Walter T. Silver Radio Logbooks, 1935-1939, 1953-1979

Title:

Walter T. Silver Radio Logbooks, 1935-1939, 1953-1979

Creator:

Silver, Walter Theo, 1906-1995

Accession / Call Number:

2000.097

Object ID:

2000.097

Date:

1935-1939, 1953-1979

Physical Description:

1 box ; 0.33 linear feet

Scope and Content:

The Walter T. Silver Radio Logbooks consist of eleven radio logbooks kept by Walter Theo Silver of Boscawen, NH. He operated under W1IOC out of Boscawen and for the year 1955, operated under BC130 when mobile and P49 when in Boscawen (folder 4). The first two books are for the years 1935 to 1939, and the rest of the collection spans the years 1953 to 1979. These logbooks, from the American Radio Relay League of West Hartford, CT, were kept in accordance with the Federal Communications Commission, which required every amateur station owner to keep an accurate log of every transmission. Instruction pages in the front detail the types of information that are required to be kept and what different codes mean in relation to R-S-T reporting (Readability, Signal Strength, and Tone). Such information includes date, time, station called, their R-S-T, time ending, and notes on any data, messages, remarks, etc. Other information noted includes watts input power, frequency, type of emission, and location. Silver also provided some notes throughout on his set up, on experimenting with equipment, and drawings. Though the majority of entries are brief and may only consist of a name or location, if any remarks are noted at all, some messages are recorded. These include information on the flood of March 19, 1936, when it was reported that all roads north were gone and that Webster lost six bridges. Two pages are dedicated to the Navy Day Message of October 27, 1938 out of Catonsville, MD. On August 31, 1954, a brief note states they are on standby for the incoming hurricane. And a message on May 6, 1973 requests portables for three lost kids ages 2, 3, and 4 years old in Mason; a later message states the children were found three miles from where they were lost. Some other entries include a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp transmission on June 25, 1937 and a Naval Air Base transmission on January 13, 1954. While there are a number of local transmissions, Silver received transmissions from many states in the country. These include from Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. He also received international transmissions from Bermuda, the British West Indies, Canada, England, Guatemala, Holland, and Mexico. The transmissions from Canada include the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. These lists are not exhaustive. Date ranges on the folders reflect the dates within the logbooks, not what is recorded on the covers. Many of the books include intermittent dates towards the end or on the back of the log pages, which extend further than the dates identified on the cover.

Subjects:

Amateur radio stations , Floods , Radio , Radio operators

Locations:

Boscawen, NH
Canada
New Hampshire
United States

People:

Silver, Walter Theo, 1906-1995

Organizations:

American Radio Relay League

Credit Line:

Gift of Wayne Glidden.

Restrictions:

Available for research.

Level Description:

Collection

Finding Aid Link:

RS64329_Silver_Walter_T_Radio_Logbooks_2000.097.pdf