Library: Archives & Special Collections: Newspaper, Radio & Television

Collection Subject: Newspaper, Radio & Television

Afro-Americans in New York Life and History, Niagara Falls, NY, 1977-2015 Afro-Americans in New York Life and History is an interdisciplinary journal that is published two times per year (January and July) by the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, Inc. The journal began publication in 1977. Through the journal, the Association endeavors to encourage and publish research and scholarship pertaining to Afro-Americans in New York State. The journal publishes analytical, historical, and descriptive articles dealing with the life and history of Afro-Americans in New York State.
Black News, 1969-1975
Buffalo Challenger, Buffalo, NY, 1963-2006 In the sixties, Black America was at a civil/human rights crossroads. The sit-ins, demonstrations, pickets and marches against racism and segregation in the south and second class citizenship for Blacks across the country, were met with violence and hatred; with guns and fire hoses, and even death. It was against this backdrop that The Challenger was born in. Just a little over a decade after the Supreme Court Decision outlawing racial segregation in public schools, the very first edition of The Challenger hit the streets of Buffalo’s Black community on April 11, 1963. It was also the year that civil rights leader Medgar Evers was murdered; that the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed by White supremacists, killing four innocent children; and the year that Dr. Martin Luther King made his famous “I Have A Dream Speech” at the historic March on Washington.
Buffalo Criterion, Buffalo, NY, 1940-2006 The Buffalo Criterion is the oldest continuously published African American newspaper in Western New York. Founded in 1925 by Frank E. Merriweather, Sr. and his wife, Camilla Merriweather, the newspaper has been a major voice in recording the history of African Americans with a focus on Buffalo and the Western New York area.
Buffalo Irish Times, Buffalo, NY, 1992-2001 The Gaelic American Athletic Association (GAAA) publishes the Buffalo Irish Times (5 issues yearly) comprised of volunteer staff members dedicated to the Irish Community in the Buffalo area. The 'TIMES' gives the non-profit clubs an avenue to share schedules and event information, a forum for thoughts on Irish concerns, and highlights and activities of interest to the Irish–American Community.
Christian Recorder, Philadelphia, PA, 1854-1902 The Christian Recorder was first published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1854 under the editorship of the Rev. J.P. Campbell. This early edition was short-lived, however, and in 1861, under the editorship of Elisha Weaver, the New Series, Volume 1 began. Under this new leadership the Recorder was introduced into the South by distribution among the negro regiments in the Union army. Benjamin T. Tanner became editor in 1867, and was followed in that position in 1885 by the Rev. Benjamin F. Lee who served until 1892.
Colored American, New York, NY, 1837-1841 The Colored American was an African-American newspaper published in New York City from 1837 to 1842. Publishers included: Robert Sears, Samuel Cornish, Phillip Alexander Bell, Charles Bennett Ray, and James McCune Smith. Initially published under the name The Weekly Advocate, New York's Colored American was a weekly newspaper of four to six pages. It circulated in free black communities in the Northeastern United States.
Courier-Express Newspaper Collections [1926-1982] The Courier-Express newspaper was born in 1926, with the merger of the Buffalo Courier and the Buffalo Express to form the Buffalo Courier-Express. William J. Conners, owner of the Buffalo Courier, was the person instrumental in bringing the two papers together. During the 19th century numerous newspapers existed. The Buffalo Courier-Express merger can trace its roots back to 1828. From 1828 to 1926, twelve separate newspapers merged during those years, ending with the formation of the Buffalo Courier-Express; quite a chronology for the history of this newspaper. The Courier and then the Courier-Express took a liberal position on all issues. In the late 1970s, the Courier-Express was sold to Cowles-Media, an out of state publisher. Cowles Media decided to close the paper in 1982. The September 19, 1982 issue was the last one for this very popular Buffalo newspaper. Cowles Media donated the library to the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and Buffalo State College.
