Carl G. Dietsch papers
Creation: 1908-1978Abstract
Carl George Dietsch (1900-1978) was an electrical engineer who specialized in shortwave radio transmitters. He supervised the construction of radio stations for the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) from the 1930s to the 1960s, including locations in Brazil, Argentina, the Philippines, Japan, and Morocco. This collection consists of materials relating to Dietsch’s projects for RCA and NBC, particularly concerning the construction of a radio station in Tangier, Morocco, as well as the World War II Voice of America project in Dixon, California. The bulk of the collection material spans from the 1920s to the 1960s, with some later material from Dietsch’s time as a private engineering consultant. The collection includes correspondence, patent material, trade catalogs and publications, manuscript material, photographs and negatives, blueprints, diazotypes, audiovisual material, and drafting tools. This collection would be useful to researchers interested in shortwave radio station construction.
Dates
- Creation: 1908-1978
Creator
- Dietsch, Carl George, 1900-1978 (Person)
Extent
6.25 Linear Feet
Physical Description
1,702 photographic prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. and smaller. 387 negatives : b&w ; 4 x 6 in. and smaller. 29 slides : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. 1 sound tape reel : 3.75 ips.
Biographical Note
Carl George Dietsch (1900-1978) was an electrical engineer who specialized in shortwave radio transmitters. He supervised the construction of radio stations for the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Dietsch was born in Toledo, Ohio, on November 6, 1900, to Elizabeth (Rodenhauser) Dietsch (1867-1954) and Charles Dietsch (1867-1941). As a high school student, Dietsch served as a marine radio operator. He went on to complete an associate degree in electrical engineering from the University of the City of Toledo (Ohio) in 1924 and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1926.
After college, Dietsch went on to work for RCA, where he served as the engineer in charge of transoceanic shortwave radio station construction in Brazil, Argentina, the Philippines, Japan, and Morocco. He joined NBC in 1930 and supervised radio station construction in Bound Brook, New Jersey, and Chicago, Illinois. From 1939 to 1941, Dietsch took graduate courses in mathematics and electronics at Columbia University (New York) and New York University. During World War II, he served as a supervising engineer in Dixon, California, as part of the “Voice of America” Office of War Information project. Dietsch retired in 1965 and became a private engineering consultant.
Dietsch was a member of the International Electrical and Electronics Engineering Association and the Institute of Radio Engineers. He held three patents, one for a variable condenser. Dietsch also wrote several articles for RCA, including “The Tangier Radio Relay System,” and taught at the RCA Institute in New York City.
Dietsch married Rubye Annette Carpenter Dietsch (1904-1990) on December 8, 1929; they had four children.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of materials relating to Carl G. Dietsch’s projects building radio stations for the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). Project locations of note include Brazil; the Philippines; Morocco; and Dixon, California (Voice of America). This collection would be useful to researchers interested in shortwave radio station construction.
The collection is organized into four series: Professional papers; Photographs, negatives, and audiovisual material; Blueprints and maps; and Artifacts.
Series I, Professional papers, consists of correspondence, data, trade publications, manuscript material, and documents relating to Dietsch’s employment with RCA and NBC. This series includes notes, reference material, and printed copies of his article, “The Tangier Radio Relay System.” The series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The materials date from 1908 to 1978.
Series II, Photographs, negatives, and audiovisual material, consists of photographic prints and negatives of radio station projects taken by Dietsch and other RCA and NBC employees, as well as one sound tape of a panel on “How to Use TV to a Better Advantage” from the Engineers’ Speaking Society. The bulk of the photographs in this series are from Dietsch’s radio station project in Tangier, Morocco. The series is arranged alphabetically by subject. The materials date from 1927 to 1961.
Series III, Blueprints and maps, consists of folded and rolled blueprints and diazotypes concerning Dietsch’s RCA and NBC station projects. The bulk of the series pertains to station construction in Tangier, Morocco and Dasmariñas, Philippines. The materials date from 1941 to 1949.
Series IV, Artifacts, consists of engineering and drafting tools used by Dietsch. Items include a slide rule, pocket seal, compass, an unidentified engineering tool, and two pocket knives.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Negatives (Boxes 3-4) are located in remote storage. Please contact staff 48 hours in advance of research visit at askhagley@hagley.org
Access to view lantern slides (Box 5) is at the discretion of the conservator. Please inquire in advance of your visit.
Language of Materials
English
Subjects
Related Names
Subject
- Radio Corporation of America (Organization)
- National Broadcasting Company (Organization)
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Carl G. Dietsch papers
- Author:
- Paige Bartello
- Date:
- 2023
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
