Joseph A. Flaherty papers
Collection
0164-MMC
Joseph Antony Flaherty, Jr. (1930-2018) played an integral role in the development of such technologies as electronic newsgathering (ENG), the miniature color camera, off-line video editing, and high definition television (HDTV). He joined CBS in 1957 as a Design Engineer and eventually rose to Senior Vice President for Technology. He was the recipient of many Emmy awards, including one for lifetime achievement.
The Joseph A. Flaherty papers cover the years 1931 to 2008, with the bulk of the collection from 1965 to 2007. The largest components of the collection are speeches and videotapes. They relate to the pioneering work Flaherty performed during his long career as CBS. Other materials in the collection include awards and one photograph.
The collection is open for research use.
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.
4.25 Linear Feet
English
The Joseph A. Flaherty Papers cover the years 1931 to 2008, with the bulk of the collection from 1965 to 2007. The collection documents Flaherty's career as a television engineer. The largest components of the collection are speeches and video tapes. They relate to the pioneering work Flaherty performed during his long career as CBS. Other materials in the collection include awards and one photograph.
Joseph A. Flaherty, Jr. is the son of a television engineer. He earned a degree in physics from Rockhurst College. From 1953 to 1955 Flaherty served at the Signal Corps Photographic Center. As Technical Director and Design Engineer of the U.S. Army's first television station, Flaherty designed the studio where training films were made through kinescope. Flaherty's commercial career began in 1957 when he joined CBS as a Design Engineer. Flaherty moved up in the ranks due to his innovations and in 1977 he became Vice President for Technology. He played an integral role in the development of such technologies as Electronic News Gathering, the miniature color camera, one inch videotape, off-line videotape editing, and high definition television.
Flaherty was Chairman of the Planning Subcommittee of the FCC's Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service that developed the ATSC HDTV standard. Flaherty also served as Chairman of the Technical Committee of the North American Broadcasters Association. Over the decades, he delivered dozens of speeches to his peers at various conferences and meetings.
Flaherty also served as the president of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation. He is a fan of Clarke's work and has referenced the science fiction author in speeches.
Honors and Awards Received (A Partial List)
Organized as four series:
The collection was acquired via LAB board member Don West, who received them from Joseph A. Flaherty while conducting an oral history interview. The tapes were sent to the Library of American Broadcasting on November 13, 2008.
The following books were removed from the Joseph A. Flaherty Papers and entered into the University of Maryland Libraries Catalog:
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives