NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG4535.AM: George Kister, 1900-1983
Scrapbooks, etc.: 1925-1972
Clay Center, Clay County and Grand Island, Hall County, Neb.: Radio broadcaster
Size: 1 reel of microfilm
BACKGROUND NOTE
George Kister was born in Juniata, Adams County, Nebraska, in 1900. He attended Business College in Hastings, Nebraska, and then worked as a buyer of auto accessories before he became Assistant Secretary of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce in 1925. At this time, the Chamber of Commerce acted as manager of radio station KFKX, Hastings. As Assistant Secretary, Kister began broadcasting regularly. In 1927 Kister went to Clay Center to join KMMJ, remaining with that station for the next 41 years, also following its move to Grand Island, Nebraska, in 1939. During his tenure with KMMJ, Kister served as Program Director, Farm Director, and Public Service Director. After his retirement from broadcasting in 1968, Kister served as Administrative Assistant to Hastings, Nebraska’s City Manager, working specifically with the issue of storm drainage control.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The collection consists of one reel of microfilmed manuscript material arranged in three series: 1) Scrapbooks; 2) Correspondence, 1925-1972 and 3) Miscellany. This material relates almost entirely to George Kister’s radio broadcasting career with station KMMJ through its years in Clay Center and Grand Island, Nebraska. Some material dealing with Kister’s role as Administrative Assistant to Hastings, Nebraska City Manager is also included.
The Scrapbook of Series 1 consists of newspaper clippings, KMMJ newsletter publications, and certificates of merit presented to George Kister which trace both Kister’s career and the history of radio station KMMJ. An appeal to potential advertisers and examples of typical program talent are shown. Cards, letters, press releases, and photographs documenting Kister’s retirement in 1968 are included. Material covering his tenure as Administrative Assistant to the City Manager of Hastings, Nebraska, is also included, notably Kister’s report entitled, “The Story of Storm Drainage Control in Grand Island, NE.”
The correspondence, ca. 1925-1972, of Series 2 is comprised primarily of letters of congratulations for Kister’s years of broadcasting service. Series 3 contains newspaper clippings about radio history KMMJ’s programs, a biographical profile of Kister, and The Corral the newsletter of KMMJ. Sheet music and a volume entitled, “Hastings, Nebraska, The Queen City of the Plains,” published in 1903, is also included.
Note: See the Nebraska Radio Collection [RG3006] for additional manuscript and audio materials relating to George Kister and radio broadcasting in Nebraska. See the NSHS Library Catalog and the Nebraska History index for published materials regarding George Kister and/or KMMJ Radio.
DESCRIPTION
Reel 1
Series 1 – Scrapbooks
Materials trace the career of radio broadcaster, George Kister and the history of radio station, KMMJ. Material is also included on Kister’s career as Administrative Assistant to Hastings, Nebraska’s City Manager
Series 2 – Correspondence, ca. 1925-1972
Series 3 – Miscellany
Includes newspaper clippings, newsletter publications and volume entitled, Hastings, Nebraska, The Queen City of the Plains
ADDED ENTRIES:
Clay Center (Neb.) — History
Grand Island (Neb.) — History
Hastings (Neb.) — History
Kister, George, 1900-1983
KMMJ (Clay Center, Neb.)
KMMJ (Grand Island, Neb.)
Radio broadcasting — Nebraska
AIF/pjm 12-20-1979
Encoded TMM 05-22-2010