Lucy, Calvin T., papers A Guide to the Calvin T. Lucy Papers 1914-1978 M 172 A Collection in Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library Collection Number M 172
Box/folder, Calvin T. Lucy Papers, M 172, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth
University
Acquisition Information
The collection was donated to the Department by Mr. Lucy's family after his death. An additional .25 feet of material was
donated by C.T. Lucy, Jr. in 1993.
Processing Information
Collection processed in May 1987. Finding revised in May 1989 and April 1994.
Born in Baltimore, MD, on 8 October 1891, Calvin T. Lucy was educated at Baltimore City College (a public high school for
boys) and graduated in 1909. While taking night school classes at BCC in commercial subjects, Lucy also worked at Crown Cork
and Seal (1909-1912) in Baltimore. In 1912 he took a job with Reed Tobacco Company (a subsidiary of Laurus and Co.) as office
manager and book keeper. Promoted in 1918 to general office manager for Laurus, Lucy left this position to serve in the army
during World War I. He resumed his career with Laurus after his discharge and steadily advanced in management.
Given the responsibility of establishing a radio station in Richmond, in 1925, Lucy served as announcer, writer, producer,
performer and general manager during the early years of WRVA. Non-commercial until 1928, WRVA then became an affiliate of
NBC and C.T. moved into the sales and advertising portion of the operation. He supervised and managed the 5 kw station established
in 1929; the 50 kw in 1938, and subsequently rose to Vice President with responsibility for radio and television.
Lucy was active in the broadcasting profession and was an early member of the National Association of Broadcasters. He was
the first president of the Virginia Association of Broadcasters and the original chair of the (CBS) Columbia Affiliates Advisory
Board. An active citizen in the Richmond community, Lucy was also a member of the Community Fund, the Scottish Rite Masons,
the Chamber of Commerce, and of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and its governing body.
Lucy retired from the Laurus Company in 1961 and moved from Richmond to his farm near Ladysmith, VA. During his retirement
he played a key role in the establishment of educational television in Richmond by providing technical assistance and served
as a general consultant for the project. In 1973 C.T. received an award from the Virginia Association of Broadcasters. Mr.
Lucy died on 16 May 1980.
The collection consists of Mr. Lucy's personal correspondence, church files and mementos. Mr. Lucy's professional records
for the Laurus Company and WRVA Radio-Television in Richmond, Virginia comprised a large portion of the collection. The materials
cover the years 1914 to 1978. Also included in the collection are documents concerning the establishment of educational television
in Virginia, several phonograph records, news clippings photographs and travel/historical brochures on Virginia.
Additional personal and professional materials can be found at the Virginia Historical Society.
Arrangement Materials arranged in chronological order.
Organization The collection was received partially jumbled and at some point an arrangement was begun by the department but was never
completed. The ordering of the collection was begun again in December 1986 and is comprised of the following Series: I-Personal
Information and Correspondence 1914-1975; Series II-Church membership 1954-1969; Series III-Correspondence 1916-1978; Series
IV-WRVA Radio (program, broadcast and publicity materials) 1926-1961; Series V-WRVA Radio Managerial materials; Series VI--WRVA
TV 1952-1968; Series VII-Central Virginia Educational Television (CVETV) 1961-1963; Series VIII--Historical Publications and
Materials; Series IX--Miscellaneous n.d.
Additional ordering, photocopying of news clippings and separation of the photographs from the collection will take place
as time and staff permit. Several scrapbooks which were donated at a later date by Mr. Lucy's son are located in the oversize
area with other scrapbooks.
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