- Farming drama, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 10 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #4 -- Radio operator, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 11 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #5 -- Train/bus station, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 12 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #6 -- Cobbler, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 13 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #7 -- Living portraits, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 14 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #8 -- Two women, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 15 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #9 -- Radio drama, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 16 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #10 -- Figaro, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 17 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #11 -- California Squirtless, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 18 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #12 -- Man in sombrero, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 19 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #13 -- Arabian, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 20 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #14 -- Italian restaurant, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 21 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #15 -- Turnbull, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 22 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #16 -- Living room, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 23 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #17 -- Kitchen sink drama, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 24 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #18 -- Christopher Columbus, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 25 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #19 -- Woman in a black dress, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 26 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified #20 -- Revolutionary War?, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 27 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified--miscellaneous, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 28 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified--miscellaneous, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 29 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified--miscellaneous, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 30 | |
| Photos -- TV Presentations -- Unidentified--miscellaneous, undated | series 10.7 | box 4 | folder 31 | |
Subseries 10.8: Miscellaneous Photos, undated (3 folders)
Includes: 10 solo portraits of Vern Cook (actor), Charles John Stevenson, Milt Lang, and various unidentified people; three stills of a man in an Indian costume - station mascot, perhaps; and photos of various stage performances.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photos -- Miscellaneous -- Unidentified people, undated | series 10.8 | box 4 | folder 32 | |
| Photos -- Miscellaneous -- Indian, undated | series 10.8 | box 4 | folder 33 | |
| Photos -- Miscellaneous -- Stage, undated | series 10.8 | box 4 | folder 34 | |
Series 11: Miscellaneous, 1964; undated (1 folder)
Odds and ends from the Brooks collection: two play programs; one-page of sheet music ("Drinking Song") (in Box #5); place cards; a couple of poems; a couple of cartoons clipped from magazines; a how-to article on public speaking by Charles John Stevenson; and an article on free speech by William F. Buckley and Arthur Schlesinger from a 1964 issue of "TV Guide."
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous, 1964 | series 11 | box 4 | folder 35 | |
Series 12: Artifacts, 1947-1988 and undated (32 items)
The Martha Brooks collection also includes the following objects. All objects are in box #6 unless otherwise noted. Items are: metal ID plate (3" x 9") stating "WGY General Electric" (probably was once attached to a piece of remote equipment); plaque/award for serving as president of AWRT (NY/DC region). Inscribed: "MARTHA BROOKS, PAST PRESIDENT, NEW YORK STAE CAPITAL DISTRICT CHAPTER AMERICAN WOMEN IN RADIO AND TELEVISION"; framed citation (13" x 18") from the Mayor of Schenectady on the occasion of Ms. Brooks' retirement. (Box #6); assorted jewelry (one silver pair cufflinks, engraved "WRGB," gold pin engraved "WRGB: 60th Year," 1988, silver pin engraved "WGY: 25th Anniversary," 1947, gold pin engraved "Quarter Century Club/GE," oval gold pin, engraved "WMRF-WGY-WB," cloth and zippered pink jewelry satchel, and a medallion (2 1/2" across) celebrating WGY's 65th anniversary, 1987); and one scrapbook (Box #5)
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artifacts (oversize), 1947-1988; undated | series 12 | box 5 | folder 1 | ||
| Scrapbook "Snuffy", undated | series 12 | box 5 | folder 1 | item 1.0 | |
| Artifacts (oversize), 1947-1988; undated | series 12 | box 6 | folder 1 | ||
| ID plate - "WGY General Electric", undated | series 12 | box 6 | folder 1 | item 1.0 | |
| Plaque/award - AWRT President, undated | series 12 | box 6 | folder 1 | item 1.0 | |
| Framed citation, undated | series 12 | box 6 | folder 1 | item 1.0 | |
| Assorted jewelry, 1947, 1988, undated | series 12 | box 6 | folder 1 | item 1.0 | |
| Medallion, 1987 | series 12 | box 6 | folder 1 | item 1.0 | |
Series 13: Media, 1954-1971 and undated (2 boxes)
This series contains reel-to-reel audiotapes and film. Included are: 16 7 1/2" reels; 12 5 1/2" reels; 1 3" reel and 3 16mm film reels.
The tapes are labeled: "Clocking a Stagecoach" (British Travel Association) (RT: 3:45); "Cab Driver" (2 reels); "Beefeater" (British Travel Association) (RT: 2:53); "May 12th: Florence Nightengale" (RT: 3:05); "May 22nd: A. Conan Doyle 106th Birthday" (RT: 2:30); "House of Horrors"; "Loch Ness Monster"; "Great Britain's Pageant of Spring"; Interview: "M. Brooks & Bea Lillie"; Interview: "Ed Begley"; "Gus Burgin"; "Hermoine Gringold"; "Don Ameche"; "Lillian Roth"; "Friday, April 30, 1971"; "Interview with Ms. M. Anderson/Wednesday, January 30, 1956" [Miriam?]; "Charles Coburn"; "Billie Burke"; "E.E. Horton" "Retirement Dinner Speech, May 8, 1971, Hyatt House; "Bow Bells" (British Travel Association) (RT: 3:45); "Eva Gabor"; "Limme-Kingo Flowers"; "Joan Crawford/April 9, 1959"; "Stockholm Musical Festival"; "My Swedish Village--BobTrebor"; "Famous Writers School: Rod Serling--Box 5"; "USS Hardhead: L.C. McMullen--retired sub after WWII and brought out of mothballs for Korean conflict; sunk 9 enemy ships; April 20, 1959"; "1960--Swedish [?] Christmas"; "News Report: Chicago: George Wallace, Dick Gregory (Campaigning); 1954 (?); Communist Party candidates"; and one unidentified reel.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media -- Audiotapes (oversize), 1954-1971; undated | series 13 | box 7 | folder 1 | |
| Media -- Film (oversize), 1954-1971; undated | series 13 | box 8 | folder 1 | |
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Subjects
- Kroman, Dave -- Correspondence.
- Women broadcasters -- Archives.