QSLs

For those unfamiliar with the radio listening hobby, a word about verifications, or "QSLs."

Beginning in the early days of broadcasting, radio listeners developed the practice of writing to stations that they heard over long distances. They described the programming they heard, and asked the station to "verify" in writing that it was indeed their station that was heard. Stations soon began responding to these "reception reports" with their own distinctive "verification cards." These cards came to be known as "QSLs," the letters "Q-S-L" being the international morse code symbol for "I acknowledge receipt."

Most stations use specially designed QSL cards that are unique to them. These cards often convey a sense of the country's history or culture, details about the station, the station emblem, etc. Usually they also contain details of the listener's reception ¬‚ date, time and frequency. Some stations, particularly the smaller ones, use letters instead of cards, often issued on decorative stationery.

Collecting QSLs became an important element in the hobby of long distance ("DX") radio listening, and remains so today. DX listening is only tangentially related to amateur radio, where radio operators talk with each other over their own transmitters (and also exchange QSLs of their contacts). The listening DXer does not talk over the air, but gets his or her pleasure in hearing new stations, writing to them and obtaining their QSL.

THE COMMITTEE

The Committee to Preserve Radio Verifications is a six-person group whose goal is to preserve QSLs belonging to hobbyists who are no longer active. Many QSL collections are misplaced or discarded when their owners pass away or leave the hobby. This is unfortunate because QSLs are not just souvenirs of individual listening experiences, but also an important part of the history of radio, reflecting changes in national politics, broadcasters, frequencies and relations between stations and listeners. It is hoped that in the future, through the Committee's efforts, more QSLs will be saved from loss or destruction. The Committee urges QSL collectors not to leave the fate of their QSLs to chance.

From the time the Committee was established in 1986 until April 2005, it operated under the umbrella of the Association of North American Radio Clubs (ANARC). ANARC was founded in 1964 as a unifying organization for non-profit radio listening clubs in the United States and Canada. Following ANARC's dissolution in 2005, the Committee has functioned independently, with no reduction or interruption of services.

THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE

We work toward our goal in several ways.

First, we want to cause more hobbyists to think about the long term importance of their QSL collections.

Second, through its association with the Library of American Broadcasting, the Committee provides a central repository for QSLs. Through direct contact with inactive listeners and the families of deceased hobbyists, and by a public information campaign within the hobby and elsewhere, the Committee seeks out significant collections that might otherwise be lost, and attempts to save them.

And third, the Committee provides a simple and convenient way for hobbyists to express the wish that their QSLs be donated to the CPRV after they pass away.

DONATED COLLECTIONS

The Committee archives donations of QSL cards and letters that it has accepted from inactive listeners and from the families of former hobbyists.

The CPRV collection is part of the Broadcast Pioneers Library of American Broadcasting, located at the University of Maryland. Since its formal dedication in 1972, the Library has established itself as one of the foremost repositories of media history in the country. Located in the Hornbake Library building on the University of Maryland campus just outside Washington, D.C., the Library contains a wide-ranging collection of audio-visual recordings, books, pamphlets, periodicals, personal collections, photographs, scripts, vertical files ¬‚ and now QSLs ¬‚ devoted exclusively to the history of broadcasting. It is staffed by trained and dedicated individuals operating in a professional archival environment.

The CPRV collection at the Library includes many thousands of QSLs, principally from shortwave and medium wave broadcast stations. In the collection are QSLs belonging to many well known hobbyists of years past. Some of these QSLs date back to the 1920s and 1930s. A computerized index is maintained, and all QSLs are fully identified with their original owner.

The CPRV collection is constantly expanding. The Committee has a continuing relationship with the Library, and is the main vehicle through which QSLs are added to the Library's CPRV collection.

PUBLIC INFORMATION

The Committee actively promotes its activities through articles in radio club bulletins, antique radio publications and elsewhere. The Committee's work has also been highlighted in broadcasts over many international radio stations. In addition, the Library of American Broadcasting utilizes various promotional vehicles to inform the general public and media professionals about the CPRV collection.

REGISTERED COLLECTIONS

Of equal importance to preserving the collections of former hobbyists is ensuring that today's active QSL collections are not lost in the future.

To address this problem, the Committee has established the Registered Collections program. Through it, the Committee provides hobbyists with stickers to affix to their QSL albums. These stickers contain a message expressing the hobbyist's wish that his or her QSLs be donated to the Committee when the hobbyist is no longer able to enjoy them.

More information on the Registered Collections program can be obtained by sending a business size stamped, self-addressed envelope to: John C. Herkimer, Registered Collections Coordinator, Committee to Preserve Radio Verifications, P.O. Box 54, Caledonia, NY 14423, (585) 766-7836.

THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

They are . . . Jerry Berg, retired court administrator, shortwave hobbyist and author, QSL collector since 1958, and Committee chairman . . . Gerry L. Dexter, shortwave radio author and publisher, an active member of the shortwave radio hobby for several decades . . . Tom Gavaras, marketing professional in radio, print and consumer shows for more than 25 years, DXer, QSL collector and active in hobby club circles since 1969 . . . Dan Henderson, engineer, shortwave DXer, international traveler and QSL collector since 1957 . . . John C. Herkimer, graphics designer, radio history enthusiast and QSL collector since 1968 . . . Don Jensen, retired journalist, author and a shortwave enthusiast since 1947.

IF YOU KNOW OF ANY QSLs THAT NEED A NEW HOME, OR IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT PRESERVING YOUR OWN QSLs

Contact any member of the Committee, by mail or by telephone. Each inquiry is handled individually. The Committee will work with donors to answer any questions and address any special problems they may have. Please do not send QSLs without contacting us first.

Most QSL collectors have spent hundreds or thousands of hours on their collections. As long as they are active in the hobby they should hold on to their QSLs so that they can get back as much enjoyment as the effort they have put in. But if you are leaving or have left the hobby, the Committee urges you to make arrangements for your QSLs. If you know of others who might be interested in the Committee's work, or if you are holding a QSL collection belonging to someone else, we hope you will contact us.

JERRY BERG, Chairman, 38 Eastern Avenue, Lexington, MA 02421, (781) 861-8481, jsberg@rcn.com

GERRY L. DEXTER, 213 Forest Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, (262) 248-4845, gdex@genevaonline.com

TOM GAVARAS, 3534 Druid Lane, Minnetonka, MN 55345-1116, (952) 476-9878, tgavaras@yahoo.com

DAN HENDERSON, 7921 Anfred Drive, Laurel, MD 20723, (301) 490-2023, dandan22@verizon.net

JOHN C. HERKIMER, P.O. Box 54, Caledonia, NY 14423, (585) 766-7836, jherkimer@rochester.rr.com

DON JENSEN, 5204 70th Street, Kenosha WI 53142-3624, (262) 652-5786, dnjkenosha@wi.rr.com