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Donald G. Godfrey papers, 1924-2013

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Godfrey, Donald G.
Title
Donald G. Godfrey papers
Dates
1924-2013 (inclusive)
Quantity
23.75 linear feet
Collection Number
ACCN 1925
Summary
The Donald G. Godfrey papers (1924-2013) contain correspondence, thesis proposals, dissertation abstracts, articles, surveys, organization materials, a notebook, and news clippings, mostly pertaining to the LDS Church communications systems and the Bonneville International Corporation broadcasting system. Included in the collection are materials gathered during the years of research spent in preparing Philo T. Farnsworth: The Father of Television, for University of Utah Press. Godfrey was a director for KOET Television, Ogden City Schools, Ogden, Utah, from 1966 to 1968. From 1986 to 1987 he was the corporate communications director for Phillipine Imports. He earned a master's degree from the University of Oregon in 1969 for research on the Bonneville International Corporation.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Dr. Donald Godfrey is a journalism historian, a broadcast educator, and a professional broadcaster. He is a Past President of the national Broadcast Education Association (BEA); served as President of the National Council of Communication Associations (CCM); and a Past-Editor of the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media. He was founding Chair for the BEA Festival of Media Arts and the BEA Research & Symposium Committees. He was Curator of the CBS-KIRO Milo Ryan Phonoarchive, a CBS Radio News World War II archive, today at the National Archive, Washington, D.C. He was also past Director and Founder of the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism Doctoral Program.

He has worked in commercial radio, television, and corporate communications. He spent twelve years at KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA, in production; two years at KSVN-AM, Ogden, UT, as morning news anchor; two years at KOET-TV, Ogden, UT, as an educational programs director and noon news anchor; and, a year at KEZI- TV, Eugene, Oregon, as general assignment reporter and sports anchor. His academic professional activities include: KWCR-FM, Station Manager (Weber State University); KWAX-FM, Station Manager (University of Oregon); the design, FCC licensing, and faculty supervision of KCMU-FM (University of Washington); twenty-one years supervising student news magazine programs airing weekly on KCTS- PBS, Seattle (12 years); KUAT-PBS, Tucson (2-years); KSDL-TV, a commercial independent, St. George (2¬years); KAET-PBS, Phoenix (specials only); and Cox Cable, Phoenix (7-years). He retains professional involvement through corporate consulting.

His academic research includes refereed publications in the; Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, Journalism Quarterly Journalism History American Journalism, Journal of Mass Media Ethics, the Canadian Journal of Communications, Journal of Mormon History, American Review of Canadian Studies, and Southwestern Mass Communications Journal

Dr. Godfrey has written and edited several books. He has just completed the biography of Charles Francis Jenkins: Film and Television Pioneer forthcoming from the University of Illinois Press, 2014; and Electronic Media History A Rouledge Reader, forthcoming 2014 with Susan Brinson. His other published works include: Methods of Historical Analysis in Electronic Media, LEA, 2006; Philo T Farnsworth: The Father of Television, University of Utah Press; Electronic Media, Wadsworth, (with Craft & Leigh); Historical Dictionary of American Radio, Greenwood Press, (with Leigh); An Uncommon Common Pioneer: The Journals of James Henry Martineau, 1928-1918, BYU Religious Studies Center, (with R.S. McCarty); The Diaries of Charles Ora Card: The Logan Years, 1871-1886, BYU Religious Studies, (with K. W. Godfrey); The Diaries of Charles Ora Card: The Canadian Years, 1886-1903, University of Utah Press (with B. Y. Card); Reruns on File: A Guide to Broadcast Archives, LEA; and A Directory of Broadcast Archives, Broadcast Education Association.

He has received multiple honors for his research, creative works, teaching, and service: BEA, Distinguished Education Service Award; NATAS, Silver Circle Society Inductee; MHA Best Documentary Book Award; NEH Archives Panelist; BEA Festival of Media Arts, Founder's Award; NATPE Fellow; ITVA Merit; First and Second Place BEA Production; and Choice, "Outstanding Academic Books List."

Dr. Godfrey says his greatest reward is still teaching. His undergraduate students have won awards in all major contests including the: BEA Festival (2 individual); Hearst Competition (8 individual and Best Student Newscast); SPJ (19 individual); Emmys (2 individual); MCA (2-individual); and Alfa Epsilon Rho (2-individual) awards.

Dr. Godfrey retired July 1, 2012, Professor Emeritus, after twenty-four years on the faculty of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and forty-two years in academia including three years at the University of Arizona and fourteen years at the University of Washington.

(This biographical note was provided by Dr. Godfrey.)

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Content Description

The Donald G. Godfrey papers (1924-2013) contain correspondence, thesis proposals, dissertation abstracts, articles, surveys, organization materials, a notebook, and news clippings. Series I. of the collection pertains to the LDS Church communications systems and the Bonneville International Corporation broadcasting system. The last folder of box 2 is an addendum donated in March 2002, and contains correspondence regarding the Bonneville History Proposal.

Series II.-IV. contain materials that were gathered during the years of research spent in preparing Philo T. Farnsworth: The Father of Television, for the University of Utah Press. These materials include research that was collected from various institutions and individuals. Included are documents that Elma G. Farnsworth either gave or allowed to be photocopied by Dr. Godfrey. Please refer to box 3 to review the original inventory created by Dr. Godfrey and also a brief history of the Farnsworth-Godfrey papers.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Every effort was made to retain the original order of the collection. Box 3 provides an initial inventory of Series II-IV. Any changes to box and folders was noted in this initial inventory.

This collection is organized into four series:

  • Series I. Research materials, correspondence and writings
  • Series II. Philo T. Farnsworth: The Father of Television manuscript materials
  • Series III. The personal and professional papers of Philo T. Farnsworth, collected by Godfrey
  • Series IV. General research materials regarding Philo T. Farnsworth

Acquisition Information

Donated (boxes 1-2) by Donald G. Godfrey in 2001 and 2002.

Donated (boxes 3-47) by Donald G. Godfrey in 2013.

Separated Materials

Photographs and audio-visual (A0672) materials and photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division.

Related Materials

See also the Philo T. and Elma G. Farnsworth papers and the Guide to the Philo T. and Elma G. Farnsworth audio collection located in Special Collections.

Processing Note

Processed by Kate Kimball in 2002.

Addendum (boxes 3-47) processed by Betsey Welland in 2013.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Radio broadcasting--Utah--History--Sources
  • Television broadcasting--Utah--History--Sources
  • Television--History

Personal Names

  • Farnsworth, Elma G., 1908-2006
  • Farnsworth, Philo Taylor, 1906-1971
  • Godfrey, Donald G.--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Bonneville International Corporation

Geographical Names

  • Zuni River (N.M. and Ariz.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Articles
  • Clippings
  • Correspondence
  • Notebooks

Finding aid created by Kate Kimball and Betsey Welland
2013 (last modified: 2019)

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