Morris S. Novik Papers
Abstract
Morris S. Novik entered the field of broadcasting in 1932 when he took over the management of the radio station WEVD in New York. During this period he founded the University of the Air. In 1938, he accepted a position as director of communications for the city of New York, and director of station WNYC. While in this post, Novik coined the term "Public Broadcasting". He also became involved in the genesis of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters, serving as its first executive secretary from 1941 to 1948. After leaving WNYC in 1946, Novik helped establish radio stations in Detroit and Cleveland. The collection focuses on Novik's career in public broadcasting.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This collection is open for research use.
Morris S. Novik Papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
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Historical Note
Morris S. Novik was born in Nevel, Russia in 1903. He came to the United States when he was eleven years old with his mother and his two younger brothers. It was in New York City where the family settled that Novik first met his father who had come to the United States years earlier. He was educated at a Yeshiva in the city but after graduating decided that he did not want to continue his religious education so at the age of fourteen he was sent to public school.
At this time Novik became involved with the social-political changes of 1917 engendered by the Russian Revolution. He headed a local chapter of the Young People's Socialist League while he was working at the Daily Record, a newspaper covering issues relating to the manufacture of clothing. He then received a scholarship to the Rand School which Novik described as a "right-wing socialist school of learning". During this time he became very involved in the socialist movement, starting a magazine called The Monthly Free Youth and serving as its editor.
In the early twenties Novik became involved with the Discussion Guild, arranging lectures and debates of well known writers and lecturers. The first speaker he engaged was noted British philosopher Bertrand Russell, who subsequently asked for Novik to represent him in future United States engagements. Through his work with the Discussion Guild Novik also became the manager for Clarence Darrow.
Novik entered the field of broadcasting in 1932 when he was asked to take over the management of the radio station WEVD in New York. He served as associate manager and program director. It was during this period that he founded the University of the Air.
Novik entered the field of broadcasting in 1932 when he was asked to take over the management of radio station WEVD in New York. It was during this time that he also founded the University of the Air. He was recruited by New York mayor Fiorello LaGuardia to run radio station WNYC. Novik declined until Germany invaded Czechoslovakia in 1938. He realized it was more important now to keep democracy over the airwaves than to promote socialism and labor interests as he was doing at WEVD. He became director of communications at WNYC (1938-1946) and it while it was at this position that he coined the term "Public Broadcasting." It was also during this time that he became involved in the genesis of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters. Novik claimed he was one of the seven men who met in Ames, Iowa in 1939 to plan the permanent organization of this association. He then served as its first executive secretary from 1941 to 1948. Subsequently, Novik was involved in buying or establishing radio stations in Detroit, Cleveland, and the New York area.
After leaving WNYC in 1946 Novik helped establish radio stations in Detroit and Cleveland. In 1950 he bought the station WLIB in New York on which he established negro programming. He kept this station for 5 years, selling it to his brother Harry in 1955 when he then bought the Italian station WOV. He kept the Italian language format at WOV during his ownership but upon selling this station in 1959 this format was abandoned by the new owners.
Novik maintained a long relationship with the labor movement, serving as a communications consultant for the American Federation of Labor and later for the merged American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). His career also included some presidential appointments. In 1952 President Truman appointed him to be delegate to the UNESCO conference in Paris. In 1953 he participated in the UNESCO London conference on TV, advising Europeans on how to establish television stations. He was also selected by President Kennedy to serve on the U.S. Advisory Commission on Information in 1962. President Johnson reappointed him to that body.
Morris S. Novik died in 1996.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Papers of Morris S. Novik cover the years 1940 to 1992. The bulk of the material ranges from 1949 to 1964. The collection focuses mainly on Novik's career in public broadcasting. Types of documents include correspondents, reports, hearings, newsclippings, program materials, conference materials, speeches and writings, newsletters, and press releases.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
The Morris S. Novik Papers was donated to the National Public Broadcasting Archives, University of Maryland Libraries by Morris S. Novik in January of 1991 and in April of 1992.
