View XML QR Code

King Broadcasting Company Photograph Collection, 1944-1989

Overview of the Collection

Creator
King Broadcasting Company
Title
King Broadcasting Company Photograph Collection
Dates
1944-1989 (inclusive)
1944-1969 (bulk)
Quantity
1,654 photographic prints and slides (10 boxes) ; sizes vary
Collection Number
PH1315
Summary
The collection includes photos of KING TV and radio on-air personalities, executives, staff members, promotional and news events
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English
Return to Top

Historical Background

The KING Broadcasting Company was founded in 1946 by Dorothy Stimson Bullitt. Originally branded as the Western Waves company, the KING call letters were purchased in 1946 from the owner of the merchant vessel the S.S. Watertown . At the time, KING consisted of the AM radio station KEVR 1090 located on the 21st floor of the Smith tower, and a broadcasting tower on Maury Island. By 1948, KING had branched out to FM broadcasting, and television with the purchase of KRSC-TV. Due to an FCC freeze on the granting of new television licenses, KING enjoyed a five-year monopoly on television broadcasting in the Seattle area. During this time, KING was airing programs from all four national television affiliates. Following the freeze, in 1953 KING-TV was affiliated with ABC until 1959 when it switched to NBC. Expansion of the KING Broadcasting Company continued in 1955 with the purchase of KGW-TV and radio in Portland, Oregon, KREM-TV, AM and FM stations in Spokane, Washington in 1958 and KTVB-TV in Boise, Idaho in 1980. Founder Dorothy Stimson Bullitt was President of KING from its founding until 1961. Under her tenure, KING rose to prominence not only as the first television station in the Northwest, but also as recipients of numerous broadcasting awards including the first Peabody awarded for a television show produced by a local station for Wunda Wunda in 1957. KING was also a charter subscriber of the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters code of conduct which Bullitt served as a board member for eight years and contributed to the creation of the first code. Although stepping down as the President of KING, Bullitt continued serving as KING's Chairman of the Board until 1967 but remained its majority stockholder and was involved with KING until a few years before her death in 1989. Ownership of KING remained in the Bullitt family until it was sold to the Providence Journal Company. At the time, KING consisted of six television stations in four states, six radio stations, a cable television company, a broadcasting sales company and mobile broadcasting company.

Return to Top

Content Description

The collection contains photographs and slides pertaining to the KING Broadcasting Company activities. The items predominately date between the late 1940’s through the 1960’s with some items from the 1970s primarily focused on events and personnel at KING Radio 1090 AM. Included in the collection are: photographs of personnel, equipment, studio sets, events sponsored by KING or involving KING personalities, some news and local events, corporate functions, national conferences and events related to broadcasting, awards, publicity stills of local programming, and nationally syndicated shows and movies. Some notable items include coverage of Seafair events including hydroplane races, events involving the University of Washington, the Seattle World’s Fair, Boeing, and local children’s programming Wunda Wunda with Ruth Prins and KING’s Clubhouse with Stan Boreson as well as celebrity photographs.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Processing Note

Processed by Erik Matthews. Processing completed in 2017.

Transferred from the Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Papers, Collection No. 5269, in 2002.

Bibliography

Haley, Delphine, Dorothy Stimson Bullitt: An Uncommon Life (Seattle: Sasquatch Books, 1995).

Chasan, Daniel Jack, On the Air: The King Broadcasting Story (Anacortes, Washington: Island Publishers, 1996).

Corr, O. Casey, King: The Bullitts of Seattle and Their Communications Empire (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996).

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Broadcasting--History--Sources
  • Radio stations--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Television stations--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Altschull, J. Herbert--Photographs
  • Belcher, Rod (Sportscaster)--Photographs
  • Bullitt, Dorothy Stimson, 1892-1989--Photographs

Corporate Names

  • KING-FM (Radio station : Seattle, Wash.)
  • King 5 Television (Television station : Seattle, Wash.)
  • King 5 Television (Television station : Seattle, Wash.)--Employees--Photographs
  • King Broadcasting Company
  • King Broadcasting Company--Employees
  • King Broadcasting Company--Photographs
  • Radio KING (Radio station : Seattle, Wash.)


2018 (Last modified: 8/9/2024)

CC0

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...