Edward R. Murrow Photographs, 1909-1964

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Murrow, Edward R.
Title
Edward R. Murrow Photographs
Dates
1909-1964 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 container., (.5 linear feet of shelf space.), (130 items.)
Collection Number
PC 30
Summary
The collection consists of ninety-eight black and white photographs, one black and white montage, and two color photographs of Edward R. Murrow. Images span Murrow's life, from boyhood scenes to college, and through his career with CBS. Also included are three pieces of correspondence addressed to E.R. or Janet Murrow, a New York Times advertisement for E.R. Murrow and CBS, and three articles from the news magazines Time, Look, and Newsweek. A collection of twenty-two black and white photographs taken in 1942 by the Hutchison Studio, Pullman, Washington, has been added to the Murrow collection.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Edward [Egbert] Roscoe Murrow was born on April 25, 1908, near Greensboro, North Carolina. He was the youngest of three boys born to Roscoe and Ethel Murrow. The family moved to Blanchard, Washington when Murrow was five. Subsequently, Murrow attended Washington State College in Pullman, Washington, graduating in 1930. He was president of the National Student Federation from 1929 to 1932 and assistant director of the Institute of International Education from 1932 to 1935. In 1934 he married Janet Brewster. Their son, Charles Casey, was born November 6, 1945, in West London.

Murrow was hired by CBS in 1935 and worked for them until 1961. During those years he worked as war correspondent in London, 1939 to 1945, vice president, director of public affairs, 1945 to 1947, and news analyst and host for the television programs Person to Person, See It Now, and Small World during the 1950s. He was on the CBS board of directors from 1949 to 1955. In 1961, Edward R. Murrow was appointed director of the United States Information Agency (USIA), serving until 1964. He died on April 27, 1965.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection donated by Janet Murrow consists of ninety-eight black and white photographs, one black and white montage, and two color photographs of Edward R. Murrow. Included are three pieces of correspondence addressed to E.R. or Janet Murrow, a New York Times advertisement for E.R. Murrow and CBS, and three articles from the news magazines Time, Look, and Newsweek. A collection of twenty-two black and white photographs taken in 1942 by the Hutchison Studio, Pullman, Washington, has been added to the Murrow collection.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. PC 30, Edward R. Murrow Photographs. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

The E.R. Murrow photographs were donated to the Washington State University Library by Janet (Brewster) Murrow, of South Hadley, Massachusetts in two accessions, in January and March of 1978 (78-2).

Processing Note

The E.R. Murrow photographs were arranged and processed by David Smestad in November, 1978.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

"London/NYC, returning from London.", 1939-1945Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
a 1
ERM with Bill Hewey, CBS office, London.
1939
a 2
ERM on London street.
1940
a 3
83-114: ERM on London street.
1940
a 4
83-117: ERM with three war correspondents.
circa 1940
a 5
92-181: ERM with unidentified bomber pilot.
circa 1941
a 6
ERM on deck of ship arriving in NYC, from London.
1941
a 7
ERM and James Doolittle [?].
1942-1943
a 8
83-115: ERM at work in London office.
1940
a 9
79-130: ERM at work in London office.
1940
a 10
83-116: ERM at work in London office.
1940
a 11
ERM at work in London office.
circa 1941
a 12
ERM at work in London office.
May 1944
a 13
83-118: ERM in cockpit of fighter plane.
1944
a 14
85-039: ERM with Marshall Yarrow.
D-Day + 40 hrs

Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Paris., 1945-1949Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
b 1
83-119: ERM with William L. Shirer.
circa 1945
b 2
83-121: ERM in Chicago.
1945
b 3
85-040: ERM and H. Leslie Atlass (CBS Vice President in charge of Central Division) receiving Alfred I. du Pont Radio Awards from Dr. Francis P. Gaines.
1947
b 4
ERM, Robert Evans, and John Adams (CBS newsmen) at the White House following Murrow's talk with President Truman.
Dec. 12, 1947
b 5
ERM, Howard K. Smith, and other members of CBS news crew at Republican Convention, Philadelphia.
1948
b 6
ERM and R. Runyon.
b 7
ERM with two SHAPE generals (unidentified), Paris [?].
b 8
ERM with Thomas Dewey.
circa 1948
b 9
ERM with Thomas Dewey, Lowell Thomas and others.
circa 1949
b 10
83-125: Informal portrait of ERM at work.
circa 1949
b 11
83-120: Informal portrait of ERM at work.
circa 1949

Korea., 1952Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
c 1
83-059: ERM with Larry LeSueur.
c 2
83-123: ERM with Bill Downs.
c 3
83-124: ERM with unidentified troops.
c 4
83-122: ERM with Howard K. Smith.