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The Diane English Script Collection [1988-1995] Diane English was born in Buffalo, New York where she attended Nardin Academy and SUNY Buffalo State. Throughout the 1980s English wrote several series including: The Lathe of Heaven, Foley Square (1985-1986) and My Sister Sam (1986 and 1987 seasons). She is best known for writing and producing the sitcom Murphy Brown for CBS that ran for 10 years (1988-1998) totaling 247 episodes; and writing and directing the 2008 feature film, The Women. Additional sitcoms written in the 1990s include, Love and War (1992-1995), Double Rush (1995), Ink (1996), The Louie Show (1996), and Living in Captivity (1998).
Edward H. Butler - Family Papers [1880-1956] The Edward H. Butler Family played a prominent role in the development of the Niagara Frontier for nearly 100 years (1880 - 1976). Edward H. Butler, Senior published the first edition of the Buffalo Evening News on October 11, 1880. Upon his death in 1914, his son, Edward, assumed the role of editor and publisher of the paper. At his death in 1956, his widow, Kate Robinson Butler ran the paper. Shortly after her death in 1975, the paper was sold to Blue Chips Stamps. Buffalo State College has enjoyed a long relationship with the Butler family. Three generations of members of the Butler Family served as Presidents of the College Council. E. H. Butler Library was named after Edward H. Butler, Senior. Kate Butler Wickham, daughter of Edward H. Butler, Junior donated her mother's personal correspondence to the library in 1977. In 1976, she donated all correspondence of her grandfather and father covering the period 1880-1956. In 1985, the Buffalo News donated all business correspondence of the Butler Senior and Junior connected to the Buffalo Evening News. In 1987, The Buffalo News donated the "Kirchhofer Papers". Kirchhofer, editor of the News, was in the process of writing a history of the paper when he died suddenly. His research materials and the papers he had taken from the Butler family files (1880-1976) were kept together as a collection.
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Frederick Law Olmsted (Microfilm) Papers [1777-1952] Landscape architect. Correspondence, letters, books, journals, drafts of articles and books, speeches and lectures, biographical and genealogical data, business papers, scrapbooks, maps, drawings, and other papers encompassing Olmsted's career and private life. The papers focus on Olmsted's career as a landscape architect, specifically as a designer of parks and the grounds of private estates and public buildings and as a city and regional planner.
Freedom's Journal, New York, NY, 1827-1829 Freedom’s Journal was the first African American owned and operated newspaper in the United States. A weekly four column publication printed every Friday, Freedom’s Journal was founded by free born African Americans John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish on March 16, 1827 in New York City, New York. The newspaper contained both foreign and domestic news, editorials, biographies, births and deaths in the local African American community, and advertisements. Editorials deriding slavery, racial discrimination, and other injustices against African Americans were aimed at providing a counterweight to many of the white newspapers of the time period which openly supported slavery and racial bias.
George Borrelli Political Newspaper Clippings and Material [1962-2003] Mr. George Borrelli worked extensively within the Buffalo-area media world, writing for local newspapers including the Buffalo Courier-Express as well as the Buffalo News, among other print and media and journalistic outlets.
Hispanic Newspaper, 1975-1981 (includes clippings and scrapbooks from the Hispanic community)
Impartial Citizen, Albany, NY, 1849-1850 In 1849, the Northern Star and Freeman’s Advocate was merged with another paper, and was renamed the Impartial Citizen. The new paper, published in Albany, failed two years later. One possible reason for the failure was the enactment by the U.S. Congress of a harsh Fugitive Slave Law as part of the Compromise of 1850. The newspaper was founded and composed by Stephen Myers, a prominent publisher who became an effective abolitionist lobbyist.
Institute for People Enterprises [1978-1983] The Institute for People Enterprises was founded in 1978 by William Gaiter and became a registered non-profit in 1979. William Gaiter served as the president of the institute, as well as being affiliated with the Buffalo Affirmative Action Program (BAAP), organizing and chairing the Western New York Council for African Relations, and the president of B.U.I.L.D. The Institute for People Enterprises helped to connect workers to more than 120 service groups around the country and provided consulting, training, and operations assistance to various community, business, and political groups.