Processing Information
Processed by Thomas J. Connors, December 1993
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Karen E. King, April 2005.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Subject Files, 1940-1992 (5.00 linear feet)
This collection was arranged into one subject series, covering all aspects of Novik's career in public broadcasting. Important topics include the Joint Council on Educational Television (JCET), the National Association of Educational Broadcasters (NAEB), the Federal Communications Commission and FM radio. The subjects are arranged alphabetically by folder heading.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Federation of Labor, American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1950, 1966-1970 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Association for Education by Radio, Association for Education by Radio-Television, 1947-1965 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Educational Television -- Notes and Correspondence, 1952-1954 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Educational Television -- Reports, 1951-1954 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Educational Television -- Re: various stations, 1952-1954 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Educational Television -- Newsletters, 1948-1957 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Educational Television -- Printed matter, 1951-1963 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
| Educational Television -- Newsclippings, 1951-1956 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 8 | |
| Educational Television -- Newsclippings, 1957, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 9 | |
| Federal Communications Commission -- Hearings, 1940-1947 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| Federal Communications Commission -- Hearings -- Mayflower Decision-Correspondence and clippings, 1947-1948 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| Federal Communications Commission -- Hearings -- Mayflower Decision-Testimony, February-April 1948 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| Federal Communications Commission -- Hearings -- Mayflower Decision-Testimony, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| Federal Communications Commission -- Hearings -- Reserving channels for educational purposes, undated | series 1 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| Federal Communications Commission -- Hearings -- Daytime skywave transmissions, 1954 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| Federal Communications Commission -- Hearings, 1962-1963 | series 1 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| Federal Communications Commission -- Commissioners -- Correspondence and speeches, 1952, 1968 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
| Federal Communications Commission -- Newsclippings, undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
| FM Broadcasting -- Correspondence, 1945-1947 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 3 | |
| FM Broadcasting -- Correspondence, 1948 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 4 | |
| FM Broadcasting -- Correspondence, 1949-1951, 1965, 1968, undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 5 | |
| FM Broadcasting -- Reports, 1944, 1950, 1951 | series 1 | box 3 | folder 6 | |
| FM Broadcasting -- Promotional materials, 1945-1948, undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 7 | |
| FM Broadcasting -- Publications, 1944-1946, undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 8 | |
| FM Broadcasting -- Newsclippings, 1945-1951, 1965, undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 9 | |
| FM Association -- Correspondence, 1947-1948 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 1 | |
| FM Association -- Correspondence, 1949-1950 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 2 | |
| FM Association -- Press releases, bulletins, organizational materials, 1947-1949 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 3 | |
| FM Association -- Expenses, 1951 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 4 | |
| FM Association -- Newsclippings, undated | series 1 | box 4 | folder 5 | |
| Institute for Democratic Education, 1948 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 6 | |
| Institute for Education by Radio, 1947-1949 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 7 | |
| Institute for Education by Radio -- Television -- Correspondence, 1950-1951 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 8 | |
| Institute for Education by Radio -- Television -- Correspondence, 1953-1956 | series 1 | box 4 | folder 9 | |
| Institute for Education by Radio -- Television -- Program materials -- 17th annual meeting, May 1947 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 1 | |
| Institute for Education by Radio -- Television -- Program materials -- 17th annual meeting -- correspondence, February-August 1947 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 2 | |
| Institute for Education by Radio -- Television -- Program materials and correspondence -- 27th annual meeting, January-May 1957 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 3 | |
| Institute of Communications Research (Allerton House), University of Illinois -- meetings, 1949, 1950 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 4 | |
| Intercollegiate Broadcasting System, 1946-1948 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 5 | |
| Joint Committee on Educational Television -- General Correspondence, 1950-1954 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 6 | |
| Joint Committee on Educational Television -- Correspondence -- KTHE (Los Angeles), 1954 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 7 | |
| Joint Committee on Educational Television -- Correspondence -- KQED (San Francisco), 1954 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 8 | |
| Joint Committee on Educational Television -- Correspondence -- KUHT (Houston), 1954 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 9 | |
| Joint Committee on Educational Television -- Correspondence -- WQED (Pittsburgh), 1954 | series 1 | box 5 | folder 10 | |
| FCC Hearings -- Reservation of channels -- proposed order of testimony, November 27, 1950 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 1 | |
| FCC Hearings -- Assignments, rules, Docket 11401, 1955 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 2 | |
| JCET Round-up, 1953, 1954 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 3 | |
| JCET Fact Sheet and Box Score, 1954-1958 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 4 | |
| JCET Reports, 1952-1955 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 5 | |
| Press releases, statements, reports, 1951-1956 | series 1 | box 6 | folder 6 | |
| National Association for Better Broadcasting, 1980 | series 1 | box 7 | folder 1 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- General Correspondence, 1943-1945 | series 1 | box 7 | folder 2 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- General Correspondence, 1946-1950 | series 1 | box 7 | folder 3 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- General Correspondence, 1953-1955 | series 1 | box 7 | folder 4 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- General Correspondence, 1956 | series 1 | box 7 | folder 5 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- General Correspondence, 1957-1959 | series 1 | box 7 | folder 6 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- General Correspondence, 1960-1962, 1964, 1965 | series 1 | box 7 | folder 7 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Secretary -- Correspondence, 1946-1947 | series 1 | box 8 | folder 1 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Secretary -- Correspondence, January-May 1948 | series 1 | box 8 | folder 2 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Executive Secretary -- Correspondence, June-December 1948 | series 1 | box 8 | folder 3 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Conferences -- TV production workshop -- Michigan State University, August 1954 | series 1 | box 8 | folder 4 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Conferences -- TV engineering workshop -- Michigan State University, September 1955 | series 1 | box 8 | folder 5 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Conferences -- ETV management seminar -- University of Illinois, July 1957 | series 1 | box 8 | folder 6 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Conferences -- Region I -- Amherst, MA, April 1955 | series 1 | box 8 | folder 7 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Conferences, miscellaneous, 1944-1953 | series 1 | box 8 | folder 8 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Convention materials, 1947-1962 | series 1 | box 8 | folder 9 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- FCC Hearings -- Clear channel hearings, 1947 | series 1 | box 8 | folder 10 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Annual reports, 1945-1946, 1959-1960 | series 1 | box 8 | folder 11 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Surveys and reports, 1943-1948, 1959 | series 1 | box 9 | folder 1 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Organizational materials, 1949, 1954, undated | series 1 | box 9 | folder 2 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Membership materials, 1947-1963 | series 1 | box 9 | folder 3 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Newsletter, 1944-1947 | series 1 | box 9 | folder 4 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Newsletters, 1948-1951 | series 1 | box 9 | folder 5 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Re various educational radio stations, 1947-1949 | series 1 | box 9 | folder 6 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Miscellaneous notes, speeches and writings, 1947-1961 | series 1 | box 9 | folder 7 | |
| National Association of Educational Broadcasters -- Newsclippings, reprints, 1946, 1961, 1964, undated | series 1 | box 9 | folder 8 | |
| National Citizens Committee for Education Television, 1954-1955 | series 1 | box 10 | folder 1 | |
| National Educational Radio Network, 1966, 1970 | series 1 | box 10 | folder 2 | |
| National Educational Television and Radio Center, 1954-1961 | series 1 | box 10 | folder 3 | |
| New York Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters, 1955 | series 1 | box 10 | folder 4 | |
| Novik, Morris S., 1946-1992 | series 1 | box 10 | folder 5 | |
| Novik, Morris S., 1945, 1946, 1966 | series 1 | box 10 | folder 6 | |
| Novik, Morris S., 1947-1968 | series 1 | box 10 | folder 7 | |
| Parker, Everett C. -- Correspondence, 1949-1971 | series 1 | box 10 | folder 8 | |
| Public radio and television stations: WBOE, WILL, WNYC, WOI, KUSD, 1946-1986, undated | series 1 | box 10 | folder 9 | |
| Southern Regional Educational Board -- newsletters, 1956-1958 | series 1 | box 10 | folder 10 | |
| Transcripts: radio and television programs, 1953, 1958, 1975, undated | series 1 | box 10 | folder 11 | |
Related Material
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.
Selected Search Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.
Subjects
- Institute for Education by Radio-Television.
- Novik, Morris S., 1903- -- Archives.
- Public broadcasting -- United States.