[Scrapbook of an American Business Executive's Visit to Japan]
- Japan , 1960
Japan, 1960. Two 13” x 11” plastic comb-bound albums, vinyl over boards, with handpainted titles (“General Sarnoff's Far East Visit 1960”) to front. Combined, the albums have 48 black construction paper leaves with 183 B&W photographs, 36 clippings and 26 items of ephemera adhesive or corner mounted both sides + 12” x 9½” manila folder laid in with five packets on printer or onionskin paper, typescript rectos only, [153] pp. total. Photos range from 3¼” x 4½” to 8” x 10” and 1 laid in is captioned verso. One album good due to the loss of some of the plastic, holding boards only, all contents detached; other album good due to several leaves detached. Contents of first album very good or better; second album contents near fine or better.
This is a fantastic scrapbook compiled by the manager of “Far East Operations” for the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), documenting a visit to Japan by RCA Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, General David Sarnoff. A radio pioneer and lifelong telecommunications mogul, Sarnoff was deemed the “Father of American Television” and was particularly known for leading company relations in Japan.
Born into a Russian Jewish family in 1891, Sarnoff was brought to the United States in 1900 and with the death of his father soon after, started working to support his family. At the age of 15 he became an “office boy” at the Marconi Company and over the next 13 years steadily rose through the ranks. When Marconi was reorganized into RCA, Sarnoff continued his uphill climb; he became General Manager in 1921 and Vice President one year later, was instrumental in building and establishing the AM broadcasting method that became the public radio standard, and founded the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in 1926. In 1929 Sarnoff led the acquisition of the Victor Talking Machine Company (becoming RCA Records) and in 1930 was elected RCA President at the age of 39. He led the company through the Great Depression, helped launch television with his quote “Now we add sight to sound” at the 1939 New York World's Fair and was the first recipient of the American Nobel Center's “One World” award for his efforts in international broadcasting in 1945. During World War II Sarnoff served as Special Consultant on Communications to General Eisenhower overseas, was named Brigadier General in 1944 and earned countless other military and professional honors. Sarnoff retired from RCA in 1970 at the age of 79 and died the following year.
This album holds a wealth of photographs and news clippings regarding Sarnoff's three-week visit to Japan in October 1960, and a manila folder laid in makes the collection even richer. Labeled “Mr. S. J. Antosy / General Sarnoff's Schedule,” this folder holds minutely detailed obligations and activities of the CEO abroad, as well as a four-page report by Antosy, RCA's manager of “Far East Operations,” for his supervisor. The report reveals the “many social, political and business meetings” that comprised the General's visit, with notes on Japanese companies, political and business leaders, presentations and receptions, as well as sightseeing excursions. There is a guest list for the cocktail party, with “categories of guests” not limited to “RCA Connected,” “Scientists,” United States and Japanese “Military,” “Ministry,” “Universities” and “Supreme Court.” The folder holds a biographical sketch of Sarnoff, “recognized throughout the world as a pioneer in the development of radio, television and electronics” and the namesake of a Princeton research center, “one of the world's foremost . . . laboratories.” Contents reveal that back in 1920, Sarnoff had initiated the first “international traffic exchange that has meant much to both countries,” and that, “in line with Sarnoff policy, RCA development and production experts visit Japan regularly to offer cooperation,” “bringing products of increasing value to the world markets and to mankind.” Antosy noted the leader's “good nature” and “way of creating a friendly atmosphere . . . all RCA people I have talked to feel that General Sarnoff's visit was a great success.”
Photographs in the album reveal Sarnoff alone, with his wife or in groups on the visit, smiling and laughing, shaking hands and conversing with diplomats and other distinguished guests. We see American and Japanese executives enjoying a meal on tatami mats, fishing from a pond and posed with women and children in traditional Japanese dress. There are 22 clippings, mostly from English-language newspapers of Japan, though one from Stars and Stripes shows Sarnoff presented with the key to the city of Tokyo, and another meeting the Japanese students awarded his namesake RCA scholarship. Great items of ephemera include Antosy's invitations to receptions, bilingual programs, dinner menus and a street map based around the International House of Japan. The album also holds Sarnoff's address to a luncheon in his honor sponsored by the Federation of Economic Organizations, the America-Japan Society and the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, as well as his remarks in honor of the scholarship recipients.
Vivid and thorough documentation of a notable business executive's efforts in Japan. The finding aid for a collection of Sarnoff's papers housed at the Hagley Library shows a handful of photos from this visit.
This is a fantastic scrapbook compiled by the manager of “Far East Operations” for the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), documenting a visit to Japan by RCA Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, General David Sarnoff. A radio pioneer and lifelong telecommunications mogul, Sarnoff was deemed the “Father of American Television” and was particularly known for leading company relations in Japan.
Born into a Russian Jewish family in 1891, Sarnoff was brought to the United States in 1900 and with the death of his father soon after, started working to support his family. At the age of 15 he became an “office boy” at the Marconi Company and over the next 13 years steadily rose through the ranks. When Marconi was reorganized into RCA, Sarnoff continued his uphill climb; he became General Manager in 1921 and Vice President one year later, was instrumental in building and establishing the AM broadcasting method that became the public radio standard, and founded the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in 1926. In 1929 Sarnoff led the acquisition of the Victor Talking Machine Company (becoming RCA Records) and in 1930 was elected RCA President at the age of 39. He led the company through the Great Depression, helped launch television with his quote “Now we add sight to sound” at the 1939 New York World's Fair and was the first recipient of the American Nobel Center's “One World” award for his efforts in international broadcasting in 1945. During World War II Sarnoff served as Special Consultant on Communications to General Eisenhower overseas, was named Brigadier General in 1944 and earned countless other military and professional honors. Sarnoff retired from RCA in 1970 at the age of 79 and died the following year.
This album holds a wealth of photographs and news clippings regarding Sarnoff's three-week visit to Japan in October 1960, and a manila folder laid in makes the collection even richer. Labeled “Mr. S. J. Antosy / General Sarnoff's Schedule,” this folder holds minutely detailed obligations and activities of the CEO abroad, as well as a four-page report by Antosy, RCA's manager of “Far East Operations,” for his supervisor. The report reveals the “many social, political and business meetings” that comprised the General's visit, with notes on Japanese companies, political and business leaders, presentations and receptions, as well as sightseeing excursions. There is a guest list for the cocktail party, with “categories of guests” not limited to “RCA Connected,” “Scientists,” United States and Japanese “Military,” “Ministry,” “Universities” and “Supreme Court.” The folder holds a biographical sketch of Sarnoff, “recognized throughout the world as a pioneer in the development of radio, television and electronics” and the namesake of a Princeton research center, “one of the world's foremost . . . laboratories.” Contents reveal that back in 1920, Sarnoff had initiated the first “international traffic exchange that has meant much to both countries,” and that, “in line with Sarnoff policy, RCA development and production experts visit Japan regularly to offer cooperation,” “bringing products of increasing value to the world markets and to mankind.” Antosy noted the leader's “good nature” and “way of creating a friendly atmosphere . . . all RCA people I have talked to feel that General Sarnoff's visit was a great success.”
Photographs in the album reveal Sarnoff alone, with his wife or in groups on the visit, smiling and laughing, shaking hands and conversing with diplomats and other distinguished guests. We see American and Japanese executives enjoying a meal on tatami mats, fishing from a pond and posed with women and children in traditional Japanese dress. There are 22 clippings, mostly from English-language newspapers of Japan, though one from Stars and Stripes shows Sarnoff presented with the key to the city of Tokyo, and another meeting the Japanese students awarded his namesake RCA scholarship. Great items of ephemera include Antosy's invitations to receptions, bilingual programs, dinner menus and a street map based around the International House of Japan. The album also holds Sarnoff's address to a luncheon in his honor sponsored by the Federation of Economic Organizations, the America-Japan Society and the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, as well as his remarks in honor of the scholarship recipients.
Vivid and thorough documentation of a notable business executive's efforts in Japan. The finding aid for a collection of Sarnoff's papers housed at the Hagley Library shows a handful of photos from this visit.
Details
Title
[Scrapbook of an American Business Executive's Visit to Japan]
Author
Antosy, Stephen J.; Sarnoff, David
Condition
Unknown
Publisher
Japan
Date
1960