Lasar (Matthew) Papers on KPFA and Pacifica Foundation, 1938-2003

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Summary

Title:
Matthew Lasar Papers on KPFA and Pacifica Foundation
Dates:
1938-2003
Creators:
Lasar, Matthew
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.
Extent:
11 cartons (11 cubic feet)
Language:
English and Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Matthew Lasar Papers on KPFA and Pacifica Foundation (SFH 614), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Matthew Lasar in 2006.
Processing information:

During processing the entire collection was refoldered in acid free folders.

For preservation reasons AV materials my need additional processing.

Arrangement:

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.

Physical location:
Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2020-11-19 01:23:56 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. This collection must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Matthew Lasar Papers on KPFA and Pacifica Foundation (SFH 614), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Website