Description
Folios from Pacifica Radio stations
KPFA, KPFK, WBAI, KPFT, and WPFW ranging in date from 1949 to 1987, as well as a small number of Pacifica administrative files
and promotional pamphlets.
Background
Founded by Lewis Hill in the 1940s, Pacifica Radio (a division of the Pacifica Foundation) was grounded in Hill's pacifist
ideals and devoted itself to upholding the First Amendment through its alternative radio programming. Pacifica's first fledgling
station
KPFA-FM in Berkeley, CA went on the air on April 15, 1949. Unique for its non-commercial structure and its listener sponsored
rather than government supported financial organization,
KPFA established itself as a locale for minority voices during a period of intense scrutiny and unease—the Cold War.
KPFA won several distinctions in the early years of its tenure, such as broadcast awards for a feature by Alexander Meiklejohn
about the First Amendment and a Robin Hood series by Chuck Levy and Virginia Maynard, as well as the George Foster Peabody
Award for its programs rooted against McCarthyism. Pacifica's strident stance against the accusatory politics of the US Cold
War eventually led to an investigation from the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and the Senate Internal Security
Subcommittee (SISS) into the activities of the organization. In 1962, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) conducted
their own investigation into Pacifica for its alleged communist ties, resulting in the withholding of various Pacifica Radio
license renewals (these were eventually renewed in 1964).
Extent
8 linear feet
(8 cartons)
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Availability
The collection is open for research. The collection is stored offsite. Advance notice is required for retrieval.