USA/London., 1952-1959Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
d 1
83-126: ERM with General Omar Bradley.
circa early 1950s
d 2
ERM, Howard K. Smith, Eric Sevareid, and David Schoenbrun, Year End Show.
d 3
83-127: ERM with Janet Murrow and Harry Truman, Isla Magordo.
1957
d 4
ERM with President Truman and others.
d 5
ERM waiting for a Person to Person show.
d 6
95-103: ERM on the set of Person to Person show.
circa 1954-1959
d 7
ERM about to go on air, Person to Person show.
d 8
95-102: ERM, John Aaron, and Jesse Zousmer (co-producers of Person to Person show).
circa 1953-1959
d 9
83-128: ERM in viewing room See It Now, 9th Avenue, NYC.
1953
d 10
85-038: ERM and Fred Friendly (co-producers of See It Now).
1953
d 11
85-041: ERM with Eleanor Roosevelt and Marion Anderson.
1958
d 12
83-129: ERM with Larry LeSueur.
1955
d 13
83-062: ERM in 485 Madison Avenue office.
1952
d 14
83-130: ERM at work in 485 Madison Avenue office with Dorothy MacDonough taking dictation.
1952
d 15
79-131: ERM on set of See It Now.
1952
d 16
79-132: ERM on set of See It Now.
circa 1953
d 17
83-060: ERM at Cape Cod, unidentified military base.
summer 1952
d 18
ERM at Cape Cod, unidentified military base.
summer 1952
d 19
ERM at Cape Cod, unidentified military base.
summer 1952
d 21
83-151: ERM with broadcasters in London.
circa 1952

USIA/White House., 1961-1964Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
e 1
83-132: Twentieth anniversary of American Library in London. ERM with Janet Murrow, Hamish Hamilton, Cyril Connelly, and Mr. and Mrs. Yehudi Menuhin.
circa 1961
e 2
ERM in Tehran, Iran with Prime Minister Asadollah Alam.
e 3
The Dytchley Conference in Oxfordshire, England. ERM with (left to right) Sir Harold Caccia, Professor John Hope Franklin, and Minister Lewis Jones.
e 4
83-133: ERM with President John Kennedy and others in the White House [NOTE: White House letterhead regarding this photo, neg. 83-133, in Folder P, Correspondence].
circa 1961
e 5
83-134: ERM with President John Kennedy (color print) (b/w neg.).
1961
e 6
ERM, Chester Bowles, Macharios, and Phillips Talbot.
July 31, 1961
e 7
ERM with General Lauris Norstad.
Aug. 7, 1961
e 8
ERM with Franklin Roosevelt, Jr. and Robert Dixon, Pawling, N.Y.
1961
e 9
ERM and Mayor Willi Brandt.
e 10
ERM (as director of USIA) in USIA office.
e 11
ERM with Adlai Stevenson in U.N. Studio.
Last visit to the White House, photos by Yoichi Okamoto.
circa Dec. 1963-Jan. 1964
Folder item
e 12
83-135: ERM and President Lyndon Johnson.
e 13
83-136: ERM leaving the Oval Office.
e 14
83-137: ERM leaving the White House.

Studio Portraits., 1941-1959Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
f 1
88-343: ERM, while home on leave.
1941
f 2
ERM.
circa 1948-1950
f 3
ERM.
circa 1950
f 4
ERM (same image as f3).
circa 1950

Photos of Family and Friends., 1909-1964Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
g 1
83-138: ERM at about one year of age.
1909
g 2
89-263: ERM on the Olympic Peninsula as a young man, fishing.
undated
g 3
89-264: ERM, high school portrait.
undated
g 4
88-189: ERM with friends, walking from Pullman to Moscow. (Left to right) Esther Stilson, George Stapleton, Betty Ramsbeck, ERM.
1927
g 5
83-139: ERM and Janet Murrow, London.
1938
g 6
89-265: ERM's parents, Roscoe and Ethel Murrow, listening to ERM broadcasting from London.
circa 1939-1945
g 7
83-150: Murrow family gathering in Seattle.
1941
g 8
83-142: ERM, Janet Murrow, and son Casey on return to U.S. at end of war.
1947
g 9
89-267: Dewey J. Murrow, elder brother of ERM.
undated
g 10
89-268: Lacey V. Murrow, elder brother of ERM.
undated
g 11
89-266: ERM with brothers, Dewey J. and Lacey V. Murrow, Quaker Hill, Pawling, N.Y.
1949
g 12
83-148: ERM and son Casey, Rumblewood, Pawling, N.Y.
1952
g 13
83-140: ERM, Janet Murrow, and son Casey, Glen Arden Farm.
1955
g 14
83-145: ERM and son Casey, Glen Arden Farm.
1955
g 15
83-144: ERM and son Casey.
undated
g 16
83-146: ERM and son Casey, Glen Arden Farm.
1956
g 17
83-143: ERM and son Casey, Wisconsin.
summer 1957
g 18
83-147: ERM and son Casey, Wisconsin.
summer 1957
g 19
ERM and son Casey, Wisconsin.
summer 1957
g 20
83-141: ERM with Janet Murrow and son Casey, Stockholm.
Sept. 1959

