Our Collection
The Archive of American Radio, Inc. preserves, collects, catalogs, restores, reproduces, compiles, prepares, publishes, and distributes the following categories of works for charitable, educational, and literary purposes.
Categories of Works
Sound Recordings
17 USC § 101Works that result from the fixation of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds. Our primary holdings include radio dramas, comedies, variety shows, news broadcasts, and other audio programs from the golden age of American radio (1930–1982).
Literary Works
17 USC § 101Works expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols. This includes radio scripts, episode guides, program logs, broadcast schedules, and transcripts of audio content.
Pictorial, Graphic, and Sculptural Works
17 USC § 101Two-dimensional and three-dimensional works of fine, graphic, and applied art, photographs, prints, maps, and diagrams. Our holdings include promotional photographs, network publicity materials, program artwork, and related visual documentation.
Audiovisual Works
17 USC § 101Works consisting of a series of related images intended to be shown with accompanying sounds. This includes kinescopes, television simulcasts of radio programs, documentary footage, and archival video materials.
Derivative Works
17 USC § 101Works based upon one or more preexisting works. We create and maintain transcripts, translations, abridgments, condensations, and other transformations of original archival materials to enhance accessibility and educational value.
Collective Works
17 USC § 101Works in which separate and independent contributions are assembled into a collective whole. We curate series collections, thematic anthologies, and comprehensive databases that organize individual recordings into coherent, searchable archives.