J. Montgomery Curtis, Journalist, Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
West Virginia and Regional History Center
West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Restrictions:

No special access restriction applies.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], J. Montgomery Curtis, Journalist, Papers, A&M 3249, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
5 Linear Feet Summary: 5 ft. (4 records cartons, 15 in. each)
Creator:
Curtis, J. Montgomery
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], J. Montgomery Curtis, Journalist, Papers, A&M 3249, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Papers and photos collected by a historian of journalism, Don E. Carter, about J. Montgomery Curtis, a renowned journalist and newspaper expert from Elm Grove, West Virginia. Curtis was best known as a long time director of the New York-based American Press Institute which was associated with Columbia University. The American Press Institute functioned to offer advice and criticism to journalists and news publications. The last part of his career was spent in Miami working for the Knight newspaper chain, later Knight Ridder newspapers, as a vice president and in-house critic. Most of the collection is comprised of correspondence with colleagues, biographical notes about Curtis, and critiques of practices in the newspaper business. There is much correspondence with John S. Knight evaluating the newspapers he owned, with James H. Ottaway who was a newspaper owner and long time chairman of the board of the American Press Institute, and with Don E. Carter and Malcolm F. Mallette about the history of the American Press Institute.

Series include:
Series 1. Biographical Information, 1956–1989 (Box 1)
Series 2. Correspondence, 1956–1982 (Boxes 1-3)
Series 3. Speeches and Writings -- Other Authorship, 1963-1973, undated (Box 3)
Series 4. Speeches and Writings -- Authored by Curtis, 1964-1982, undated (Box 3)
Series 5. Subjects -- Associated Press Institute [API], 1891–1983 (Box 3)
Series 6. Subjects -- General, 1968–1982 (Box 3)
Series 7. Photographs, 1974–1980 (Box 3)
Series 8. Photographs -- API -- Workshops, 1973–1974 (Box 3)
Series 9. Newspaper Critique Files, 1953–1989 (Boxes 3-4)
Series 10. Books, 1974–1992 (Box 4)

This series includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other material regarding J. Montgomery Curtis and his career.

This series includes correspondence with assorted newspapers, authors, and others regarding the American Press Institute (API), newspapers, and other topics.

Occasionally, a note from the donor, Don E. Carter, will appear in the title in parentheticals highlighting subjects or topics of note or sharing historical significance.

This series includes speeches by Ralph Shoemaker, Vincent Jones, and an unnamed author.

This series includes speeches and writings by Curtis, many on the topic of the state of the press and journalism as a whole.

This series includes subject files regarding the American Press Institute (API), including materials published by API, clippings regarding large newspapers, and other material.

This series includes general subject files, including several articles on the Pulitzers and the Pulitzer Prizes, correspondence regarding jury selection and other topics around prize selection, and other material.

This series includes photographs of Curtis's retirement party, his 75th birthday party, and the American Press Institute's (API) facilities in Reston, VA.

This series includes photographs of American Press Institute (API) workshops in Columbus, Georgia and at the Macon Telegraph.

This series includes assorted articles and publications critiquing various aspects of newspapers, the press, and journalism, including ethics, credibility, quality, and various newspaper departmetns.

This series includes two books on Basil "Stuffy" Walters (a "newspaper pioneer" and former Editor-in-Chief of the Chicago Daily Times [1959-1961]) and another on the history of the American Press Institute.

Physical location:
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard