Collection Summary
Garroway, Dave, 1913-1982
Dave Garroway papers
1947-1989
10344
7.02 cubic ft. (11 boxes)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English
The papers of Dave Garroway, the first host of NBC's "Today
Show."
Biography of Dave Garroway
Dave Garroway was born in 1913 in Schenectady, New York. He studied astronomy,
English, and abnormal psychology at Washington University in St. Louis. After
graduation in 1935, he worked as a page at NBC headquarters in New York City and
attended the network's school for announcers. He worked in Chicago in radio at WMAQ
and had his own variety show on NBC-TV, "Garroway at Large" from 1949 to 1951 in
Chicago. From there he was hired as the original host of the "Today Show"
(1952-1961), broadcast live from Rockefeller Center. From 1953-1954 he was also host
for the nighttime program, "The Dave Garroway Show." From 1955-1958 he hosted "Wide
Wide World." He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for both his radio and
television contributions. Garroway committed suicide in 1982.
Scope and Content
The Dave Garroway collection contains newspaper and magazine clippings related to
Garroway and his various programs, scripts, certificates, and a small amount of
professional and personal correspondence. There is also an unfinished, unpublished
autobiography in manuscript form. Also present are photographs of Garroway with
others individuals, and on the set of his programs. The collection also contains
some audio and visual materials, including his memorial program and various programs
of which Garroway was a part.
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the
collection is open to the public.
Copyright Information
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and
libel laws as they apply. Donor retains copyright.
Related Materials
There are no known other archival collections created by Dave Garroway at the date of
processing.
Acquisition Information
This material was received from Sarah Lippincott Garroway (wife) in 1994.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Emily Christopherson in April 2013.
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Dave Garroway papers, Collection Number
10344, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Access Terms
National Broadcasting Company.
Variety shows (Television
programs)
Radio talk shows.
Television talk shows.
Today show (Television program)
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Journalism
Performing Arts
Social Life and Customs
People, Ethnicity, and Culture
Container List
Series I. Personal and professional files
1948-1989
1
Articles on Garroway
circa 1951-1961
3
Articles on Garroway - from Saturday Evening Post
1976
1
Awards, certificates, and honors
1956-1962
3
Awards, certificates, and honors
1952-1961
1
Biographical file and draft of autobiography
1963-1989
1
Book - bound copies of "Look" magazine
1959-1960
1
Book - "The Television Program: Its Direction and Production" -
mentions Garroway
1968
1
Correspondence and memoranda regarding Garroway's article in
"Look" magazine titled, "Whatever Happened to Free Speech?,"
1960
1
Diaries and calendars
1961-1963
1
Edward Murrow
1961
1
Garroway anecdotes regarding television programs
1962
3
Garroway caricature by Walt Owen
1958
1
Ghosts
undated
1
Invitation to John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Ball
1961
1
Jaguar SS 100 Roadster
1982-1983, undated
1
Leo Rosten
1966
1
Letters between Barbara Walters and Patricia Lippincott Garroway
(Garroway's wife) regarding Garroway's death
1982
1
Magazines
circa 1980
1
Memorial concert for Garroway
1983
1
Miscellaneous
1953-1969
1
NBC - contract
1956
1
NBC - interoffice memoranda
1949-1951
1
NBC - miscellaneous, including financial files and
agreements
1956-1963
1
Nelson A. Rockefeller
1958-1964
1
Network correspondence
1959-1963
2
Postcards of Garroway making his signature "Peace"
sign-off
undated
1
Publicity - Garroway activity report
1959
1
Publicity - magazine articles about Garroway
circa 1959-1969
1
Publicity - newspaper clipping about Garroway hosting "Nightlife"
for a week
1965
1
Publicity - newspaper clippings about Garroway and his
programs
1951-1969
1
Publicity - newspaper clippings on Garroway's death
1982
4
Publicity - newspaper clippings (scrapbooks)
1948-1949
6
Publicity - newspaper clippings (scrapbooks)
1950
5
Publicity - newspaper clippings (scrapbooks)
1950-1951
8
Publicity - newspaper clippings (scrapbooks)
1951-1956
7
Publicity - newspaper clippings (scrapbooks)
1952
7
Publicity - newspaper clippings - including Connie Russell and
other members of Garroway shows (scrapbooks)
1952
Series II. Television and radio programs
1947-1987
2
"All Star Summer Review" routine
1952, undated
2
"Arthur Godfrey Time" (summer replacement series)
1962
2
Christmas piece
undated
2
Contact information for show guests
undated
2
"Dave Garroway Show" - scripts
circa 1947-1959
2
"Dave Garroway Show" and race issues
1961-1971
2
"Dial Dave Garroway" - scripts
1952
2
"Exploring the Universe" - scripts
1962
2
National Educational Television (NET) - "News,"
1968
2
"Nightlife,"
1965
2
Program proposal - lunar landing, Frank O'Hasson
1963
2
Programs after "Today Show,"
circa 1969-1975
2
Programs and appearances - miscellaneous
circa 1951-1976
2
Scripts - miscellaneous
undated
2
"Tempo Boston" - scripts and notes
1969
2
"Today Show" - 25th, 30th, and 35th anniversaries - clippings and
network correspondence
1977-1987
2
"Today Show" - awards
1957-1959
2
"Today Show" - excerpt from "Wide Wide World" used on "Today
Show" regarding national safety
1958
2
"Today Show" - Garroway's resignation
1961
2
"Today Show" - guests and correspondence
1959-1961
2
"Today Show" - Kicks & Co.
