Offered here is an unusual archival lot of 17 original-period Russian-language Radio Liberty/Radio Svoboda broadcast-production scripts, dating from May through July 1993.
The collection includes scripts from two Radio Liberty programs:
The newly documented scripts include “Religion in the Modern World” program numbers 448, 449 and 450, dated during May 1993. Other visible scripts extend through approximately program No. 462, creating a substantial chronological group from this series.
The scripts examine political, religious and social developments during the turbulent period following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Topics visible throughout the collection include:
These are not merely clean reading copies. Many pages contain extensive handwritten production markings, including:
These markings appear to document changes made before or during the actual broadcasts and give the material considerably more historical interest than unmarked duplicate scripts.
Most scripts remain individually stapled or grouped as originally found. The lot forms a substantial stack, as shown beside the ruler in the photographs. The exact total page count has not been verified.
You will receive the complete 17-script lot shown. No recordings or other materials are included. Please rely on the photographs for exact contents, pagination and condition.
From the personal archive of Nicholas A. Petroff, whose career included work involving Soviet and Eastern European affairs and senior service Assistant Director with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The archive was retained together before acquisition and has not been assembled from unrelated sources. The archive’s Petroff provenance provides important context for the material and helps explain its concentration on Russian Service editorial policy, Soviet affairs, broadcasting and institutional controversies.
Radio Liberty transmitted uncensored news, cultural programming, religious discussions, and political commentary to audiences in the Soviet Union. Religious programming held particular historical importance because open religious expression and access to uncensored Orthodox material had long been restricted under Soviet rule. These scripts date from the transformative final period of the USSR.
An unusual primary-source research collection with potential interest to collectors and institutions focused on:
All 17 script packets shown are included and will remain together as one lot.
The provenance helps explain why this group of Russian-language broadcast and political material was preserved together.
An excellent research collection relating to Radio Liberty, post-Soviet Russia, international broadcasting, journalism, Russian émigré history, religious studies and political communication.
This provenance provides valuable context but should not be interpreted as a claim that Petroff personally authored all of these scripts. However, based on their provenance and the handwritten editorial markings, they are believed to have been at least reviewed or edited by Petroff. The handwriting has not been independently authenticated.
Bonus:
Will ship safely as always.
broadcasts lot 2