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Radio Advertising Bureau collection

 Collection 0161-MMC

The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) is a national radio advertising trade organization whose history dates back to 1950. To showcase radio's potential during the rise of the television era, the RAB began collecting examples of ads from all over the country beginning in 1954. Many of these ads were used in workshops and presentations, and by the mid-1960s the RAB had teamed with the Clio Awards in order to recognize the best of radio advertising each year. When the RAB moved from Dallas to New York, they donated the ads to the Broadcast Pioneers Library, which was accessioned by the University of Maryland Libraries in 1994.

Dates

  • Creation: 1954-1968
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1958-1964

Use and Access to Collection

This collection is open to the public and must be used in the Special Collections reading room. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

This collection contains audiovisual materials. Items that cannot be used in the Special Collections reading room or are too fragile for researchers require that a digital copy be made prior to use. If you would like to access these materials, please contact us prior to your visit, so we may determine the proper steps to be taken.

Duplication and Copyright Information

Photocopies or digital surrogates may be provided in accordance with Special Collections and University Archives duplication policy. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs unless otherwise specified. It is the researcher's responsibility to secure permission to publish materials from the appropriate copyright holder.

Archival materials may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal and/or state right to privacy laws or other regulations. While we make a good faith effort to identify and remove such materials, some may be missed during our processing. If a researcher finds sensitive personal information in a collection, please bring it to the attention of the reading room staff.

Extent

3300 Sound Discs

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Content of Collection

Radio commercials in the collection are predominantly from the years 1954-1968, with the bulk of the material falling between 1958-1964.

Administrative History

The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) is a national radio advertising trade organization whose history dates back to 1950. Originally known as the Broadcast Advertisers Bureau, the name was changed in 1955 to emphasize the organization's focus on radio (as opposed to television). The RAB's main function is to promote the medium of radio as an effective tool for national and local advertisers. To showcase radio's potential, the RAB began collecting examples of ads from all over the country. Many of these ads were used in workshops and presentations, and by the mid-1960s, the RAB had teamed with the Clio Awards in order to recognize the best of radio advertising each year. Ads collected for these purposes form what is now the Radio Advertising Bureau Collection in Mass Media and Culture at the University of Maryland Libraries.

Arrangement

Organized as twelve series with some subseries

Series 1
Airlines
Series 2
Amusement
Series 3
Apparel
Series 4
Automobiles/Auto Products
Series 5
Award-Winning Ads
Series 6
Financial
Series 7
Beer
Series 8
Cigarettes, Cigars and Tobacco
Series 9
Drugs/Cosmetics
Series 10
Farm Products
Series 11
Food
Series 12
Household Products

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

The Radio Advertising Bureau Collection was part of the Broadcast Pioneers Library (BPL), which was transferred to the University of Maryland Libraries in 1994.

Existence and Location of Copies

About 850 of these discs (70 hours) have been migrated to DATs.

Processing Information

All discs were removed from their original sleeves and rehoused in acid-free archival record sleeves.

Title
Guide to the Radio Advertising Bureau collection
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Laura Schnitker
Date
2012-07-03
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Library Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
Hornbake Library
4130 Campus Drive
College Park Maryland 20742
301-405-9212