Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland, OR 97205
libreference@ohs.org
https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/
KBPS records
KBPS (Radio station : Portland, Or.)
Coll 822
1.77 cubic feet
2 letter document cases; 1 slim letter document case; 1 flat box (20x24)
1934-1998
Photographs, memorabilia, and written records of the KBPS radio station, and additional materials relating to other radio and television stations. KBPS is a radio station run by students of Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon; it was founded in 1923.
English
Collection is open for research.
Gift of Ronald Kramer, February 2019 (RL2019-027).
The collection is arranged in three series: Series 1. Written records; Series 2. Photographs, memorabilia, and history; Series 3. Other radio and television stations.
KBPS is a student-operated radio station that broadcasts from Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon. The station was first licensed in 1923, with the call letters KFIF. The station changed its call letters to KBPS in 1930, the letters "BPS" standing for Benson Polytechnic School. Since its inception, KBPS has produced and aired a number of educational programs. Expenses for station equipment and technical improvements are paid for the the Benson student body.
KBPS records, Coll 822, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
The bulk of KBPS's records are located at the National Public Broadcasting Archives in College Park, Maryland.
The bulk of the collection consists of photographs and other memorabilia of KBPS, a radio station operated by students at Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon. The photographs depict student staff, equipment, and special events such as anniversary celebrations. Additional memorabilia include a scrapbook with clippings, correspondence, and photographs. Also of note are correspondence, logs, paperwork such as Federal Communications Commission forms, and a doctoral thesis by long-time KPBS manager Patricia Green Swenson. In addition, the collection includes photographs relating to the education television station KOAP in Portland; wire copies of radio scripts concerning the assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy; and radio editorial scripts of Ray Johnson, manager of KMED station in Medford, Oregon.
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Recordings of KBPS programs are designated SR 8000, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Antenna-shaped sign for KBPS was separated to Museum Collections, Oregon Historical Society.
Digital reproductions on disk in Box 2, Folder 15 require a computer to access. Contact library staff for assistance.
KBPS (Radio station : Portland, Or.)
Benson Polytechnic School
High school radio stations--Oregon--Portland
Educational radio stations--Oregon--Portland
Media and Communication
photographs
Written records
Series 1
1934-1982
English.
Documents relating to station anniversaries
1973-1982
English.
1
1
Application submitted to FCC with attached report and schematic concerning antenna
1940; 1937
English.
1
2
Application submitted to FCC with attached agreement and schematic
1940-1941
English.
1
3
Blank form for stock ownership change, to be filed by radio broadcast station licensee
1934
English.
4
2
Blueprints - radio wave frequencies; schematic
1936 October; undated
English.
4
3
Correspondence, schedules, notes, and instructions concerning programming
circa 1938-1945
English.
1
4
Records and correspondence concerning requirements, licensing, and permits
1935-1956
English.
1
5-7
Financial records, reports, and schematic concerning equipment and radio frequencies
1939-1941
English.
1
8
Operating and program logs
1945 September
English.
1
9
Radio script
circa 1935
English.
1
10
Photographs, memorabilia, and history
Series 2
1940-1998
English.
Doctoral thesis of Patricia Green Swenson, "Radio in the Public Schools of Portland, Oregon," including a history of KBPS
1961
English.
3
3
Photographs of 50th anniversary celebration
1973 March 12
English.
1
11
Photographs gathered for 75th anniversary celebration; certificate signed by Portland mayor Vera Katz
circa 1940-1998
English.
1
12-13
Photographs of Darryl Conser, producer
1960-1974
English.
1
14
Photographs of elementary school students
1947-1959
English.
1
15
Photographs of Great Gatsby gala
1979
English.
1
16
Pledge week photographs and press release
1980 February
English.
1
17
Photographs of remote broadcasts (live sports broadcasts and off-site events)
circa 1965-1974
English.
2
1
Photographs of Rose Festival princess interviews
1970-1971
English.
2
2
Photographs of "Seeing Sound" program
circa 1973-1979
English.
2
3
Photographs and memorabilia from Susan Stamberg visit
1982 May
English.
2
4
Photographs of staff, student broadcasters, equipment, and events
circa 1949-1990
English.
2
5-10
Photographs studio production
circa 1947-1985
English.
2
11-13
Photographs of transmitter tower and equipment
1947-1973
English.
2
14
Digital reproductions of photographs, memorabilia, and radio shows
circa 1937-1990
2
15
Scrapbook with clippings, correspondence, and photographs
1940-1956
English.
4
1
Other radio and television stations
Series 3
circa 1960-1984
English.
Photographs of instructional televsion
circa 1960-1965
English.
2
16
Photographs of KOAP TV art, science, and math instructors
circa 1960-1970
English.
3
1
Photographs of TV program, "Geri and Friends"
circa 1967
English.
3
2
Scripts of radio editorials by Ray Johnson, manager of KMED
1967-1984
English.
3
4
Wire copies of radio news scripts concerning assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy
1963
English.
4
4-7