TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Contents
Restrictions
Index Terms
Administrative Information
Description of Series
Inventory
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A Guide to the Border Radio Collection,
1917-2005
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Creator: |
Roth, Durrell M. |
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Title: |
Border Radio
Collection |
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Dates: |
1917-2005 |
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Abstract: |
The Border Radio
Collection, 1917-2005, contains papers, audio, video, and photographs
documenting the history of super-power radio broadcasting along the U.S.-Mexico
border. The collection includes research materials on Dr. John R. Brinkley by
Durell M. Roth and Norman Baker. |
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Accession No.: |
2009-099; 2009-284 |
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OCLC No. |
458315806 |
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Extent: |
2 ft. |
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Language: |
Materials are written in
English. |
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Repository: |
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History,
The University of Texas at Austin |
In the early 1930s, many AM radio
stations began broadcasting from Mexico into the United States. These
"border-blasters", as they were called, spanned
the entire U.S.-Mexico border and used super-power transmitters that were heard
across North America and other countries. The first known border-blaster, XED
the 150,000-watt "Voice of the Two Republics"
in Reynosa, began broadcasting in 1930.
The next year radio station XER in Villa Acuña, now Ciudad Acuña,
began regular broadcasting under the ownership of Dr. John R. Brinkley. A
controversial doctor, Brinkley lived in Del Rio, TX, after being banned from
practicing medicine and from the air in Kansas on his station KFKB ("Kansas First, Kansas Best"). Two years after the
Mexican shut down XER, Brinkley started XERA with a 500,000-watt transmitter.
In 1934, Mexican authorities closed XER, but the following year Brinkley began
broadcasting over his new station XERA, and by 1938 the station had a
500,000-watt homemade transmitter designed and constructed by James O. Weldon.
In late 1941, Mexican authorities closed XERA and had dismantled the station by
early 1942.
In 1947, a new border-blaster, XERF, began broadcasting from
the old XERA building. During its earliest years, XERF was under the control of
Ramon D. Bosquez, Don Howard, and Walter Wilson. Attorney Arturo Gonzalez was
station manager, and Paul Kallinger, and "Wolfman
Jack" Bob Smith were famous members of the XERF on-air team. Engineer
Mike Venditi, in 1981, repaired the station's RCA 250,000-watt transmitter
which, until that time, had only operated at about 80,000 watts.
Norman
Baker also controlled a border blaster, XENT, in Nuevo Laredo, after being
forced off the air in Iowa with his radio station KTNT ("Know the Naked Truth").
Durell M. Roth is a
border radio historian in Austin, TX.
Return to the Table of Contents
The Border Radio Collection, 1917-2005,
contains papers, audio, video, and photographs documenting the history of
super-power radio broadcasting along the U.S.-Mexico border. The collection
includes research materials on Dr. John R. Brinkley by Durell M. Roth and
Norman Baker.
Archivist’s note: Inventory provided by
donor with edits by the archivist. Donor also notes, “audiocassettes 1-17 have
not been equalized. These are raw recordings from various sources, and many of
tapes are only partially recorded.”
Return to the Table of Contents
Access Restrictions
Unrestricted access.
Use Restrictions
Unrestricted use.
Return to the Table of Contents
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Subjects (Persons) |
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Baker, Norman, 1882-1958. |
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Brinkley, John Richard,
1885-1942. |
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Gonzalez, Arturo
C. |
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Roth, Durell M. --
Archives. |
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Wolfman Jack,
1939-1995. |
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Subjects (Organizations) |
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XER (Radio station : Ciudad Acuña,
Mexico) |
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XERA (Radio station :
Ciudad Acuña, Mexico) |
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XERF (Radio station :
Ciudad Acuña, Mexico) |
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Subjects |
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Radio broadcasters --
Mexican-American Border Region. |
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Radio broadcasting --
Mexican-American Border Region. |
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Radio stations --
Mexican-American Border Region. |
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Places |
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Del Rio (Tex.) -- History
-- 20th century. |
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Ciudad Acuña (Mexico) --
History -- 20th century. |
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Mexican-American Border
Region -- History -- 20th century. |
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Milford (Kan.) -- History
-- 20th century. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Border Radio Collection, 1917-2005,
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at
Austin.
This collection was processed by
Laurel Rozema, May 2009, October 2009.
