Mixed Media

WILL Radio Presents: The Preservation of Transcription Discs at the University of Illinois

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Abstract

Lee Somers has a distinct voice. His intonation as he lectures about beans draws the listener in—whether you like beans or not. He reminisces on the phrase “aw, he don’t know beans,” once used as a measure to denote “great ignorance.” But his explanation of the edible seed encouraged the opposite: knowing about the bean for your home garden. This is one of several gardening and food lectures he made on live radio throughout the 1940s. His cadence, and what he certainly knew about beans, is directly cut into a 16-inch lacquer-coated transcription disc. This disc is number 2669 out of 3,184 discs recorded by WILL radio station at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus (U of I). Lee, as the aforementioned disc is fondly referred to in this article, and accompanying discs span several decades’ worth of content. The discs preserve “lectures, convocations, symposia, sports and musical events and public ceremonies . . . and news and feature programs rebroadcast by the station concerning the University, higher education, international relations, politics, fine arts, humanities, literature and science.”

How to Cite:

Michael, B. & Kuhn, C., (2019) “WILL Radio Presents: The Preservation of Transcription Discs at the University of Illinois”, MAC Newsletter 47(1), 32–35. doi: https://doi.org//macnewsletter.11114