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Herbert V. Hake Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 14/10/02/01

Scope and Contents

The Herbert V. Hake papers consist of a subject file created by Hake mainly related to broadcast services at UNI; a file of material relating to the Lecture-Concert Series during Mr. Hake's years as chairman; and extensive photographic material relating to the production of television series, especially "Landmarks in Iowa History"; and sketches done by Mr. Hake. Several of these programs are available in digital format from the WOI Archives held in the Special Collections Department of the Library at Iowa State University.

The subject file in Boxes 1-4 contains the best sources of information on radio and television broadcasting at UNI during the 1940's, 1950's, and 1960's. Of special interest is the file "Correspondence, Policy concerning Radio Broadcasts, 1942-8": this file contains early policy statements developed by Mr. Hake, Irving Hart, and President Malcolm Price as well as correspondence relating to the controversy with radio station KXEL. The "Campus (Student) Radio Station" files include policy statements, budgets, and minutes of the radio governing board meetings. Of special interest is a letter from J. O. Perrine on the first uses of radio transmissions on the UNI campus in the years from 1914 through 1920. Much of the rest of the subject file consists of correspondence and schedules of television programs including Mr. Hake's long-running "Landmarks in Iowa History".

Boxes 5 and 6 contain correspondence and programs dealing with the Lecture-Concert Series from 1951 through 1959. Some of the correspondence consists of routine arrangements and confirmations with performers' agents. But, taken as a whole, these records offer a close look at the mores and tastes of the day. Boxes 7-33 consist primarily of material associated with the production of the "Landmarks" series, including photographs with negatives of series sites, large photos used in production, and sketches of historical figures.

Boxes 32 and 33 reflect and supplement the contents of Boxes 1-4. They contain correspondence and policy on the establishment of radio and television services on the UNI campus; radio and television programming in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s; and photographs relating to the facilities and programming. There are also good files relating to Hake's presentations and chalk talks; the Arcturus Club; Faculty Men's Club; and the College Hill Interdenominational Church. This material became boxes 34 and 35. Boxes 34 and 35 relate to Hake's work as lecturer, cartoonist, Director of Broadcasting, and personal matters.

Dates

  • 1942-1980

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions. Materials are open for research.

General Use, Reproduction, and Copyright Policies

Many items housed in the Rod Library Special Collections & University Archives, including unpublished images and manuscripts, may be protected by copyright, publication rights, trademarks, or model release rights which the library does not own and for which the library cannot grant permission or licensing. Materials currently under copyright are usually still available for research and limited reproduction under Fair Use laws. However, it is the sole responsibility of the patron to determine whether or not their use of a given material falls within Fair Use guidelines and to obtain permission for said use from the rightful copyright owner. If you are unsure where to begin, please consult the Copyright LibGuide. Please note that it is not the library's responsibility to locate or contact copyright holders for a patron, and neither the library nor library employees are responsible for copyright violations of the materials to which they facilitate research access.

Please see our full General Use and Service Policies for more information.

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy or similar laws, and the Iowa Open Records Law (see Iowa Code ยง 22.7). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of Northern Iowa assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

Herbert Victor Hake was born in Hoyleton, Illinois, on August 10, 1903. He earned a bachelor's degree from Central Wesleyan College in Warrenton, Missouri, in 1928, and a master's degree from the University of Iowa in 1933. He taught art and theater and worked as a commercial layout artist.

Hake joined the Iowa State Teachers College staff as a theatre scene designer and technical director in 1938. He became the first radio program director in 1942 and the first director of radio and television in 1947. He was UNI's pioneer broadcaster. His programs, including "Landmarks in Iowa History", were known throughout the Midwest. Another program of special note is "Behind the Headlines" which he broadcast with Donald F. Howard for many years. Herbert Hake was also well-known as a cartoonist, columnist, and local historian with many popular publications to his credit.

In 1973, the call letters of campus station KTCF were changed to KHKE in Hake's honor. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Iowa Broadcasters Association in 1978 and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from UNI in 1979. Herbert Hake was married to Monabelle Hake, with whom he had two daughters, Patricia and Priscilla. Hake died March 10, 1980.

Extent

25.85 Linear Feet (36 boxes)

3.58 Linear Feet (oversize folder)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The framed Hake drawing of a barn was donated by the estate of Edna C. Boenke in January 2022.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Boxes 32 and 33 were donated by Priscilla Hake Lauris, one of Mr. Hake's daughters, in March 2013. Lauris donated boxes 34 and 35 in January 2015.

Related Materials

Related archival materials can be found in 28/01/05/01 Addendum to Herb Hake Film Reel Collection (in a smaller reel-to-reel format) and 14/10/06 "Landmark in Iowa History" collection, in Special Collections & University Archives at the University of Northern Iowa. Further related materials are available in RS 05/06 WOI Radio and Television records at the Iowa State University Audiovisual Collections, and the Cedar Falls Historical Society.

Processing Information

Papers initially arranged and described by University Archivist Gerald L. Peterson, 1992. Updated July 19, 2014 by Library Assistant Joy Lynn and Student Library Assistant Mackenzi Brophy. Finding aid revised April 1996; May 5, 2014 (GP); updated, December 15, 2015 (GP). Updated by Library Associate Dave Hoing, January 2018 and April 2018. Linear feet updated on September 14, 2017. The film inventory was created by student employee Ashley Thronson and student intern Nick Waters in 2017. Finding aid updated by Tessa Wakefield, March 2021.

Title
Herbert V. Hake Papers
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository