WCWM records

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

The collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

WCWM Records, Special Collections Research Center, Early Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Summary

Extent:
9.21 Linear Feet 10 Hollinger boxes
Creator:
WCWM (Williamsburg, Va.)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

WCWM Records, Special Collections Research Center, Early Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Background

Scope and content:

The WCWM collection includes copies of the station publication, station logs maintained by DJs, news clippings about the station, playlists, correspondence, photographs, magazines and related material. Recordings include shows, the presidential debate between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter held at the College of William and Mary in 1976, station promos by performers, related broadcasts, and public service announcements from the 1980s to 2008. WCWM is the student-run radio station at the College of William and Mary. It broadcasts in southeastern Virginia on 90.9FM.

WCWM's administration series includes all of the records for running the station, including budgets, Federal Communication Commission documents, radio operator licenses, and station logs. The highlights from the series are radio show transcripts from 1938-1942, the top 40 playlists (Super Hits and Fickle Forty) dating from the 1960s and 1970s, and the examinations, dating from the 1970s and 1980s, prospective student DJs had to pass in order to get on the air.

WCWM's version of a top 40 chart for DJs to play songs from.

WCWM's version of a top 40 chart for DJs to play songs from.

2 volumes.

The WCWM correspondence encompasses all of the administrative correspondence for running the station. Of note in the series are a thank you letter from the Governor of Texas in 1980, and two letters, dated 1981, from concerned citizens who did not want WCWM's original frequency, 88.7, to interfere with the local public radio station.

This series encompasses all of the flyers and publications that WCWM created, as well as all of the newspaper articles about the station. Included in this collection are the two major WCWM publications, Metacycles in the 1970s, and Submission from 1989 through 2006. These magazines provided the campus with music news, record reviews, and band interviews. Submission magazine was reincarnated as Vinyl Tap in 2006, which is available via the library catalog. Along with those publications, this series also includes program guides, dating from the 1980s-1990s, that informed the campus about various semesters' radio programming.

These recordings are a compilation of various WCWM radio shows, public service announcements, DJ trainings, and music. Of note in this series are a reel to reel tape of WCWM coverage of the 1976 presidential election, public service announcements from the late 1980s and early 1990s, and a compact disc recording WCWM's participation in a 1975 psychology experiment.

One compact disc of Tribe United's public service announcements to protest the resignation of President Gene R. Nichol. The first track is a plea to call your delegates. The second track is a list of demands, and the third track is coverage of an action meeting on February 14-15, 2008.

One compact disc of the 2008 Sex Workers' Art Show at the College of William and Mary's University Center. The disc is made up of two announcements by Beth and Chris, and each segment is 30 seconds long.

One compact disc of two public service announcements for the Thao Nguyru concert on April 19, 2008 at the Lake Matoaka Amphitheater. The show was sponsored by WCWM and the University Center Activities Board (UCAB).

One compact disc of two public service announcements about Sexual Awareness Week 2008 at William and Mary. The public service announcements were produced by the student publication Jump! magazine.

One audio compilation CD of performances by William and Mary student bands. Vinyl Tap is named after the WCWM's magazine.

Biographical / historical:

WCWM is the student-run (and only) radio station at the College of William and Mary. It broadcasts through southeastern Virginia on 90.9FM and through the world online. The station has a noncommercial educational license and broadcasts music of all styles and in a variety of show formats.

Acquisition information:
A portion of this collection was formerly part of the University Archives Publications Collection and was received in various transfers and gifts prior to 2007. An accession was received in 2006; Accession 2007.003 was transferred on May 15 and 16, 2007, by Anne Gessler of WCWM; Acc. 2008.096 was transferred on 9/1/2008 by WCWM; Acc. 2008.097 was transferred on 9/4/2008 via Dan Siepmann of WCWM.
Custodial history:

The records include those created by WCWM as well as material given to the radio station by former student DJs and staff. A portion of the collection was formerly part of the University Archives Publications Collection. Some of the audio recordings are copies created by Rebecca Suerdieck for Anne Gessler when Gessler was researching the history of WCWM. Suerdieck was affiliated with WCWM around 1986-1989.

Processing information:

This collection was processed by Jordan Ecker in January-March 2008.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into four series: Series 1: Administration, 1938-2007; Series 2: Correspondence, 1970-2007; Series 3: Publicity, 1970-2007; Series 4: Audio Recordings, circa 1970-2007.

Physical / technical requirements:

Audio recordings may require equipment not readily available for playback. Consult a staff member for details.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard