NYPR History Notes

Douglas Cooper with Salvador Dali

This is just one of the many photos documenting the generous collection of radio interviews donated to the New York Public Radio archives by Douglas Cooper last year. Although not produced by us, many of these tapes aired over WNYC when the series was syndicated in the 1970s. More info below. (Photo: Douglas S. Cooper/WNYC Archive Collections)

Now Available at WNYC.org!

The New York Public Radio Archives is pleased to announce the complete digitization and web presentation of the first installment of The Douglas P. Cooper Distinguished Contemporaries Interviews.

These 75 rare interviews (1967â€”1974) include influential authors, statesmen, artists, musicians, journalists, sports figures and others who have left their mark on our history and culture.

Among the interviewees presented are Andy Warhol, Dr. Jonas Salk, Salvador DalÃ, W. H. Auden, Mickey Rooney, Jean Kerr, James A. Michener, Benny Goodman, Wernher von Braun, James Mason, Norman Rockwell, B.F. Skinner, Roberta Peters, W. Averell Harriman, Richard Rodgers, Milton Friedman, Walter Cronkite, Arthur Hailey, and Dr. Benjamin Spock.

Guests of this syndicated radio and libraries' collection were the recipients of some of the most prestigious awards, including the Medal of Freedom, Congressional Gold Medal, Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy, Tony, Golden Globe, Priestley Medal, Peabody Award, Olympic Gold Medal, Tennis Grand Slam, etc.

The second and final installment of this collection will be presented later this year. The acquisition of this collection was made possible by the generous support and assistance of Douglas P. Cooper and Sherwin B. Harris, III.

And a big thank you to interns Byrd Pinkerton and Hannah Sistrunk and Assistant. Archivist Ben Houtman for doing most of the digitization and file prep for the web.

WNYC first day of broadcast, July 8, 1924 (Municipal Archives Collection)

December 3, 2016 will be WQXR's 80th anniversary. Listen to the third episode of WQXR at 50, The episode features an interview with conductor Leon Barzin, Director of the National Orchestral Association. Barzin discusses the origins and history of the association.

Host Bob Sherman also plays the only known recording of Sir Thomas Turns the Tables, a show hosted by conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. The recording is from early 1940s.

And get ready for some recordings by John Barbirolli, a one time conductor of the New York Philharmonic. Bob ends the show with a Schuyler Chapin program celebrating the 80th birthday of conductor Pierre Monteux.

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WNYC will celebrate its 92nd anniversary this July. Just think, about 8 short years to the big centennial. In this space we'll be linking to various historical WNYC champions, broadcasts and milestones celebrating nearly a century on the air in the public interest. This week: Living Opera with host Alan Wagner.
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Andy Warhol and Norman Rockwell Have a "Conversation"
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This week's NEH-funded Annotations blog series features: Robert Frost is honored at a 1958 Poetry Society Dinner.
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WNYC's Way Back series
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The Archives Department will be providing some highlights from WNYC's eclectic history as well as an overview of what we do for the New York Public Radio Community Advisory Board on Monday, May 9 beginning at 6:30 PM in the Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at 44 Charlton Street. If interested, it's open to the public.

The WNYC Archives is on Twitter with 2,873 followers @wnycarchives. We tweet daily reminders of, and links to, WNYC broadcasts from that day in the past.

Weâ€™ve got a Tumblr page too! More than 10,000 followers. Check it out at:

WNYC Archives in theâ€¦