Return to the Table of Contents
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Inventory |
| box |
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1. List of Mexican radio stations from 1938 Broadcasting
Yearbook,
1938 |
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2. Xerox of postcard showing one of J. R. Brinkley's
Arkansas hospitals |
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3. Letter from Norman Baker on XENT letterhead,
1934 |
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4. Letter to Senator Morris Sheppard on Crazy Water
Hotel letterhead |
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5. Letter from satisfied Brinkley patient, as edited by
doctor for broadcast |
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6. Correspondence, border radio general |
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7. List of additional research material available but
not included in this file |
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8. Chronology of the life of J. R. Brinkley |
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9. Brinkley family history |
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10. Chronology of border radio |
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11. Brinkley letters: business and personal,
1928-1942 |
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12. Dr. Brinkley's platform in race for Governor of
Kansas,
1932 |
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13. KFKB general information, including Xerox of booklet
from KFKB Milford, Kansas, with photos of Brinkley, the radio station, and
information about his work and clinic in Kansas |
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14. Xerox of the KFKB daily broadcasting schedule from
the station’s souvenir album,
January 1930 |
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15. Research notes from Kansas Historical Society (KHS),
including accession lists for the John R. Brinkley Papers, collection 107, and
for the Gerold Carson Papers, collection 108 |
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16. Copies of the newspaper The
Pink Rag, Topeka, Kansas, including articles on Doctor and Mrs. Brinkley
and about his time in a Carolina jail,
October 7, 14, and 21, 1932 |
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17. KHS research,
1917-1964 |
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Article, "John R. Brinkley:
His Contribution to Broadcasting" by Maurice E. Shelby, Jr. |
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Bill of sale for Dr. Brinkley's three-story pipe organ
purchased from The Reuter Organ Company in 1934 and built into the house in Del
Rio, TX |
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Booklet, "Your Health"
by Brinkley,
1917
Booklet has information about the Brinkley Hospital in
Milford, a description of The Compound Operation, and the treatment of various
diseases of the prostate gland. |
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Pamphlet titled "John
Romulus Brinkley" by Ruby Nixon,
1964 |
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Assorted newspaper articles |
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Assorted papers and correspondence, including list of
some Brinkley photos available from KHS |
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18. "That Troublesome Old
Cocklebur: John R. Brinkley and the Medical Profession of Arkansas, 1937 –
1942" by Albert J. Schneider from Arkansas
Historical Quarterly |
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19. Assorted newspaper articles |
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"The House Where Dr.
Brinkley Lived" by Leon Hale of the Houston
Post,
June 4, 1978 |
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Article from Radio World
about Wolfman Jack |
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Assorted |
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20. Copy of Roswell Hotel letterhead and QSL card from
XERF |
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21. Assorted papers, including patient information,
general hospital business data for the Del Rio hospital including prices for
various operations, assorted correspondence and copy of the paper "Steinach II
Operation for Prostatic Obstruction" by A. Elliot-Smith, F.R.C.S.,
1936 |
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22. Assorted articles and correspondence regarding radio
stations XER/XERA and Dr. Brinkley |
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Copy of a cartoon series "Doctor Brinkley a Man and His Calling" |
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"A Tribute to Dr. John R.
Brinkley- - - the man without a parallel," an address delivered by David
Parmer over XER in
February 1936 |
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Program for "An Evening to
Remember," (a party at Dr. Brinkley's house in Del Rio) sponsored by the
Del Rio Council for the Arts,
October 6, 1990 |
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The magazine Radio Today
with an article about the 500,000-watt transmitter at WLW |
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From the 'Atlantic
Monthly', an article by William C. Martin, "The
God-Hucksters of Radio 'Keep those cards and letters
coming in'" |
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23. Xerox of photo taken with Brownie camera of Dr.
Brinkley's house in Del Rio,
1939 |
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24. Time line for XERF and notes taken from a telephone
interview with Mike Venditi,
April 1, 1997 |
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25. Articles about XERF |
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Coverage area map |
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Reception report from the Arctic Radio
Club |
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Advertising rate sheet |
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Reception report from Finland |
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Article about Mineral Wells, TX |
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Article about Wolfman Jack |
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Copies of photos of XERF transmitter at secret
location |
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26. Articles about XERF, Wolfman Jack, station announcer
Paul Kallinger, including story of the Wolfman's return to Del Rio |
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27. Commercials read on XERF, includes Ulcer
preparation, typewriter offer, Government surplus offer |
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28. Assorted legal papers, including Dr. Brinkley's
Income Tax return data for 1934 and a list of equipment at the Country Club
Hospital in Little Rock, Ark. in 1941 |
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29. Correspondence to and from Ms. Laverne Wilkinson,
R.N., who worked for Dr. Brinkley in Del Rio, re: Dr. Brinkley, his operations,
and medications |
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30. Correspondence to and from Ms. Beryl Brinkley
Palmer, regarding her father Dr. Brinkley |
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31. Assorted medical papers |
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Lawsuit against Brinkley in Arkansas |
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Letter from Mrs. Brinkley to Dr. Huggins,
June 12, 1953 |
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Xerox of "Dr. Brinkley's
Doctor Book" |
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Numerous magazine articles |
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Statements of witnesses for legal action, re: Dr.
