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William Henry Radebaugh films and scripts

Creation: 1959-1977
 Collection
Accession: 1975-412
View selected items online in the Hagley Digital Archives.
View selected items online in the Hagley Digital Archives.

Abstract

William Henry Radebaugh (1909-1996), was a public relations executive at the DuPont Company for over twenty years. He wrote, produced and directed many films about the company during his tenure there and for several years after his retirement. The bulk of the collection contains his scripts, storyboards, proposals and films, written and directed by William Henry Radebaugh. Several of the films are concerned about safety in the plants and in the use of DuPont products. Also included are four compilation reels of short news segments about different products, plants and services of the DuPont Company. There are also films about specific DuPont plants and laboratories including the Haskell Laboratory, the Spruance plant in Richmond, Va.; the Tecumseh plant in Tecumseh, Kansas, the Washington plant in Washington, West Virginia and the twenty fifth anniversary of the Victoria, Texas plant.

Dates

  • Creation: 1959-1977

Creator

Extent

4 Linear Feet

Physical Description

16 reels : sd. col. ; 16mm. 2 reels : sd., b&w ; 16mm. 1 videocassette (Betacam SP). 1 videodisc (DVD). 2 sound tape reels; analog. 21 items : scripts. 12 items : storyboards. 7 items : proposals. 2 items : lists. 1 item : letter.

Historical Note

William Henry Radebaugh (1909-1996), was a public relations executive at the DuPont Company for over twenty years. He wrote, produced and directed many films about the company during his tenure there and for several years after his retirement.

Born 1909, in Mobile, Alabama, William Henry Radebaugh was the son of William Henry and Adelaide (Walsh). He went to Lancaster High School in Lancaster, Ohio and graduated from Ohio State University in 1931 with a degree in journalism. He began his career in public relations and in 1942, founded and was executive director of, the South Jersey Manufacturer’s Association in Camden, New Jersey. Radebaugh then took a position at the DuPont Company as a public relations consultant in 1952. He later became the Director of Public Relations for the Textile Fibers Department.

When presented with a scratchy tape of a du Pont family member speaking about the family, Radebaugh produced a new film with James Q. du Pont walking through the Hagley Yard as he discussed the du Pont family history. After retiring from his career in public relations with the DuPont Company in 1974, he went on to produce more films for DuPont with two former colleagues who had started the production company, Arden Films. Radebaugh was also an accomplished musician, having played with Jimmie (1904-1957) and Tommy Dorsey (1905-1956), Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) and Jack (1905-1964) and Charlie Teagarden (1913-1984). He was also an artist, working in needlepoint, watercolors and printmaking.

Radebaugh was married Marie Rose Herman Radebaugh and had two sons, William Henry Jr. and Patrick Walsh. Marie Rose Herman Radebaugh died in 1989. William Henry Radebaugh died January 10, 1996.

Scope and Content

The bulk of the collection contains scripts, storyboards, proposals and films, written and directed by William Henry Radebaugh during his employment at the DuPont Company or for the company once he retired. A letter from a colleague and film lists from the company are also included. Some of the scripts or proposals are for films in the collection and others are proposals (that include storyboards) for slide/tape presentations. The documents are arranged in chronological order.

There are twenty 16mm films dating from 1959 to 1977. The films are arranged in alphabetical order by film title. All of the films are industrial films related to the DuPont Company. “Letter to a Child” is a commercial for DuPont from the Cavalcade of America series. William H. Radebaugh appears and explains how DuPont textiles are created using some of his own drawings. Several of the films are concerned about safety in the plants and in the use of DuPont products. There are three compilations of news segments containing one to three minute long pieces about different products, plants and services of the DuPont Company. “Corporate Perspective” is another compilation of segments, mostly about the DuPont Company’s mission to improve air and water pollution in and around the plants. There are also films about specific DuPont plants and laboratories including the Haskell Laboratory, the Spruance plant in Richmond, Virginia; the Tecumseh plant in Tecumseh, Kansas, the Washington plant in Washington, West Virginia and the twenty fifth anniversary of the Victoria, Texas plant.

Existence and Location of Copies

View selected items online in the Hagley Digital Archives.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.

There are no viewing or listening stations for analog audio, video, or film in the reading room. To access this material, please place a digitization request for the item(s).

Film material is located in remote storage. Please contact staff 48 hours in advance of research visit at askhagley@hagley.org

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Subject

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
William Henry Radebaugh films and scripts
Author:
Lisa Kruczek
Date:
2018.
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400