Guide to the Charles K. Field Cheerio Records M1533

Miles Kurosky
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2017
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Charles K. Field Cheerio records
creator: Cheerio (Radio program)
creator: Field, Charles K. (Charles Kellogg), 1873-1948
Identifier/Call Number: M1533
Physical Description: 6 Linear Feet : 8 boxes, 1 flat box
Date (inclusive): 1927-1943
Abstract: Records documenting production of the popular 1930s radio program Cheerio, from the show's creator, Charles Kellogg Field.
Physical Location: Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36 hours in advance.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred from Rare Books, 2005.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.

Conditions Governing Use

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Charles K. Field Cheerio Records (M1533). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Related Materials

Stanford University Archives holds the Charles K. Field Collection (SC0575) http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt5870397n
Hoover Institution holds Charles Kellogg Field typescript : Distinguished soldiers in World War I (YY155) http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt5779r741
The Library of Congress holds appoximately fifteen recordings of the Cheerio program dating from 1935 to 1940.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains various files related to Cheerio's production from 1927 to 1943, including program synopses, scripts and cue sheets, and annotated sheet music. It is very likely that this material was separated from Field's personal papers, which are held by Stanford University Archives.

Biographical / Historical

Charles Kellogg Field (1873-1948) was a member of Stanford University's pioneer class, graduating in 1895 with an A.B. in English. Field wrote Four-leaved Clover: Being Stanford Rhymes in 1896 under the pen name Carolus Ager and wrote Stanford Stories in 1900 with author Will Irwin. He was a member of the Bohemian Club and literary circles during the early part of the century, and wrote several Bohemian Grove plays between 1902 and 1918. In 1908 he became associate editor of the Sunset Magazine, and worked for that magazine for several years. Field entered broadcasting in his sixties with the popular radio program Cheerio.
Cheerio was first broadcast from San Francisco's KGO in 1925, but became nationally known upon his move to New York City in 1927. The program aired weekday mornings on NBC's Blue Network to an audience primarily of housewives, and featured his poetry and inspirational lectures accompanied by singing, organ, and orchestral music. Cheerio included various segments focusing on music, drama and children's health advice, and Field (performing as Cheerio) was also featured on related programs sponsored by ARCO. Despite retaining his anonymity (no press pictures were permitted, and his fee was donated to charity), he wrote the autobiographical Story of Cheerio in 1936, and also authored Cheerio’s Book of Days; Comfort, Cheer and Encouragement for Every Day in the Year in 1940.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Radio -- History
Cheerio (Radio program)
Field, Charles K. (Charles Kellogg), 1873-1948

 

Series 1. Cheerio - Child Health - Program/Cues

box 1, folders 1-2

1927

box 1, folder 3

1928

box 1, folders 4-5

1929

box 2, folders 1-4

1930

box 3, folders 1-5

1931

box 4, folders 1-2

1932

 

Series 2. Cheerio - Program/Cues

box 4, folder 3

1933

box 4, folder 4

1934-1935

box 4, folder 5

1936

box 5, folder 1

10th Anniversary 1937

box 5, folder 2

1937

box 5, folder 3-4

1938

box 5, folders 5-6

1939

box 5, folder 7

1942-1943

 

Series 3. Cheerio's Musical Mosaics

box 6, folder 1

1933

box 6, folder 2

1934

box 6, folder 3

1935-1936

 

Series 4. Cheerio - Dramatics

box 6, folder 4

1927

box 6, folder 5

1928

box 6, folder 6

1929-1937

 

Series 5. The Toastmaster - ARCO Birthday Party Program

box 7, folders 1-5

1930

box 8, folders 1-3

1931

 

Series 6. The Chairman - ARCO Dramatic Musicale Program

box 8, folder 4-5

1931

 

Series 7. Cheerio Program Background Sheet Music

box 9, folders 1-2

Sunday Night Cheerio Program Background Sheet Music

box 9, folder 3

Cheerio Morning Program Musical Mosaics Sheet Music

 

Series 8. Cheerio Sunday Night Program Schedule

box 9, folder 4

Scrapbook 1937-1940