Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for use without restrictions.

Use Restrictions

None

Preferred Citation

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.

Biographical Information

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.

Scope and Content Information

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.

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.