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Walt Bodine Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0210

Scope and Contents

The manuscripts collection dates from 1950 to 2012. Having been in the broadcasting business for seven decades, Walt Bodine produced a wealth of resources for those researchers interested in the study of communications or in the history of Kansas City, Missouri. Within the collection there are radio scripts, correspondence, research tools, numerous awards, book manuscripts, ephemera, memorabilia, news clippings and photographs. The radio scripts range in date from 1957-2010, representing various radio programs. One humorous script, titled Thumbs, was written by Bodine for the Smothers Brothers' television show. Among the memorabilia is a collection of presidential press passes and pins along with other presidential items. The collection also holds many notes that Bodine penned of his philosophies, ideas, observations and epiphanies. These notes give researchers insight into a significant figure in Kansas City radio whose career spanned many decades.

The audiovisual collection dates from an initial donation in the late 1980s, and primarily consists of audio cassettes and open reel tapes of Bodine's radio programs on KMBZ, WDAF and KCUR. Notable programs in the collection are the coverage of the 1951 Kansas City flood and the 1957 Ruskin Heights tornado. The collection includes interviews with Bobby Kennedy, Werner Von Braun, Charleton Heston and numerous other celebrities and historic figures.

Dates

  • 1933 - 2015

Creator

Conditions Governing Use

June 2012 donation: Copyright status is unknown. October 2012 donation: Donor has transferred copyright of materials they have created with the exception of the humor book in process or any derivatives of that work, including cartoons.

Extent

10 Linear Feet (LaBudde: 12 manuscript boxes, 1 oversized drawer.)

11 Linear Feet (Marr: 14 audiovisual boxes.)

Language of Materials

English

Author
LaBudde: Teresa L. Gipson, Stuart Hinds (supervising archivist). Marr: Audrey Keiffer, Angel Goldenberg.
Date
LaBudde: June 2012 and October 2012. Marr: January 2009 and July 2017.
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Special Collections and Archives Repository