TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Contents
Restrictions
Index Terms
Related Material
Administrative Information
Description of Series
Inventory
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A Guide to the Border Radio Collection, 1917-[2010]
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Creator: |
Roth, Durell M. |
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Title: |
Border Radio Collection |
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Dates: |
1917-[2010] |
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Abstract: |
The Border Radio Collection,
1917-[2010], 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 and Norman Baker. |
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Accession No.: |
2009-099; 2009-284; 2010-234 |
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OCLC No. |
458315806 |
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Extent: |
2 ft. |
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Language: |
Materials are written in English and Spanish. |
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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 "Voice of the Two Republics" in Reynosa, began
broadcasting in 1930.
The next year radio station XER, owned by Dr. John R. Brinkley, began regular
broadcasting from Villa Acuña, now Ciudad Acuña, Mexico. Brinkley, a controversial
physician, lived in Del Rio, TX, after being banned from the practice of medicine
and from the air-waves in Kansas on his station KFKB ("Kansas First, Kansas Best"). 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 from his 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-[2010], 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 and Norman Baker.
The audiocassettes portion of the collection contains eighteen, C60, audio cassettes
of miscellaneous interviews, air-checks, and NPR programs from random sources
regarding border radio. May be some duplication of material.
There are reel-to-reel tapes and compact discs within the collection dubbed from the
original border station air checks recorded at Radio House on 16-inch transcription
discs. [The original 16-inch transcriptions are in the UT Radio House Records.] A
detailed accession list containing data taken from the transcription label such as
transcription number, station call sign, broadcast date, times, transcription
condition, etc., is kept with the tapes and with the CD dubs. Researchers are
encouraged to use this list in order to obtain the most complete information
regarding the recorded material.
Archivist’s note: Inventory provided by the donor with
edits by the archivist. The 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
Use of audio reels by appointment only; please contact sound archivist for more information.
Use of photographic negatives by appointment only; please contact photo archivist for more information.
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
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UT Radio House Records contains Border Radio Air Checks: 16-inch transcription discs
recorded at Radio House, which were used in creating audio materials listed in
inventory. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Border Radio Collection, 1917-[2010], Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The
University of Texas at Austin.
Return to the Table of Contents
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Inventory |
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"Border Radio - An Overview: and
Selected Border-Radio Reading List" by Durell M. Roth,
[2010] |
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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. XERF profile: Time line generated from a telephone interview
with Mike Venditi, Noyes (Nockey) Willett, and Arturo
Gonzalez |
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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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39a. Willett, Noyes "Nockey" obituary, 2011 |
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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 material from the Mexican Public
Health Dept. allowing Brinkley to broadcast a lecture on "The Prostate" with printed translation by
John Wheat |
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[See audiocassette 8A for Wheat’s audio translation.] |
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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 Earl's "Old Camp Meeting
Song Book," including associated materials and autographed
photo |
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47. 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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"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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48. Technical folder XER - XERF: |
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Misc. technical papers on XER/XERA and XERF |
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Photos annotated by J. O. Weldon and Nockey Willett
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Schematic diagram of 500,000-watt amplifier |
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49. 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 XERF 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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50. 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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51. Copies of XER/XERA photos from Warren Studio in Del Rio,
TX |
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52. 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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53. Mexican (Spanish-language) documents with English
translations |
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54. Assorted publications |
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Proceedings of The Radio Club of
America, containing an article titled "From the Birth to the Demise of Super-Power
Station XERA," by Durell M. Roth, Spring
1996 |
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Newspaper article about border radio |
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Photocopy about the XERF super-power Ampliphase transmitter
written by D. M. Roth |
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55. Multiple copies of schematic diagram of 500,000-watt
amplifier at XERA |
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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 on XERA, obtained from University of
Memphis, 1940-1941 |
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13B. unknown |
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14A. Dr. Brinkley on 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 on XERA from University of Memphis
Archive #1100, 1939 |
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17B. unknown |
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18A. Teodoro Renteria interview, recorded on C60 cassette,
October 13, 1997 |
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[This tape is an English translation of a Spanish document. See
folder "Mexican Doc’s" for
original Spanish text.] |
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18B. unknown |
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Brinkley Transcriptions: Eight C-60 audio cassette dubs of
Dr. Brinkley’s radio broadcasts taken from 16-inch discs housed at
the Whitehead Museum, Del Rio, TX, [ca. 1938-1941]
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56. Brinkley Transcriptions: Accession list with detailed
program information of eight C-60 audio cassette dubs of Dr.
Brinkley’s radio broadcasts taken from 16-inch discs housed at the
Whitehead Museum, Del Rio, TX, [ca.
1938-1941] |
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57. Border Radio Sampler: Accession list of air checks from
various border stations recorded at Radio House by Nockey Willett on
16-inch transcription discs. |
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[These listed air checks are within the collection on dubbed
reel-to-reel tapes and CDs.] |
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58. Ortiz Garza, José Luis. Una Radio Entre dos Reinos. Buenos
Aires et al.: Vergara, 1997. Includes inscription in book, letter from
the author to Durell Roth, and English summary of several chapters by J.
Deroy Howard, 2009. |
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Three 7-inch reel-to-reel tapes containing air checks of numerous
border stations copied from 16-inch electrical transcriptions that were
recorded at Radio House by Nockey Willett. |
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Compact discs copied from three 7-inch reel-to-reels copied from
16-inch electrical transcriptions that were recorded at Radio House by
Nockey Willett: |
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CD-1 contains all of reel #1 and beginning of reel #2
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CD-2 contains the continuation of reel #2 |
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CD-3 contains the conclusion of reel #2 and beginning of reel
#3 |
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CD-4 contains the conclusion of reel #3 |
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"Mexican Radio" CD: Misc. border
station air checks and copy of the rare commercial for LRO Tablets. This
CD was recorded and provided by Nockey Willett. |
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Videocassettes and film strip negatives of XER and possible
XERA: |
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1. Television program titled "Eyes
of Texas", recorded by KPRC TV in Houston and containing
the Brinkley story, footage of XERF studio and transmitter, San
Felipe Springs in Del Rio, and some footage 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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9. Video tour of Dr. Brinkley’s home, "The Mansion," in Del Rio, including
all rooms in the house, Doctor’s three-story pipe organ, the
grounds, and fountains |
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10. Video tour of a portion of Del Rio and the Roswell Hotel
in which Dr. Brinkley had his hospital and lab; extensive interviews
with Del Rio attorney, Arturo Gonzales, and XERF announcer Paul
Kallinger; and Kallinger does one of his long XERF station
ID’s |
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11. Copy of interview with Angela Brinkley Womack, recorded
in Del Rio, TX, by D. M. Roth, October 18,
1998 |
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[part of #6 above] |
| box |
| 2.116/top of cabinets |
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Schematic diagrams of XERF 250,000-watt RCA
transmitter: |
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Full-size photocopy (3 ft. x 10 ft.) |
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Two reduced-size photocopies (12 in. x 36 in.) |
Return to the Table of Contents
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