Informal Portraits at Home: Glen Arden Farm Rumblewood, both at Quaker Hill, Pawling, N.Y., 1947-1964Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
h 1
ERM reading on couch.
1947
h 2
ERM at Rumblewood.
1950
h 3
ERM at Rumblewood.
1952
h 4
79-153: ERM at Rumblewood.
1952
h 5
ERM at Rumblewood.
1952
h 6
ERM.
1954
h 7
ERM in dairy, Glen Arden Farm.
undated
h 8
ERM at Glen Arden Farm.
circa 1955-1956
h 9
ERM at Glen Arden Farm.
1955
h 10
ERM at La Jolla, recovering from first operation.
1964

Undated Photographs., undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
i 1
ERM, informal portrait.
i 2
ERM with two unidentified men.

Photo Montage: Just how long is a sabbatical, Ed?, 1959 Return to Top

Container(s): Folder j

Hutchison Studio, Pullman, Washington, PC 70. Two series, 14048 and 5131-33., 29 January 1942, May 1946Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
k a1-a6
Hutchison Studio, Pullman, Washington, from PC 70 #14048. Six formal portraits of Edward R. Murrow, two copies of each, 1942 (Hutchison print) and 1997 ( WSU Photo Lab, Holland Library).
29 January 1942
k b1
97-037: Maynard Lee Daggy (center), head of Speech Department in 1942, ERM (left), Elden Barr (right), blind radio announcer.
k b2
97-038: ERM visiting Kappa Sigma fraternity, State College of Washington.
1942
k b3
97-039: ERM with radio buddies John McCollom and Bob Curtis.
1942
k b4
97-040: ERM with members of National Collegiate Radio Guild.
May 1946
k b5
97-041: George Holt (left), Joe Ashlock (center, then head of Journalism) and ERM contemplating NCRG award.
k b6
97-042: George Holt (left), ERM, Joe Ashlock (right) at Kappa Sigma reception.
1942
k b7
97-043: ERM speaking at welcoming banquet sponsored by Sigma Delta Phi, just after return from London.
1942
k b8
97-047: ERM speaking at welcoming banquet.
1942
k b9
97-049: President Holland and ERM acknowledging greeting from audience of 6,000, Bohler Gym.
1942
k b10
97-048: ERM speaking at Bohler Gym (with duplicate).
1942
k b11
97-044: ERM visiting his alma mater (Washington State College), at Bohler Gym, with President Holland (right).
k b12
97-050: President Holland and ERM waiting for applause to cease, Bohler Gym.
1942
k b13
97-045: Welcoming banquet for ERM, sponsored by Sigma Delta Phi; with President Holland, his sister Mrs. Rundell, ERM, Wyman Cox, MC (chairman of DSF meeting).
k b14
97-046: Welcoming banquet for ERM, with President Holland, his sister Mrs. Rundell, ERM, Wyman Cox, MC.
k b15
97-051: Welcoming banquet for ERM. Murrow can barely be seen, seated between Mrs. Rundell and Wyman Cox, MC (man reaching across table).
k c1
88-322: Informal portrait of ERM.
k c2
88-342: ERM at KWSC podium.
k c3
ERM with five fraternity brothers, all in 1930 sweaters.

Publications., 1948-1961Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder
l
83- 113: [7/18/2017 - item missing. MOE.] Advertisement for ERM and CBS. The New York Times.
April 9, 1948
m
Article, Time.
September 30, 1957
n
Article, Look.
August 18, 1959
o
Article, Newsweek.
September 18, 1961

Correspondence., 1963, 1978Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
p 1
Letterhead from United States Advisory Commission on Information, Washington, D.C. to ERM from J. Leonard Reinsch, regarding picture (neg. 83-133) of ERM and President John Kennedy [see Folder E #4].
March 14, 1963
p 2
Letter to Janet Murrow from Olga E. Allers, M.D., regarding reunion.
Jan. 17, 1978
p 3
Letter to Janet Murrow from Evis Towle Jennings, regarding reunion.
Feb. 2, 1978

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Murrow, Edward R. --Archives (creator)
  • Murrow, Edward R.--Portraits

Corporate Names

  • Historical Photograph Collections. waps (creator)
  • Hutchison Studio (author)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Group portraits -- Washington (State)--20th century. gmgpc waps
  • Montages--20th century. gmgpc waps
  • Portraits--Washington (State)--20th century. gmgpc waps

Occupations

  • Radio journalists -- United States--Portraits
  • Television journalists --United States--Portraits