Brinkley in
1932 |
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Material obtained from Texas Medical
Association |
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32. Correspondence from American Medical Association
regarding their holdings having to do with Dr. Brinkley |
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33. Correspondence to and from Jim Weldon and Francis
Schruben,
1953-1989 |
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Early draft and published copy of "Early Kansas Radio
Stations" by Schruben |
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Assorted papers dealing with Brinkley |
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34. General information about Del Rio, TX, and the
Brinkley Mansion |
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Accession list of books and papers at Del Rio Chamber
of Commerce, which may relate to Brinkley and/or the Del Rio area |
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Map of Del Rio |
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35. Research notes on sources of information about
eclectic medicine, including call numbers and OCLC numbers |
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36. Newspaper articles on alternative medicine and
treatments |
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37. Transcript of the case of Brinkley vs. Fishbein from
the proceedings of a libel suit based on an article published in
Hygeia, from the US Circuit Court of Appeals,
Fifth Circuit, No. 9230 AMA Journal,
May 13, 1939 |
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38. Procedures for taking a Thermal Bath in Bath Houses
of Arlington and Majestic Hotels |
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39. Autobiographical sketch of Arturo C. Gonzalez,
Attorney at Law, in Del Rio, TX, with cover letter to Gene Fowler,
December 10, 1999 |
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40. Correspondence, legal documents, and minutes of
meetings having to do with XER/XERA/XERF,
1932-1977 |
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41. Translation of certified copy of Public Health Dept.
allowing Brinkley to broadcast a lecture on "The
Prostate" with translation by John Wheat |
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42. Documents regarding Brinkley provided by Jose Luis
Ortiz from his doctoral dissertation research about Brinkley and border radio
from the Mexican viewpoint |
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43. Materials about Brinkley and border
radio |
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Newspaper and magazine articles about Brinkley
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Materials related to Brinkley and/or border
radio |
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Copies of photographs of Brinkley in operating room
and other radio station photos and info |
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Del Rio Chamber of Commerce documents |
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Copies of stock certificates |
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"Folk Medicine in Denton
County Today: or, Can Dermatology Displace Dishrags?" by Paul W.
Schedler, M.D. |
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44. Original medical booklet by Dr. Morris Fishbein,
1958 |
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45. Fax copy of Brinkley's Army discharge papers,
available from Archives at Camp Mabry, Austin, TX |
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46. Don and Rarl's "Old Camp
Meeting Song Book," including associated materials and autographed
photo |
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Publications: |
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Souvenir Album of the Artists
and Others at Radio Station KFKB Together with Photographs of the Hospital
Staff and Appended Radio Log. Milford, Kan.: The KFKB Broadcasting
Association,
1930 |
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The Naked Truth,
published by Norman Baker, containing the general philosophy of Norman Baker,
1930 |
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Monitoring Times,
containing border radio article by D. M. Roth, and information on Wolfman Jack
and other major characters in the border radio scene |
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Proceedings of the Radio Club of
America, containing paper by D. M. Roth about the XERF transmitter,
Spring 2000 |
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| 3So87 |
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"Gravure Picture
Section," of Kansas City Journal-Post,
features Dr. Brinkley's family, business, and radio station shots with
additional photos of old Milford, KS,
April 27, 1930 |
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| 2L310 |
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Tech folder XER-XERF |
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Photographs, data, and schematic diagram of 500,000 watt
transmitter of XERA: |
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1. Eight slides (mounted) of XER/XERA |
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2. Dr. Brinkley's business card original
document |
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3. Photo of house in San Antonio, TX, where Dr.
