William Dandridge Terrell Papers
name: label: Creator
content: Terrell, William Dandridge, 1871-1960s (radio communication specialist)
label: Names
content: United States. Commerce Department
label: Names
content: United States. Federal Radio Commission
topic: label: Topic
content: National defense
label: Topic
content: Wireless communication system
label: Topic
content: Communications
label: Topic
content: Radio communication specialists
label: Topic
content: Radio -- History
label: Topic
content: Radio -- Defense
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The collection was donated by William Dandridge Terrell's wife in 1967.
creator: label: Creator
content: Terrell, William Dandridge, 1871-1960s (radio communication specialist)
setName: label: See more items in
content: William Dandridge Terrell Papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The collection documents W.D.Terrell's life, specifically his work as Chief of the Radio Division in the Commerce Department. Terrell was responsible for monitoring the institution of radio into the nation's defense forces.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: William Dandrige Terrell (1871-1965) was born in rural Virginia and worked in government service for twenty-two years in the communications field. His specific duties are unknown, but in 1911, after his government service, he was appointed to a New York civilian post. His new duty was to insure the efficient operation of the freshly pioneered wireless apparatus on all Atlantic based Naval ships. In 1915, Terrell was transferred to Washington, D.C.  where he supervised a staff of thirty-five. As Chief of Radio Division in the Commerce Department, Terrell was responsible for monitoring the [the use of?] radio nation's defense forces. Terrell was promoted to Chief of Field Operations for the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), which was created in 1934. Terrell continued in that post even when the FRC was changed to Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Terrell retired to Florida in 1943 at the age of 72. He died on March 23, 1965.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.5 Cubic feet (1 box)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1911-1965
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Donated to the Division of Electricity by Terrell's wife in 1967. Transferred from the Division of Electricity (now the Division of Work and Industry), on March 30, 1984.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0097
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Personal papers
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Correspondence
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into one series.
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Processed by Robert Harding, archivist, 1985.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Personal papers -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 1930-1950
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: This eight folder collection documents William Dandridge Terrell's life from his 1911 appointment to the Commerce Department to the his death in the 1960s.  The collection consists of a brief and partially completed autobiography and descendant listing; a large body of correspondence related to financial planning, insurance policies, and  appointment notices; a program from an American Wireless Operators Convention held in his honor; several retirement announcements; business correpsondence concerning Terrell's inspection job from 1911-1914; and four photographs of Terrell, his family, and his friends.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Materials in the Archives Center

George H. Clark Collection of Radioana (AC0055)