circa 1961
2
"Today Show" - memoranda on how to improve
1958
2
"Today Show" - memoranda regarding advertising
1960
2
"Today Show" - miscellaneous
circa 1961
2
"Today Show" - network memoranda and correspondence
1960-1963
2
"Today Show" - news pieces for episodes
1961
2
"Today Show" - questions for Olympians
undated
2
"Today Show" - scripts and samples
1959-1961
2
"Today Show" - script - Chancellor & guest
1961
2
"Today Show" - script - Paris, France
undated
Series III. Photographs
1948-1982
2
Awards and certificates - honorary Texas citizenship
undated
2
Garroway and Governor Nelson Rockefeller
1964
2
Garroway and musicians
undated
2-3
Garroway and others
undated
2
Jaguar SS 100 Roadster
circa 1948
11
Jaguar SS 100 Roadster (color)
circa 1948-1975
11
Plaques given to Garroway (color)
undated
11
"Today Show" (color)
undated
2
"Today Show" anniversary
1982
2
"Today Show" - location photographs
circa 1950-1960
2
"Today Show" - on set of (primarily "Today Show")
undated
2
"Wide Wide World,"
undated
Series IV. Audio and visual materials
1947-1986
10
"The 11:60 Club,"
1947 December 13
9
"12 Noon Show" - 5 minutes (U-Matic)
undated
9
Dave Garroway demo - Bob Dempster (7" reel-to-reel)
undated
9
Dave Garroway Memorial Concert - including Jackie and Roy Kral,
Marian McPartland with Steve LaSpina, Sarah Vaughan with Mike Wofford
(VHS)
1983 February 6
10
Dave Garroway Memorial Concert - reel 1 - preliminary warm-ups
and music project (10" reel-to-reel)
1983 February 6
10
Dave Garroway Memorial Concert - reel 2 - Jackie and Roy Kral
(10" reel-to-reel)
1983 February 6
10
Dave Garroway Memorial Concert - reel 3 - Marian McPartland with
Steve LaSpina (10" reel-to-reel)
1983 February 6
10
Dave Garroway Memorial Concert - reel 4 - Sarah Vaughan with Mike
Wofford (10" reel-to-reel)
1983 February 6
10
Dave Garroway Memorial Concert - reel 5 - Garroway interviews -
Interviews by Terry Gross - Michael Garroway, Sarah Lippincott Garroway,
Paris Garroway Newrock, David Garroway, Jr., etc. (10"
reel-to-reel)
1983 February 6
9
Fred Allen memorial program with Dave Garroway introducing Bob
Hope, Jimmy Durante, Jack Benny, etc. (7" reel-to-reel)
1956 March 18
9
Garroway on unknown program in New York City - 5 minutes
(U-Matic)
undated
9
"Garroway Show" - last episode - 15 minutes (U-Matic)
circa 1970
9
"The NBC Story" (VHS)
1986
10
"Today Show" (10" reel-to-reel)
undated
9
"Today Show" - 25th anniversary (2 U-Matic
videocassettes)
1977 January 14
9
"Today Show" - excerpts from memorial concert
(U-Matic)
1983 February 8
Additional Container Lists
The American Heritage Center is in the process of converting its older container lists to a more accessible format. This link is to an older version of a container list.
Link to Accessioning Worksheet (PDF)