WRAS Radio records

Collection

Identifier: M218

Staff Only
Not requestable

Scope and Contents of the Records

WRAS Radio records, 1966-2009, contain materials documenting the Georgia State University student-run radio station. The collection consists of materials pertaining to day-to-day operations, tower construction and relocation, playlists, logs, news clippings, ephemera, station produced sound recordings (interviews, promos, drops) and sound recording submissions for the Georgia Music Show. Notable in the collection is the almost complete run of general manager files documenting the station’s activities under each manager.

Dates

Creation: 1966-2009

Creator

WRAS (Radio station : Atlanta, Ga.) (Organization)

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

Historical Note

In the mid-1960s, WPLO-FM allowed Georgia State College to use the 103.3 FM frequency to air a mix of music, interviews, and news on a limited air schedule. This first station had a small studio in Sparks Hall on campus. In 1969 Kenneth England, Dean of Students, asked the Student Activity Fee Budget Committee to allocate funds to construct a student radio station while Assistant Dean of Students, King Buttermore, applied for station licensing with the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC granted Georgia State University a license to operate at 19,500 watts on frequency 88.5. The new station operated out of two small stations in the student center, with use of an antenna on leased tower space at the WABE radio station. On January 18, 1971, WRAS signed on the air for the first time. WRAS earned many honors and awards in the years after its creation. It became recognized as one of the most influential and professionally run student radio stations in the United States. By 1987, the station had relocated its tower and increased its power to 100,000 watts making the station accessible to areas far outside the Metro Atlanta area.

Extent

3.75 Linear Feet (in 9 manuscript boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

WRAS is the Georgia State University student-run radio station airing eclectic music programing, news, sporting events, and public service announcements with emphasis on university events. Its records, 1966-2009, document the creation and operation of the station, and include general manager files, correspondence, printed materials, station produced sound recordings (interviews, promos, drops) and sound recording submissions for the Georgia Music Show.

Immediate Source of Acquition

Donated by WRAS, courtesy of Jeff Walker on March 1, 2012 (M2012-03)and July 1, 2012 (M2012-04), Adam DeVore on July 15, 2014 (M2014-10), and Marvin Evangelista on April 25, 2017 (M2017-04).

Related Materials

The Georgia State University Archives contains 4 accessions (G1979-20, G1981-28, G1985-53, and G1992-02) of unprocessed materials from WRAS, including approximatly 4 cubic feet of program logs and three audiotapes from John Palms' inauguration as GSU President, June 6, 1990. Consult Special Collections for access.

Separated Materials

800 submissions to "The Georgia Music Show" (consisting of 7" vinyl and compact discs) have been separated to the Popular Music and Culture Sound Recordings Collection. In addition, the station produced over 200 interviews, drops, promos, and in studio performances recorded on mini-disc, CART, reel-to-reel tape, and a hard drive. Consult archivist for access.