Elliott Maxwell Sanger Papers
1936-1989


Finding Aid Prepared by M. MacLean
April 6, 2000


Date Range: 1936-1989
Size of Collection: 3.5 linear feet
Date of Acquisition: Gift of Elliott M. Sanger, 1979-1980, 1986.
Terms of Access: Available for faculty, students, or researchers engaged in scholarly or publication projects.
Restrictions on Use or Access: Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Librarian for Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Location in Stacks: In sequence.
Processing Information: KAL/BC - 10/79, rev. BC 1/80, 11/80, 11/86, rev. MTM 4/2000
RLIN ID: 90-A155

BIOGRAPHY

       Elliott Maxwell Sanger was born in New York on March 23, 1897. He graduated from the Columbia University School of Journalism in 1917 and began a career in advertising. In 1936 Sanger co-founded with John V. L. Hogan the classical music radio station WQXR. Sanger served as vice president and general manager of the station from 1936 to 1965. In 1944 the station was purchased by the New York Times Company. Sanger died in New York City in 1989.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

       The collection contains Sanger's personal diaries related to WQXR (1936-1967), as well as a complete bound file of the WQXR Program Guide (1936-1963). The guides include a record of the broadcasting of classical music in New York City, WQXR's daily schedule, and essays on composers, music festivals, and compositions. The collection includes business letters, congratulatory and testimonial letters from listeners and advertisers, reports on the station's history, samples of newspaper clippings containing WQXR advertisements and program listings, market surveys of listeners, and promotional brochures prepared for prospective advertisers. There is a corrected typescript and galley proofs for Sanger's book Rebel In Radio (New York, Hasting House, 1972) and 6 volumes of documents in support of the station's application for "clear channel" status filed with the FCC. Also included are 49 photographs of the station's staff and musical personalities, 4 audiotapes of 1973 interviews with Sanger, and 4 audio cassettes celebrating WQXR's 50th Anniversary


Cataloged Correspondence

1 1 The series contains correspondence related to Sanger's radio station, WQXR, from Will Durant, Arthur Sulzberger, and Sinclair Lewis.A-Z,
1937-1944


Rebel In Radio

1 2-5 The series contains materials related to Elliot Sanger's book Rebel in Radio, 1973.
        [1973]
Typescript, photographs, galley proof

Tapebox 1  Sanger interview by Andre Bernard, April 12, 1973
Sanger Interview with P.M. Program by Bill Newcastle, September 29, 1973
       2 reel to reel audio tapes

Tapebox 2  WQXR Broadcast, May 24, 1973, 10-12 Noon, 2 reels
"The Listening Room" hosted by Robert Sherman
Guest, E. M. Sanger
       2 ree to reel audio tapes


WQXR


Note: The series contains files related to Sanger's radio station, WQXR.

1 7-9 FCC "Clear Channel" Hearings
        1946

2 1-8 File 1-2)
-- FCC "Clear Channel" Hearings, 1946

File 3)
-- Letters, 1936-1948

File 4-5)
-- Market Research Survey, 1936-1944

File 6)
-- Newspaper clippings, 1936

File 7)
-- Photographs

File 8)
-- Sales records, 1936-1948
        1936-1948

   --WQXR 50th Anniversary, 1986

2 9 Remembrances and background material
1986 anniversary program
        1936-1950, 1986

7  "This Is My Music" with Elliot Sanger, March 1, 1986
New York Philharmonic 50th Anniversary Concert, September 23, 1986
Part I and II
WQXR Dinner Comments, September 23, 1986
       4 audio cassettes

   --WQXR Program Guides

3-5          1936-1963
       27 volumes


Personal Papers

5-7  Diaries
        1936-1967
       32 volumes

6  Key to Abbreviations beginning 1950

7  "In Memoriam: Elliott M. Sanger,"
        1989