About the Collections

The MBC collects, preserves, and presents historic and contemporary radio and television content. Preserving television and radio is valuable in documenting the American experience. Providing access to these primary sources of history is central to the MBC‘s mission.

Programs

The MBC Collection spans the history of broadcasting and includes more than 25,000 television programs, 5,000 radio programs, and 12,000 commercials totaling almost 100,000 hours. Over 8,500 program assets have already been digitized.

Highlights include:

• Chicago Tonight Collection
• 10 PM Chicago Television Collection (Since 1/1/1987)
• Frontline Collection
• David Susskind Collection
• Kraft Collection
• Tom Snyder Collection
• Chuck Schaden's Old Time Radio Collection

Click here to search the Archives catalog.

Artifacts

The MBC also holds more than 1,800 objects that helped shape radio and television history, including:

• Vintage Radios and Televisions: These artifacts trace the advancement in delivery technology that allowed millions of Americans to listen and watch.
• Kennedy-Nixon Camera: The original camera used in the historic 1960 event; the first televised presidential debate was held at WBBM-TV in Chicago.
• Puppets, Costumes, and Props: Puppets include Charlie McCarthy, Garfield Goose, and Dirty Dragon. We also house the costumes for the cast of Bozo as the Grand Prize Game.

Photographs

The MBC has also digitized much of its collection of more than 3,500 photographs from broadcasting history. Most of our photographs are available in the online Archives catalog. Simply click on Images after logging in to search for your favorite star as well as photos of our artifact collection.

The MBC Archives staff is ready to assist you in your research projects. You can contact our Archives Department by email at archives@museum.tv.