Joseph Haeffner - WBEN and WBEN-TV Records and Papers [1920s-1980s]
Lance Zavitz Radio Show Transcripts Collection [1935-1940] Lance Zavitz was a reporter, editor, church editor, columnist and self-described “commentator” at The Buffalo Evening News newspaper from 1933 to at least 1960. He wrote columns, editorials and book reviews. He also worked on the newspaper’s “church page,” and gave speeches/talks to community groups. Zavitz was born on March 28, 1899, and died Feb. 27, 1987 in Gerry, NY. He was a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Canada; at that time, he lived on Fishery Road in Cold Spring, Cattaraugus, N.Y., with his wife and four children. The U.S. City Directories 1821-1989 shows his profession in 1941 as a “rewriteman” for the Buffalo News who lived on LaFayette Avenue; in 1956, the directories show him as still working for the newspaper but now living on Leroy Avenue. Several records show he became a lay pastor and later minister of the Ellington Congregational Church in Ellington, N.Y., where he presided over funeral services. Town of Ellington, N.Y., sesquicentennial (1824-1974) records refer to him as having served as “pastor for 15 years” in 1959, when he “decided to become a part of the Billy Graham evangelist team.” Other references to Zavitz cite him as “Graham's news bureau chief” (a 1964 article in Harvard’s Crimson newspaper) and press agent (1965 article in the Lima, Ohio, News). Zavitz also is listed as a contributor to Christianity Today (June 24, 1966, Volume 10, Number 19).
The North Star, Frederick Douglass' Paper & Douglass Monthly, Rochester, NY, 1847-1855 Douglass published his slave experiences in 1845 entitled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave: Written by Himself. Having publicly declared himself a fugitive slave, Douglass fled to the British Isles to continue his outspoken campaign against American slavery. After two years of lecturing in England, Scotland, and Ireland, Douglass’s freedom was purchased by abolitionist friends and he returned to the United States a free man. Upon his return to Rochester, NY in 1847, Douglass began his first newspaper, The North Star which later became Frederick Douglass’ Paper.
Rita Smith Collection [1930-1988, 1997] Rita Irene Smith was born and raised in Western New York. She attended D’Youville College and upon her completion of school, began working at the Buffalo Courier- Express, as a copy girl. She published her first articles with the byline Rita I. Smith in 1944. Committed to her life as a journalist, Rita was fascinated with the world at large and began traveling alone in the mid–1950’s. Among Rita’s many adventures, she dined with the Queen of England and was invited into the home of the then King and Queen (Hope Cooke) of Sikkim. In her travels she discovered Mother Teresa, nearly 20 years before she would win the Nobel Peace Prize. Rita was devoted to telling the story of the people that didn’t live in the spotlight, whose stories might go untold or unnoticed. She used her clear voice to shine a light and tell stories of the diverse people she met from around the globe. In 1957, Rita traveled to Egypt, South Africa, and the Holy Land by herself. In 1967, she went on a two month tour around the world, alone, without reservations or an itinerary. She adventured out into the world and made her way around it. Rita spent her life traveling Australia, New Zealand, India, Peru, Mexico, Sikkim, The Soviet Union, Soviet Central Asia, Hong Kong, and so many more places. When she returned to Buffalo, she delighted her readers with the stories of the people she met and the places she saw. She brought the world to Buffalo’s doorstep and shared her unique voice that is still relevant today.
Shakin' Street Gazette, Student Newspaper [1973-1974] Up through the 1960s music criticism was fairly limited. Daily newspapers had a few writers and occasional freelancers to cover events but they leaned toward "serious" music and art and were often out of touch when writing about pop music. Hit Parader was just about the only publication that went beyond the popular fan magazine genre. By the early 1970s Rolling Stone magazine had set a precedent for better information on pop music and Creem magazine had made a case for a lighter, more irreverent approach with other publications like Crawdaddy falling in between. The job "rock critic" or "rock journalist" had been created. As an aside to the professional publications, myriad "fanzines" were created by music fans who wanted to focus on a specific band, genre, or scene.
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Stephen & Rachel Cain Collection (Buffalo Evening News) [c. 1930-1970] Stephen P. Cain was born Sept. 29, 1901, in Dalton, N.Y. He grew up on May Street in Buffalo. He was a 1922 graduate of Canisius College, where he served as the first editor-in-chief of the college’s yearbook, The Azuwur. After graduating, he sought work as a reporter at one of Buffalo’s six newspapers at the time. Mr. Cain later wrote about his experiences as Canisius yearbook editor and his job hunt; these writings are in the collection. He described himself in this self-written 1968 biographical sketch: “Entered newspaper field after graduating in 1922 from Canisius College with a B.A. degree. Has been city editor, assistant city editor, political editor and columnist, Albany legislative correspondent, chief rewriter and reporter on Buffalo newspapers. In free lance field has credits innovational magazines — short fiction in Extension and old Street & Smith publications, True (factual) and Reader’s Digest, an original piece. Many articles on the local scene in the Buffalo Evening News Saturday Magazine.” Over the course of his newspaper and free-lance writing career, he wrote other biographies of himself, which are in the collection. They include: “Served as a publicity man, speech writer and statementeer in several Republican campaigns, working both out of organization headquarters in the Ellicott Square and with individual candidates. Have been associated with such outstanding Republicans as Walter Mahoney, Ray Lawley, Herm Grannis, Mike Catalano, Harold Becker, Ray Biondolillo, Joe Carroll, Bernie Bird and others,” and “City editor, political editor and columnist, rewrite man and reporter, Buffalo Evening and Sunday Times, Scripps-Howard. City editor and rewrite, Akron, Ohio, Times-Press, Scripps-Howard. City desk, rewrite, reporter, Buffalo Evening News. Reporter, political writer and Albany legislative correspondent, Buffalo Courier-Express. National credits include stories in True and an original article in Reader’s Digest. A few fiction stories in Extension Magazine and Street and Smith publications. Graduate of Canisius College, Class of 1922, with a degree of Bachelor of Arts. Member of DiGamma, Canisius Honor Society. … Wife, Mrs. Rachel King Cain, is in Who’s Who of American Women and society editor of the Buffalo Evening News … Prior to that, she wrote a society column for the Buffalo Evening News.” During his career, he met and reported on many well-known local, national and international personalities. He left reporting at an early age due to arthritis and turned his talents to free-lance writing. He wrote a fictional account of growing up in Buffalo, as well as several non-fiction pieces. He died Sept. 14, 1975, at age 74 in Buffalo.
Tom Fontana Collection [c. 1973-present] Tom Fontana, a Buffalo native and 1973 graduate of Buffalo State College, is the award-winning writer and producer of three acclaimed television series, "St. Elsewhere," "Homicide: Life on the Street," and "Oz." Tom has generously placed his collection of scripts and materials associated with the production of the television series and the television movies in the Archives & Special Collections of E. H. Butler Library. His collection also contains videotapes of many of the episodes in the series’ he has written and produced. Tom's accomplishments include involvement as a writer and producer on the series "Tattinger's," "Home Fires," and "The Beat." He wrote the ABC special "The Fourth Wiseman," "Firehouse: the Movie" a pilot for CBS, and "Homicide: Life Everlasting", a TV movie of the week for NBC. He also wrote a made-for-television movie "Judas" that premiered on February 15, 2002 at Canisius High School in Buffalo, NY. The premier honored a fellow graduate of the school, Sean Rooney, who died September 11th during the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Tom taught a class on ensemble writing at Buffalo State College in the fall of 2003. On November 19, 2003, Tom's new play "The Day Jack London Got Pinched," based on the memoirs of the 19th century writer, premiered at the college. On November 24, 2003 Tom was inducted into the Western New York Entertainment Hall of Fame at the Shea's Performing Arts Center. Past inductees include Lucille Ball, Buffalo Bob Smith, Broadway's George Abbott and Michael Bennett, playwright A.R. Gurney and jazz musician Grover Washington Jr. Tom's portrait, by Buffalo artist George Palmer, will hang in the lobby of the Shea's theater. Tom has written several plays which have been produced in New York City, San Francisco, and at the Studio Arena in Buffalo. His collection contains one of his unpublished plays entitled "A Slice of Buffalo, A Peace of Paris."

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Daniel DiLandro, MLS, CA
College Archivist & Special Collections Librarian
Email: dilanddm@buffalostate.edu
Phone: 716-878-6308

Hope Dunbar, MLIS, JD
Special Collections Archivist
Email: dunbarhm@buffalostate.edu
Phone: 716-878-4790