WIND and WBBM Radio Scripts, 1943-1945, 1943-1945

The United States entered World War II in December of 1941. The war effort quickly became the focus of everyday life, from music and movies to careers and rations. Radio broadcasts were an important factor in spreading information about the war -- in 1942, there were 50 million radio sets in the US. Commercials reminded listeners of rations and alternatives to scarce products, and broadcasts raised morale and money for the war. To finance the war, the US Treasury sold war bonds. In Chicago, the Treasury hosted a weekly radio show on WBBM, the local CBS affiliate. It featured special musical performances and interviews with soldiers to inspire people to buy bonds.

Helen Mary Knox, later Williams, was born on January 10, 1920, in Chicago. She grew up in rural Milledgeville in northwestern Illinois, and received a degree in Speech from Coe College in 1942. She was one of the first female radio broadcastsers in Iowa before moving back to Chicago. There, she was a reporter and assistant program director at WIND, and a writer and broadcaster at WBBM. Knox-Williams left the Chicago area for the West Coast after World War II, living in Phoenix before settling in the Los Angeles area. She taught middle school for several years and then left her position to co-found Outward Bound Adventures, an outdoor leadership education program. Knox-Williams passed away in 2006.

The WIND and WBBM collection is approximately 0.19 cubic feet in size (1 box) and dates from 1943 to 1945. Split roughly into thirds, it is comprised of commercial scripts from WIND, scripts for commercials and shows on WBBM, and shows from WBBM's war efforts, including interviews with active duty service members.

The Collection is arranged in three series by subject. Each series has been arranged chronologically:

Series 1: WIND Commercial Scripts, January 1943 - June 1943 Series 2: WBBM Commercials and Shows, June 1944 - August 1945 Series 3: WBBM War-Related Materials, March 1943 - September 1945

Folder/Item Title, (date), Series Title, WIND and WBBM Radio Scripts Collection, College Archives & Special Collections, Columbia College Chicago.

The entirety of the WIND and WBBM Radio Scripts collection is available to all users.

Materials are the property of Columbia College Chicago. Intellectual property rights of work belong to the original creators. Materials within the collection that are published and copyrighted maintain their copyright protections and must be used according to United States Copyright Law. Use of this collection and its materials is understood to be primarily for research, teaching, and creative study; additional uses, such as publication, exhibition, or other appropriate purposes may be considered upon consultation with the Archivist.

All physical materials and reformatted media must be viewed during a scheduled appointment time within the College Archives & Special Collections office. No materials are to be circulated unless otherwise consulted with the Archivist.

This collection came to College Archives & Special Collections via Alicia Berg, then the Vice President of Campus Environment of Columbia College Chicago. The Freehling family found it in Carrie's mother's home. The scripts were in the home when it was purchased.

Donated in 2010 by Joel and Carrie Freehling.

• Subject
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- War work
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Journalists
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Finance -- United States
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Public opinion
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Press coverage -- Illinois -- Chicago
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Radio broadcasting and public opinion
  • Savings bond
  • Radio scripts
• Names
  • Knox, Helen Mary
  • WBBM-FM (Radio station : Chicago, Ill.)
  • WIND-AM (Radio station : Chicago, Ill.)