Archives of Iowa Broadcasting: KMA/KFNF Radio

Archives of Iowa Broadcasting

Finding Aid

KMA/KFNF Radio Collection

Preface

The purpose of the Archives of Iowa Broadcasting is to establish and maintain a permanent collection of materials relating to the history, development and contribution of radio and television in Iowa.

The Archives is committed to providing access to holdings. However, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with the donors. Due to the complexity and variety of audiovisual formats, most items will need to be digitally duplicated or transferred before access can be provided.

 

Introduction

Abstract: This is a small collection of materials from KMA radio in Shenandoah, Iowa. The collection includes a large number of paper booklets called Program Guides that included the station’s on-air schedule as well as numerous articles and recipes. The station carried a number of live, local homemaker types shows and the collection includes recipe books from those shows. 

 

Scope and Content Note

Extent: Four boxes.

Physical Description: Booklets, books, papers, VHS tape, artifacts.

Dates: 1937- 1991

Subjects: KMA program guides, KMA cookbooks, Florence Falk Iowa Mother of the Year nomination materials, various other papers and newspaper articles.

Related Material:

• Homemaker Newsletter Collection

 

Administrative Information

Restrictions: Some materials in this collection may be restricted under copyright. The Archives provides access to these items for the purpose of research, instruction, and private study under the provisions of Faire Use, outlined in section 107 of copyright law. User assumes all responsibility for obtaining permission for reproduction or use.

Preferred Citation: [item title/description], [date]; KMA-KFNF Radio Collection; Archives of Iowa Broadcasting, Waverly, Iowa.

Acquisition Information: Donation.

Processing Information: Processing completed by CB on 10/29/2018.

 

Station History

History:  Shenandoah, Iowa is home to two radio stations, KFNF and KMA. Each was founded by a seed salesman: KFNF by Henry Fields and KMA by Earl May. KFNF was the first on the air in 1924. May broadcast programming on WOAW in Omaha, before building his own radio station that went on the air in 1925. Both stations had auditoriums to broadcast live music, KMA’s seated 1,000 people.

Besides live music, KMA broadcasted farm related programming, and network offering such as “The George Burns Show” and “The Lone Ranger.” May advertised his seeds during breaks in live music and other programs on the station. The Everly Brothers got their start at KMA and went on to national prominence.

KMA was noted for its many “Homemaker” shows that included recipes, fashion advice and other tips for women. Perhaps the most famous of these shows was “Kitchen-Klatter” that was syndicated in at least four Midwest states and aired from 1926 to 1986.

Bibliography:

"Hall of Fame," Iowa Rock and Roll Music Association, https://www.iowarocknroll.com/halloffame.

Schnieider, John."The Friendly Farmer Station," The Radio Historian, http://www.theradiohistorian.org/Farmer/Farmer.htm.

Stein, Jeff. Making Waves, the People and Places of Iowa Broadcasting, 2004. p.88-89.

 

Series Description

1. KMA Guides

2. Jessie’s Homemaker Books

3. Cookbooks

4. Florence Falk Materials

5. Artifacts

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KMA Guides

• Radio station program guides, 1944-1977.
• .75 box.
• Arranged chronologically by date published.

Container Listing

Box	Folder	Series	Contents	Dates
1	1	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 1, #4	9/1944
1	2	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 2, #1	1/1945
1	3	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 3, #12	12/1957
1	4	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #1	1/1951
1	5	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #2	2/1951
1	6	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #3	3/1951
1	7	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #4	4/1951
1	8	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #5	5/1951
1	9	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #6	6/1951
1	10	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #7	7/1951
1	11	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #8	8/1951
1	12	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #9	9/1951
1	13	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #10	10/1951
1	14	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #11	11/1951
1	15	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #12	12/1951
1	16	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 10, #10	10/1953
1	17	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 1, #6	4/1955
1	18	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 2, #1	11/1955
1	19	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 2, #12	11/1956
1	20	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 3, #1	12/1956
1	21	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 4, #5	5/1958
1	22	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 4, #9	9/1958
1	23	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 5, #1	1/1959
1	24	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 5, #2	2/1959
1	25	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 5, #3	3/1959
1	26	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 5, #4	4/1959
1	27	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 5, #11	11/1959
1	28	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 6, #1	1/1960
1	29	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 6, #3	3/1960
1	30	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 6, #4	4/1960
1	31	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 6, #5	5/1960
1	32	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 6, #6	6/1960
1	33	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 6, #8	8/1960
1	34	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 6, #9	9/1960
1	35	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 6, #10	10/1960
1	36	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 6, #12	12/1960
1	37	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #2	2/1962
1	38	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 8, #8	8/1962
1	39	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 12, #6	6/1965
1	40	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 14,#10	10/1967
1	41	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 14, #11	11/1967
1	42	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 15, #1	1/1968
1	43	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 26, #2	2/1969
1	44	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 31, #1	1/1974
1	45	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 31, #2	3/1974
1	46	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 31, #4	7/1974
1	47	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 32, #1	1/1975
1	48	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 32, #4	7/1975
1	49	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 33, #1	1/1976
1	50	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 33, #2	3/1976
1	51	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 33, #3	5/1976
1	52	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 33, #4	7/1976
1	53	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 33, #5	9/1976
1	54	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 33, #6	11/1976
1	55	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 34, #1	1/1977
1	56	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 34, #2	3/1977
1	57	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 34, #3	5/1977
1	58	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 34, #4	7/1977
1	59	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 34, #5	9/1977
1	60	Guide	KMA Guide, Vol. 34, #6	11/1977

