WANN Radio Station (Annapolis, Maryland) Search this
Extent:
13 Cubic feet (32 boxes and 12 oversize folders)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Awards
Certificates
Business records
Sales records
Posters
Photographs
Correspondence
Audiotapes
Place:
Carr's Beach
Annapolis (Md.)
Maryland -- 20th century
Date:
1940-1999
Summary:
The collection documents the creative, technical and political aspects of managing WANN Radio Station in Annapolis, Maryland during the mid-Twentieth Century. Key areas of research include black radio stations; Annapolis African American communities; marketing to Black communities; political activism through media; Black-Jewish community relationships; church, community and media activism.
Scope and Contents:
The collection primarily documents the highly-segregated era of radio broadcasting and WANN's position within this historical context. It contains an extensive photographic history documenting the rise of the radio station. Other materials include programming timetables, forum broadcasts, and advertisement segments aired during the station's prime. Documents chronicling the station's business and regulatory history, including correspondence with fans, publicity materials, advertising, certificates and awards and sales reports are also included among these materials. There are newspaper clippings documenting political events and church programs covered by the radio station. Land survey maps for the placement of new station and broadcasting towers are also found among these materials. Morris Blum was involved with the Federal Communications Commission and there is a significant amount of material relating to the Emergency Broadcasting System including tutorials and regulations. Materials relating to Blum's personal life include local Jewish community and organization activities, naval history and a few family papers. Photographs and programming for WANN's sister radio station WXTC can also be found among these materials. In the early 1990s, WANN radio station became Bay Country 1190 in a move to be more profitable. There is a small amount of material relating to this new programming format.
WANN radio is significant because the radio station became a place to discuss controversial topics concerning the African American community. Segregation, racial discrimination, and challenging political misrepresentation were all a part of WANN's programming. Blum and his staff did not avoid confronting what were at the time radical issues of racial justice and equality. Members of Congress, politicians and community organizers all appeared periodically on WANN radio. In addition to its talk radio format, WANN radio also played Rhythm and Blues, Gospel music, and hosted numerous dance parties and concerts at Carr's Beach. Blum hired a racially diverse staff, creating pathways to professional careers. Charles "Hoppy" Adams, who eventually became WANN's first executive vice president, began his career as a highly popular radio personality. Adams hosted the Carr's Beach dance parties and concerts featuring many young artists, including James Brown and Sarah Vaughn. The success of the radio station's hiring practices, relevant programming, social activities and political awareness makes it a valuable resource of information for both the Washington DC metropolitan area and the nation as a whole.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into twelve series.
Series 1: Photographic Materials, 1947-1996, undated
Series 2: Correspondence, 1947-1999
Series 3: Programming, 1947-1989
Series 4: Publicity, 1946-1999, undated
Series 5: Advertising and Marketing, 1947-1999, undated
Series 6: Engineering and Construction, 1947-1999, undated
Series 7: Office Files, 1953-1999, undated
Series 8: Communications and Emergency Management, 1946-1999, undated
Series 9: Awards and Recognition, 1940s-1999, undated
Series 10: WXTC Radio Station, 1959-1979, undated
Series 11: Morris Blum Papers, 1954-1997, undated
Series 12: Audiovisual Materials, 1953-1998
Separated Materials:
"Several artifacts were donated to the Museum's Division of Cultural History (now Division of Cultural and Community Life) in 2000. The associated accession numbers for the WANN Radio Station artifacts are as follows:
2000.0165-7,775 include sound recordings, two turntable pads, a microphone, and a studio wall clock, all used at the radio station from 1948-1995.
2002.0319-22 include eight name tags worn by on-air personalities at personal appearances, five pieces of equipment, three banners, two gold records, two public service award plaques, a pith helmet, and two T-shirts also from 1948-1995.
"
Provenance:
The collection was donated by Morris Blum in July 2002.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Researchers must use reference copies of audiovisual materials. When no reference copy exists, the Archives Center staff will produce reference copies on an "as needed" basis, as resources allow.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Arturo Griffiths spoke about the creation of the Community Coalition, Multicultural Leadership Summit, and Multicultural Leadership Council after disturbances in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood in Washington, DC to address the needs of the Latino community and the Black community, and to bring communities together. And later, the creation and evolution of the Afro-Latino institute because the Latino community was not addressing their lack of inclusivity in regards to the Black community.
Griffiths explained United States foreign policy, including why Central Americans flee to the US; Latinos' goals living in the United States; Latinos' lack of understanding regarding United States history, current events, racism, and inclusivity; the isolation of the Black community in the US which led to a lack of knowledge regarding Black people from other parts of the world; the lack of relationship and connection between the Black community and Latino community as well as between the Black people in the US and Black people from the rest of the world; and the attempts by the Black community in the US to reach out to other communities in the US and their efforts were not reciprocated. Griffiths spoke about Latinos' struggle for empowerment and lack of voting power; Frank Shaffer-Corona, the first elected Latino in DC area and first Latino on school board; racism within the Latino community; the Latino community leadership's lack of Black representation; and how people from various ethnic groups identify themselves and which groups feel isolated.
Griffiths also spoke about his extended family history and ethnic background, which included West Indian and English ancestry; the racial segregation system, imposed by the United States, in the Canal Zone of Panama; the tension between Blacks of English descent and Blacks of Spanish descent; his politically active Afro-Panamanian father, who was forced out of Panama City and arrived in the United States in the middle of the Civil Rights movement; and his father's work in the US, including the organization of the Washington Ghetto Industrial Development and Investment Corporation to empower the ghettoes and Black communities economically through controlling the distribution of goods.
Griffiths spoke about his childhood in Panama City as a Black West Indian kid who spoke Spanish and was raised by his mother; his school experience; racism within his family; and his family's economic instability. He described what he knew about the United States prior to arriving in the United States; his family's migration to the United States, including their migration preparations in Panama; his first impressions arriving in the center of the Black community in northwest Washington, DC during the Civil Rights Movement; and the segregation and discrimination he witnessed in the US. Griffiths talked about playing basketball when he was young; clashing with the Black kids in the US because he was a foreigner and spoke Spanish; being a part of one of the gangs to survive; learning English; and living in both and between the Latino community and the Black community.
Arturo Griffiths was interviewed by Hector Corporan on December 23, 1992. Interview is in English and minimal Spanish. Digital audio files include white noise and static, and minimal background noise. Interviewee's voice is intelligible for the most part.
General:
Associated documentation for this interview is available in the Anacostia Community Museum Archives.
Title created by ACMA staff using text written on sound cassette, contents of audio recording, textual transcript, and/or associated archival documentation.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. exhibition records, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Smithsonian Institution. Anacostia Community Museum Search this
Extent:
2 Digital files
1 Sound cassette
Type:
Archival materials
Digital files
Sound cassettes
Place:
Washington (D.C.)
Date:
circa 1992-1993
Scope and Contents:
Elena Tscherny spoke about the Office of Library Services and Programs, her career with and work for the District of Columbia Public Library, services and events that the DC Public Library offers the Spanish speaking community, artist exhibitions, bilingual librarians and staff, and the Mt. Pleasant library. She also explained how she would be able to help with Anacostia Museum's Latino exhibit; her involvement with and thoughts about community organizations and DC government's Office of Latino Affairs; how DC government budget cuts affect the DC Public Library; and ideas for documenting the Latino community.
Elena Tscherny was interviewed at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library in Washington, DC. Interview is in English. Digital audio files include very loud white noise and static, and very background noise, including voices and a vacuum, at the beginning of the interview; interviewee's voice can be difficult to hear at times.
General:
Associated documentation for this interview is available in the Anacostia Community Museum Archives.
Title created by ACMA staff using text written on sound cassette, contents of audio recording, textual transcript, and/or associated archival documentation.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. exhibition records, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Smithsonian Institution. Anacostia Community Museum Search this
Extent:
4 Digital files
2 Sound cassettes
Type:
Archival materials
Digital files
Sound cassettes
Place:
Haiti
Africa
New York (N.Y.)
Washington (D.C.)
United States
Date:
1993 January 08
Scope and Contents:
Kleber Vielot spoke about why he migrated to and remained in the United States in 1959; what he left behind, including his children and library, in Haiti; his work in New York City, and his first time working for a white man; his mentor in New York City; navigating NYC and mass transit system; his Haitian political work while he was living in the United States; and forming soccer team and building Haitian community. Vielot also mentioned he taught primary and secondary education, and had a role with a teachers' union in Haiti.
Vielot spoke in detail about his Haitian and American heroes, including Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Malcolm X, and MLK. He explained the difference between the civil rights struggle in the United States and what was happening in Haiti; why interactions between Black Haitians and Black Americans are difficult, and how their relationship evolved; the differences between Black Haitians and Black Americans; the constructed inferiority of Black Americans in the United States; and African, French, and United States influence in Haiti and on Haitians.
Vielot spoke about Haitian youth and identity crisis; why Haitian parents criticize American way of life; differences in how children are raised in the United States versus Haiti; why Haitians return to Haiti; the differences in the educational systems between United States and Haiti; discipline, including how Haitian teachers disciplined students in Haiti; and how to retain Haitian culture while living in the United States, including while raising children. Vielot stated where his children were educated, some in the United States and some in Haiti; and what his children studied in higher education. Vielot explained why he never became an United States citizen. He stated his wife, also Haitian, became an United States citizen; and that he was born and raised Catholic.
Vielot explained how the Haitian diaspora affects politics and economics in Haiti; how he communicated with and sent money to his family as a political exile of Haiti under the Francois Duvalier regime; and the differences between the Haitian political exiles when he was exiled versus Haitian political exiles in 1993. Vielot also explained the importance and role of oral tradition, including stories and proverbs, in the lives of Africans and Haitians. He described a few of the stories; and recited and explained proverbs.
Vielot also spoke about Francois Duvalier and Haitian politics; Haitian independence; Haitian way of life in Haiti; Haitian and African culture and values; origin, history, beliefs, and practices of vodou; rites of passage in Haiti; the importance of education to the Haitian family; the value of individuals based on their occupation; the respect teachers received in Haiti; his visits to Africa; how babies are named in Africa; relationships between men and women; characteristics of Haitians; and stereotypes about Haitians.
Interview is in English and minimal Haitian Creole; Vielot recited proverbs in Haitian Creole and then explained them in English. Digital audio files include white noise and static; minimal background noise; and a very short portion of the audio is distorted. Interviewee can be heard clearly for the most part.
General:
Associated documentation for this interview is available in the Anacostia Community Museum Archives.
Title created by ACMA staff using text written on sound cassette, contents of audio recording, textual transcript, and/or associated archival documentation.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. exhibition records, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Smithsonian Institution. Anacostia Community Museum Search this
Extent:
2 Digital files
1 Sound cassette
Type:
Archival materials
Digital files
Sound cassettes
Place:
Haiti
Alexandria (Va.)
France
Washington (D.C.)
United States
Date:
circa 1992-1993
Scope and Contents:
Marie-Therese Thomas spoke about the origin and evolution of Kiskeya, a community newsletter that she published for Haitians and other French speakers; organizing programs for the Haitian community; teaching Haitian history to children and adults; the evolution of the Haitian community in the Washington, DC region; and the African American museum in Alexandria, VA.
Thomas explained the growth of the Haitian community in Washington, DC in the 1980s; her research about Haitian students attending and services offered by DC public schools; the reorganization of the department of bilingual education in DC public schools; lack of services, including lack of translation and ESL instruction, for Haitian children, and Creole and French speakers in DC public schools; Haitian parents did not understand the educational system; Haitian students, who had been through the criminal justice system, had no instruction in their native language or ESL instruction; bias toward Haitians; and links between Haitians and African Americans.
Thomas spoke about the creation of the career orientation program for all high school students, including Creole and French speakers, and the adult literacy project for Creole speakers; and the importance of adding cultural context to ESL instruction courses. Thomas stated she led workshops about children of the African diaspora; developed a television program, Kafou, about the Haitian population in the school system with DC public schools; and developed multi-cultural skill development program with the University of the District Columbia for adult students.
Thomas also spoke about Haiti's political and economic history, including relationship with United States and France; large number of African Americans settling in Haiti; automatic Haitian citizenship for those of African descent; a pharmacy, in the Hayti neighborhood of Alexandria, VA, that registered people who wanted to go to and live in Haiti; education in Haiti; people migrating to Haiti and Haitians migrating away from Haiti; Haitian refugees in the United States; the American occupation; the colonial history of Haiti; and French and Creole.
Thomas also explained she is from a family of educators, her lifelong interest in education and history, her educational experience in Haiti, the Duvalier regime and "climate of terror" when she lived in Haiti, and her exile from Haiti and migration to the United States in 1966.
Marie-Therese Thomas was interviewed by Dario Santos. Interview is in English. Digital audio files include white noise and static, and some background noise. Interviewee's voice is intelligible for the most part. There is no audio for short period of time near the middle of ACMA_AV002390_A.
General:
Associated documentation for this interview is available in the Anacostia Community Museum Archives.
Title created by ACMA staff using text written on sound cassette, contents of audio recording, textual transcript, and/or associated archival documentation.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. exhibition records, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Paul Hawkins, born as Paul G. Harkins, spoke about his childhood growing up in northeast Washington, DC; his father, who was a semi-pro baseball player, Sandlot semi-pro coach of baseball, and founder of a football league; enlisting for the navy in 1952 and his experience stationed in a minecraft base in Charleston, South Carolina, including his introduction to Latin music (Cuban); how and when he learned Latin dance; and participating in dance contests. He spoke about lots of specific Latin and Cuban musicians and dancers. Hawkins explained Jewish people were the main audience / dancers for Latin music and dancing and the main group of people hiring bands; and that Los Americanos, a "Black-oriented Latin sounding group", was "the first Black-oriented Latin sounding group that infiltrated the Jewish side of the fence".
Hawkins spoke about his band, Orquesta del Siglo Veinte, and the composition of the band's audience, multi-racial. He described the many clubs, venues, and dancehalls where his band performed in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. Hawkins explained his band hosted dances which attracted, formed, and grew the Latin community, which mostly consisted of Cubans and Puerto Ricans. He also explained this was the beginning of the forming of the political Latin community in Washington, DC and witnessing racial strife and separation within the Latin community as the community was organizing with no Black leaders on either side, Cubans or Puerto Ricans. Hawkins also spoke about the bomb scares during dances because the promoters did not like each other; losing jobs because venue owners did not want integrated audiences in their establishments; and organized fights breaking out during dances.
Interview is in English. Digital audio files include minimal white noise and static; interviewee can be heard clearly for the most part.
General:
Associated documentation for this interview is available in the Anacostia Community Museum Archives.
Title created by ACMA staff using text written on sound cassette, contents of audio recording, textual transcript, and/or associated archival documentation.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. exhibition records, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
Ralma Blake spoke of his childhood in Jamaica; his parents and the disciplinarian in the family; his siblings; the music he grew up on, mainly mento; and stories his parents told him. He also spoke of his migration to the United States, things that surprised him upon his arrival in the US, his first jobs, and communicating with family and friends in Jamaica. Note, Blake has dual citizenship in Jamaica and the United States.
Blake spoke about his children, born in Jamaica and raised in the United States; instilling Jamaican culture in his children; raising and disciplining his children; family meals and saying grace; and the importance of family, and maintaining and passing down Jamaican culture and heritage. Blake discussed maintaining Jamaican culture, including visiting other Jamaicans, holidays, traditions, and language, specifically Patois; Jamaicans, particularly children, being ridiculed for how they speak; and greetings and addressing people.
Blake detailed the opening and managing of a West Indian, Caribbean, African food store called Carnation Market; how his store was a community space for people to gather; building and supporting Jamaican community, including popularizing Jamaican coffee and employing Jamaicans; how the community has changed; popular Jamaican food items in his store; why ackee is illegal in the United States; and the possible future of his family owned store.
Blake also spoke about the media's perception of Jamaicans; Marcus Garvey; visiting Jamaica and what he brings back to the US with him; his nicknames; his record collection; how Jamaican and Rastafarian communities influence people in the US; Jamaicans as entrepreneurs; future of the Jamaican community; and his intention to move back to Jamaica.
Ralma Blake was interviewed by Ann A. Walters. Interview is in English. Digital audio files include loud white noise and static, some sound interferences and distortions, and some background noise. Interviewee's voice is intelligible for the most part.
General:
Associated documentation for this interview is available in the Anacostia Community Museum Archives.
Title created by ACMA staff using text written on sound cassette, contents of audio recording, textual transcript, and/or associated archival documentation.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. exhibition records, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
