WSB-TV, Georgia Giant Documentary Files, 1952-1974
5 boxes, 2 linear feet

Administrative Information

- Access Restrictions
- User Restrictions
- Processing Notes
- Copyright Information
- Preferred Citation

Biographical Note

Scope and Content

Home

Organization and Arrangement

Related Collections

- In Russell Library
- In other repositories


Series Descriptions

Access Points

Folder List

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Access Restrictions: None.

User Restrictions: Library acts as “fair use” reproduction agent.

Processing Notes: Newspaper clippings have been copied onto bond paper for protection of content. Photographs and audiovisual materials have been separated for preservation purposes. User copies of the finished versions (long and short) of Georgia Giant have been created.

Copyright Information: Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permission. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Preferred Citation: WSB-TV, Georgia Giant Documentary Files, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia.


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HISTORICAL NOTE:

WSB-TV is the first and largest of Georgia's radio and television stations. It became the South's first radio station when it signed on at 100 watts on May 15, 1922. It became the south's first television station on September 29, 1948. Ohio governor James Middleton Cox purchased WSB radio and the Atlanta Journal in 1939, and following World War II, he was able to bring first-class television news and entertainment programming to Atlanta viewers. Through the turbulent ‘60s and ‘70s WSB-TV continued to grow and thrive. In 1972 the Cox radio and television concerns became Cox Broadcasting Corporation.

Early in 1969, WSB-TV in Atlanta embarked on production of a series of interviews with Senator Russell that culminated in over twenty-five hours of film. Hal Suit, WSB's former news director, and WSB-TV's Washington correspondent, Jim Giltmier, spent months researching newspaper articles, combing Congressional Records, searching out film clips and photographs, to provide biographical information on Senator Russell and pinpoint key events in his career as a public servant. Hal Suit interviewed Senator Russell with the end result being a three-part television special titled Richard Russell, Georgia Giant, that was aired February 11, 12, and 13, 1970. A thirty minute condensed version of the three hour film was created to show at a Washington D.C. reception for the Senator, hosted by Cox Enterprises in February 1970.

 


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SCOPE AND CONTENT:


This collection primarily contains papers relating to the Richard B. Russell, Jr. documentary created by Cox Enterprises for the Atlanta television station WSB-TV and presented by WSB-TV during 1969 to 1970. The transcripts include formal and draft scripts of the film, transcripts of speeches, and transcripts of personal interviews with Russell (1968-1969). The correspondence relates to the production of the documentary, public opinion regarding the film, and the Washington, D.C. reception sponsored by Cox Broadcasting Corporation. The press files include promotional materials, news and magazine articles resulting from the documentary. The research files are a compilation of materials used for background information including materials relating to Senator Russell's congressional career, the Richard B. Russell Foundation, and the dedication of the Richard B. Russell Memorial Library at the University of Georgia in 1974. Photographs are generally duplicates of photographs that may be found in Senator Russell's photograph files or in Russell family photographs. These were selected by the WSB for still shots in the documentary film. There are also stills from the interviews and from the Cox reception.

 


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ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT

The collection is arranged in four series: I. Transcripts, II. Correspondence, III. Press, IV. Research Materials/General, V. Photographs, and Vi. Audiovisual materials. Descriptions for photographic images are located in the Richard B. Russell, Jr. photograph file under the calll number prefix WSB.



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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN THIS REPOSITORY:

Richard B. Russell, Jr. Collection, 1840-1978

 

 

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RELATED COLLECTIONS IN OTHER REPOSITORIES:

WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection, Walter J. Brown Media Archives, University of Georgia Libraries



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SERIES DESCRIPTIONS:

I. Transcripts, 1964-1976
2 boxes, .75 linear foot

This series is organized into three subseries: A. Richard Russell, Georgia Giant , B. Speeches, and C. Interviews. Files on the Georgia Giant film contain formal and draft scripts of the film, audio and visual text for the documentary, and copies of the advertisements used by WSB-TV to promote the television special. Transcripts of speeches by a variety of personalities form subseries B. Texts include a copy of The Today Show, March, 1964, featuring Senators Hubert Humphrey and Richard Russell on civil rights; a speech by Senator Russell during the Senate debates of the 89 th Congress regarding Vietnam demonstrations; remarks given by Russell at the inauguration of the president of Georgia Southern College, 1969, with comments on campus conflicts over Vietnam; and speeches made in reference to the Richard B. Russell Foundation, Inc. Subseries C. contains interviews with Senator Russell, which took place between 1968 and 1969. Included in these scripts are descriptions of Russell's childhood and early years in Georgia politics, and comments on events during Russell's thirty-seven years in Washington D.C. including his participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), his unsuccessful bid for the Democratic Party's nomination for the presidency in 1952, the story of Lyndon Johnson's rise to power, and his involvement on the Warren Commission (1963-1964).

II. Correspondence 1970-1971
1 box, .25 linear foot

This series is organized into two subseries: A. Richard Russell, Georgia Giant Documentary and B. Cox Reception (February 10, 1970). Subseries A. contains letters that reflect public reaction to the Georgia Giant. Internal WSB-TV memos, a House of Representatives resolution on the documentary, and other general correspondence are also included. Subseries B. contains a file on the Washington D.C. reception held by Cox Broadcasting Corporation honoring Senator Russell in February 1970 as well as organizational memos and invitations to the event.

III. Press 1969-1976
1 box, .5 linear foot

This series includes news articles, press releases, and packages. Information is organized in three subseries: A. Richard Russell, Georgia Giant Documentary, B. Cox Reception, and C. General. Subseries A. contains a sampling of magazine and newspaper articles resulting from the release of the Georgia Giant. Subseries B. includes a variety of news articles on the Cox reception. News items on Senator Russell, the formation and activities of the Richard B. Russell Foundation, Inc., and the Russell Dam comprise Subseries C. General.

IV. Research Materials/General 1952-1976
1 box .5 linear foot

This series includes materials gathered as research for the development of the Georgia Giant film. The series covers a broad spectrum of documents from articles on Senator Russell's 1952 Democratic Party campaign to a general sketch of Russell's life. These materials are organized into three subseries: A. Richard Russell, Georgia Giant Documentary—Background Information, B. Richard B. Russell Foundation, and C. Special. Subseries A. includes an article on the 1952 Russell campaign, excerpts from Congressional Records , reviews of various Senate Committees, and news film releases from the Office of Secretary of Defense. Subseries B. contains correspondence, pamphlets, and news articles on the Richard B. Russell Memorial Library and its dedication. A short biography of Senator Russell and materials on the Russell funeral comprise the C. Special subseries.

V. Photographs
150 photographs
Photographs are generally duplicates of photographs that may be found in Senator Russell's photograph files or in Russell family photographs. These were selected by the WSB for still shots in the documentary film. There are also stills from the interviews and from the Cox reception.

VI. Audiovisual Materials
126 film reels

The WSB audiovisual materials consist of the 126 reels of film elements that resulted in the final short and long programs of Georgia Giant. These include negative, internegative, magnetic sound, optical sound, answer print, and composite print reels. While most of the reels were donated in the 1970, several reels came to the Russell in the 1980s and 1990s. User copies are available for the finished productions only.

 


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ACCESS POINTS

Russell, Richard B. (Richard Brevard), 1897-1971.
Richard B. Russell Foundation.
United States. Congress. Senate.
Richard Russell: Georgia giant (Television program)
Legislators --United States.
Documentary television programs --Georgia.
Television scripts.
Interviews.
Photographs.
Motion picture.



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FOLDER LIST

Not available at this time. Please contact Russell Library for more information.


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