Guide to the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America Broadcasting and Film Commission Records

The papers of the Broadcasting and Film Commission, 1923-1974, detail the history, organization, and activities of the Commission and its various departments. The papers date primarily from the period 1950 to 1974.

The papers are arranged in four series based on the organizational structure and activities of the BFC. In each series the papers are arranged by subject category. Material within the subject files is arranged chronologically by year, month, and day. Partially dated items are placed at the end of the month or year; undated documents are placed after all dated material. Enclosures are placed after their letter of transmittal. Newspaper clippings, unless enclosed with correspondence, are placed at the end of subject files.

The papers of the Broadcasting and Film Commission, 1923-1974, are organized in the following series:

-Series I: General Administration, 1947-1974

-Series II: Broadcasting Operations, 1944-1974

-Series III: National Radio Pulpit, 1923-1973

-Series IV: Film Operations and Distribution, 1947-1974

The General Administration, 1947-1974, Series I files are the combined papers of S. Franklin Mack and William F. Fore. There is also a small amount of material of Arthur C. Austin, director of Special Events (later called Special Projects) from 1952 to 1967.

The files are arranged alphabetically by name of individual, name of organization, or subject. Items within the files are arranged chronologically by year, month, and day; undated items are placed after all dated material.

The files consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence, memoranda, minutes, agenda, reports, financial statements, bylaws, press releases, scripts, newsletters, membership lists, surveys, reprints, government documents, pamphlets, leaflets, and newspaper clippings.

The files contain materials from the various committees and departments of the BFC including the Board of Managers, the Executive Committee, the Broadcast Training Department, Program Operations Committee, and the Research Committee. The files also include documents from the BFC predecessor organizations—the Protestant Radio Commission and the Protestant Film Commission.

The files contain various newsletters published by the BFC such as BFC News, Cable Information, Film Information, and Résumé. The files of the Special Events Department contain correspondence, memoranda, scripts, newsletters, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings.

The Broadcast Operations, 1944-1974, Series II files date primarily from 1951 to 1970. The files are principally those of D. Williams McClurken. There is additional material of John M. Gunn, director of Television Productions from 1952 to 1954; of Ben E. Wilbur, director of radio from 1953 to 1958; and of Dorothy Kahl, BFC program producer.

The files are arranged alphabetically by subject, name of individual, name of organization, or title of program or series. Items within the files are arranged chronologically by year, month, and day; undated items are placed after all dated material. Whenever possible scripts have been dated as to when the program aired on radio or television.

The files consist primarily of scripts. In addition there is incoming and outgoing correspondence, memoranda, minutes, agenda, reports, budgets, financial statements, press releases, rehearsal schedules, cast lists, pamphlets, leaflets, and newspaper clippings.

The majority of the files consist of scripts for the radio and television series—The Art of Living, Directions, Frontiers of Faith, Look Up and Live, and Pilgrimage. There are also scripts for such programs as Thy Kingdom Come (produced by the Presbyterian Church, USA) and the Radio Edition of the Bible. There are also scripts for special network programs such as Easter or Christmas broadcasts. The files also contain materials of the BFC Radio and Television Committees.

The National Radio Pulpit, 1923-1973, files date primarily from 1933 to 1973. The material is principally the personal papers of Ralph W. Sockman. In addition there is material from the files of John Groller and Dorothy Kahl, BFC producers. Although the National Radio Pulpit was an activity of the BFC's Broadcast Operations Department, it has been treated as a separate series because of the material's provenance and the large amount of non-BFC material contained within the files.

The files are arranged alphabetically by subject, name of individual, or name of organization. Items within the files are arranged chronologically by year, month, and day; undated materials are placed after all dated material.

The files consist chiefly of manuscript, typescript, mimeographed, and printed copies of the radio addresses of the National Radio Pulpit, dating from 1933 to 1973. In addition the files include incoming and outgoing correspondence, financial records, articles, press releases, prayers, miscellaneous sermons, pamphlets, leaflets, and newspaper clippings.

The files include a small number of radio scripts for the programs, "National Vespers" and "The Sunday Forum," as well as the television program, "Man to Man." There are copies of Sockman's sermons delivered at Christ Church and his baccalaureate addresses at New York University, as well as funeral services, prayers, and articles prepared by Sockman. There are also copies of sermons by Harry Emerson Fosdick and Peter Marshall.

The Film Operations and Distribution, 1947-1974, files date primarily from 1952 to 1974. The files are principally those of Herbert F. Lowe. There is additional material of Alexander B. Ferguson, John J. Clayton, J. Margaret Carter, and Bruce E. Harding, who was associate director of film from 1967 to 1969.

The files are arranged alphabetically by subject, name of individual, name of organization, or title of production. Items within the files are arranged chronologically by year, month, and day; undated items are placed after all dated material.

The files consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes, agenda, scripts, press releases, budgets, financial statements, invoices, bills, proposals, newsletters, promotional literature, programs, pamphlets, leaflets, broadsides, and newspaper clippings.

The majority of the files concern films, filmstrips, and phonograph records produced and distributed by the BFC. The files are arranged by title under the heading of "Productions." The files contain correspondence, scripts, budgets, financial statements, and printed matter. A few of the files also concern productions of the Protestant Film Commission.

The files also concern the relations of Film Operations and Film Distribution with various organizations such as the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, the Council on International Nontheatrical Events (CINE), the Australian Religious Film Society, the National Film Board of Canada, the International Tape Association, Inc., and the World Association for Christian Communication.