Brinkley died, taken by Dr. Charles Hulse |
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4. Dr. Brinkley's Medicine bottle label, provided by
border radio researcher Dr. David Moore of Houston |
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5. Photos of old KFKB transmitter and studio site in
Milford, KS, and of Brinkley material (with permission) from the KHS, provided
by Dr. David Moore |
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6. Photos and negatives of XERF taken and provided by
Noyes W. Willett |
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7. Brinkley related photographs from the
KHS |
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8. Photos by Noyes Willett of XERA |
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9. Photos of the 250,000-watt transmitter taken and
provided by Noyes Willett |
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10. Copy of "Characteristics and Operating Data 320A
Vacuum Tube," one of eight tubes used in the 500,000-watt Doherty amplifier at
XERA |
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11. Copy of a photo of the first two-element antenna
at XER |
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12. Copy of the schematic diagram for the 500,000-watt
amplifier at XERA, provided by Jim Weldon |
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13. Photo of the gold cup won by station KFKB as the
"Worlds Most Popular Radio Station," given by Radio Digest in 1930 and residing
at the KHS |
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14. Photos used for the paper on XER by D. M. Roth,
published in the Proceedings of the Radio Club of
America |
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15. Copies of XER/XERA photos from Warren Studio in Del
Rio, TX |
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16. Photos of XER/XERA, provided by Jim Weldon,
containing only known photo of the eight Western Electric 230A vacuum tubes in
the 500,000-watt amplifier |
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Mexican (Spanish-language) documents with English
translations |
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Assorted publications |
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Schematic for transmitter |
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| 3W108 |
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Audiocassettes: |
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1A. LA border radio material: W. L. O'Daniel, singing
"Beautiful Texas" |
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1B. Assorted Dr. Brinkley recording |
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2A. Mrs. Brinkley |
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2B. Pickard Family |
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3A. Dr. Brinkley |
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3B. Dr. Brinkley |
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4A. Light crust dough boys |
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4B. unknown |
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5A. Laredo Jamboree from XENT |
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5B. unknown |
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6A. Brinkley discusses female problems |
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6B. unknown |
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7A. Radio program "Sunday Live," where D. M. Roth and
Bill Bragg discuss border radio,
April 13, 1997 |
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7B. unknown |
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8A. J. R. Brinkley lecture, "La Prostate,"
1936 |
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8B. blank |
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9A. LA border stuff: music, W. L. O'Daniel |
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9B. LA border stuff: Carr Collins, W. L. O'Daniel,
music |
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10A. Mike Venditi talks about his time at XERF in a
recorded telephone interview,
April 1, 1997 |
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10B. blank |
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11A. "Border
Blasters," aired on National Public Radio,
July 22, 1994 |
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11B. Arturo C. Gonzalez,
July 22, 1994 |
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12A. Dr. Brinkley, obtained from University of
Memphis,
1939-1940 |
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12B. unknown |
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13A. Dr. Brinkley about XERA, obtained from University
of Memphis,
1940-1941 |
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13B. unknown |
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14A. Dr. Brinkley about XERA, obtained from University
of Memphis,
1939-1940 |
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14B. unknown |
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15A. NPR Show on border blasters |
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15B. possibly second half of show |
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16A. Jim Weldon on Dr. Brinkley and XERA,
September 9, 1989 |
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16B. unknown |
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17A. Dr. J. R. Brinkley about XERA from University of
Memphis Archive #1100,
1939 |
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17B. unknown |
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Teodoro Renteria interview, English translation,
October 13, 1997 |
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6 audiocassettes of Dr. Brinkley radio broadcast
transcriptions, from Whitehead Museum, Del Rio, TX,
1938-1941, undated |
| box |
| 2L310 |
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Brinkley transcriptions, Whitehead Museum to Barker
Texas History Center [Summaries of above 6 audiocassettes] |
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| 3W108 |
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Three 7” audiotape reel-to-reels |
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| 2L310 |
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Border Radio Sampler – Radio House [summaries of above 3
reel-to-reels] |
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| 3W108 |
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Film strip negatives of XER and possible
XERA |
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Videocassettes: |
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1. "Eyes of Texas," Brinkley story with footage of
XERF studio and transmitter, of San Felipe Springs in Del Rio, and of Villa
Acuña |
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2. PBS documentary on Brinkley, includes
"Making a World’s Record"" the 1936 Brinkley
Vacation |
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3. Trip to Kansas, including visit to Kansas
Historical Society’s Brinkley collection, interview with several people at
store in old Milford, a tour of KFKB transmitter site and old Milford,
interviews with Mr. and Mrs. Brighton in old Milford, and
"Making a World’s Record" 1936 Brinkley
vacation,
April 19, 1990 |
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4. Speech by Doctor in 1938, obtained from
KHS |
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5. Interview with Beryl Brinkley Palmer,
July 27, 1995 |
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6. Interview with Angela Brinkley Womack in Del Rio,
and tour of old Del Rio firehouse,
October 18, 1998 |
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7. Interview by D. M. Roth with Drs. Leon Kopecky,
Harry Spence, Charles Hulse, and Paul Gorsuch at the NIX Memorial Hospital,
May 18, 1993 |
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8. Interview with Jim Weldon,
February 1993 |
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Dr. Brinkley |
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Roswell Hotel, Arturo Gonzalez, Paul
Kallinger |
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Angela Brinkley Womack, recorded in Del Rio, TX, by D.
M. Roth,
October 18, 1998 |
Return to the Table of Contents
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