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Lasar (Matthew) Papers on KPFA and Pacifica Foundation
SFH 614
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Title: Matthew Lasar Papers on KPFA and Pacifica Foundation
creator:
Lasar, Matthew
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 614
Physical Description:
11 cartons
(11 cubic feet)
Date (inclusive): 1938-2003
Abstract: The Matthew Lasar Papers on KPFA and Pacifica Foundation contain the research materials used for Lasar's books
Pacifica Radio: the rise of an alternative network
(1999) and
Uneasy Listening: Pacifica Radio's civil war
(2006). Pacifica Foundation is an American non-profit organization which owns five independently operated, non-commercial,
listener-supported radio stations known for their progressive/liberal political orientation. KPFA is a member of the Pacifica
Foundation and broadcasts from Berkeley, California.
Physical Location: The collection is stored off-site.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
[Identification of item], Matthew Lasar Papers on KPFA and Pacifica Foundation (SFH 614), San Francisco History Center, San
Francisco Public Library.
Donated by Matthew Lasar in 2006.
Researchers are encouraged to see also the SFPL library catalog and The Pacifica Radio Archives at https://www.pacificaradioarchives.org/.
During processing the entire collection was refoldered in acid free folders.
For preservation reasons AV materials my need additional processing.
Pacifica Radio
Pacifica Foundation is an American non-profit organization which owns five independently operated, non-commercial, listener-supported
radio stations known for their progressive/liberal political orientation: KPFA in Berkeley, California (inaugurated in 1949);
KPFK in Los Angeles (1959); WBAI in New York City (1960); KPFT in Houston (1970); and WPFW in Washington, D.C. (1977)
Pacifica Foundation also operates the Pacifica Network, a program service supplying over 180 affiliated stations with various
programs, primarily news and public affairs. It was the first public radio network in the United States, and the world's oldest
listener-funded radio network.
Pacifica was founded in 1946 by pacifists E. John Lewis and Lewis Hill. During World War II, Hill, as well as Lewis, filed
for conscientious objector status. After the war, Lewis, Hill and a small group of former conscientious objectors created
the Pacifica Foundation in Pacifica, California. KPFA in Berkeley commenced broadcast activities in 1949.
For most of its history, Pacifica gave each of its stations independent control of programming. During the 1990s, a major
controversy arose over rumors that the Pacifica National Board and national staff were attempting to centralize control of
content in order to increase audience. There were accusations that the board proposed changing the network's funding model
away from a reliance exclusively on listener donations and toward a mix of listener donations and corporate foundation funding
similar to that of NPR. There were also accusations that the Board was considering selling both KPFA and WBAI in New York
City, which operate on commercial-band FM frequencies (94.1 and 99.5, respectively) worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Matthew Lasar
Matthew Lasar, PhD, was a reporter for KPFA's news department through most of the 1980s. He holds a doctorate in history from
the Claremont Graduate School and teaches history and media courses at the University of California at Santa Cruz.
In his book
Pacifica Radio
Lasar presents a study of the Pacifica Foundation's turbulent evolution from its pacifist origins to its current presence.
He discusses the relationship between its first station, KPFA (1949), and its role in the political world around it, from
World War II and McCarthyism, to its coverage of the Vietnam War, and the Free Speech Movement in Berkeley. His narrative
weaves together interviews he has collected from KPFA contributors.
Uneasy Listening
tells the story of the epic battle over five listener supported radio stations that rocked the American Left and raised difficult
questions about public broadcasting in the United States that have yet to be answered.
The Matthew Lasar Papers on KPFA and Pacifica Foundation contain the research materials used for Lasar's books
Pacifica Radio
(1999) and
Uneasy Listening
(2006). The collection contains Pacifica Foundation by-laws, news articles, correspondence, clippings, memorandum, minutes,
newsletters, reports, questionnaires, interview transcripts, station guides, reports, audio tapes of interviews and broadcast
shows, VHS of demonstrations and broadcasts, and other AV materials.
The collection is strong in materials about KPFA and contains some content about Pacifica's other stations. Significant to
the collection are the interview transcripts and recordings of KPFA and Pacifica contributors. Interview transcripts found
in the subseries 1.1 are mostly conducted by Lasar and have corresponding audio tapes. Interview transcripts found in series
2 are conducted either by Veronica Selver for the film
KPFA on the Air
or by Matthew Lasar. There are no tapes for the Veronica Selver transcripts. Not all interview transcripts have corresponding
tapes and not all tapes have transcripts.
The collection is arranged in 4 series in original order, then alphabetical by subject or name. Series 1: Research Files,
Series 2: Interview Transcripts, Series 3: Publications, Series 4: Audio Visual Media. Series 1 is further organized by Subseries
1.1: Pacifica Radio Research, Subseries 1.2: Uneasy Listening Research. Series 4 is further organized by Subseries 4.1: Audio
Tapes, Subseries 4.2 VHS, Subseries 4.3 Slides, and Subseries 4.4 CD-Rs.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Pacifica Radio -- History
KPFA (Radio station : Berkeley, Calif.) -- History
Alternative radio broadcasting -- United States
Subscription radio broadcasting -- United States
Pacifica Foundation
KPFA (Radio station : Berkeley, Calif.) -- History