 

Jessie’s Homemaker Books

• Recipe books published by Jessie S. Young, host of “The Homemaker’s Visit” show on KMA Radio, 1937-1949.
• .25 box.
• Arranged chronologically by date published.

Container Listing

Box	Folder	Series	Content	Date
1	61	Jessie	Jessie's Cake and Cookie Book, Vol. 1	1937
1	62	Jessie	Jessie's Salad and Sandwich Book, Vol. 2	1938
1	63	Jessie	Jessie's Dessert Book, Vol. 3	1939
1	64	Jessie	Jessie's Candy Book, Vol. 4	1939
2	1	Jessie	Jessie's Canning Book, Vol. 7	1941
2	2	Jessie	Jessie's Gift book, Vol. 8	1941
2	3	Jessie	Jessie's Recipe Book, Vol. 5	1949
2	4	Jessie	Jessie's Family Album, Vol. 6	1949
2	5	Jessie	Jessie's Pie and Bread Book, #9
2	6	Jessie	Jessie's Radio Sewing Book

 

Cookbooks

• Various Homemaker Cookbooks, including Kitchen-Klatter, Cooking with KMA, and Kitchen Magic, 1939-1987.
• .75 box.
• Arranged chronologically by date published.

Container Listing

Box	Folder	Series	Content	Date
2	7	Cookbooks	Kitchen-Klatter Cookbook	1939
2	8	Cookbooks	Smorgasbord Cookbook
2	9	Cookbooks	My Best Recipe Book
2	10	Cookbooks	Kitchen Magic
2	11	Cookbooks	Cooking with KMA Book
2	12	Cookbooks	Field's Cook Book
2	13	Cookbooks	KMA Radio Recipes
2	14	Cookbooks	Homemakers Cookbook
2	15	Cookbooks	All Time Recipe Treasures Cookbook
2	16	Cookbooks	Christmas Tea Cookie Book
2	F17	Cookbooks	One-Dish Favorites Cookbook
3	1	Cookbooks	KMA Come Again Cookie Book	1987

 

Florence Falk Materials

• Materials related to “The Farmer’s Wife” host, Florence Falk, including newsletters, papers, news clippings, and her 1968 nomination for Iowa Mother of the Year.
• 1 box and 1 VHS tape.
• Arranged chronologically by date.

Container Listing

Box	Folder	Series	Content	Date
3	2	Falk	It's a Woman's World newsletter
3	3	Falk	It's a Woman's World newsletter
3	4	Falk	Handcraft Book No. 1
3	5	Falk	Handcraft Book No. 2
3	6	Falk	Florence Falk Mother of the Year Nomination	1968
3	7	Falk	Florence Falk Eulogy
3	8	Falk	The Radio Hymnal	2/1927
3	9	Falk	Gospel Music News	5/1940
3	10	Falk	Iowa State Fair Ribbon
3	11	Falk	Goldenrod Schoolhouse Booklet	1965
3	12	Falk	St. John's Church 75th Anniversary booklet
3	13	Falk	New Yorker article	4/1991
3	14	Falk	Personal correspondence	1991
3	15	Falk	Cookie Tea invitation	7/1991
3	16	Falk	Connard photos
3	17	Falk	KMA postcard
3	18	Falk	KFNF postcard
3	19	Falk	Ralph Childs flyer
3	20	Falk	Garden Notes booklet
3	21	Falk	Henry Field's Seed Sense newsletter	3/1946
3	22	Falk	Country School Picture Book
	VHS	Falk	VHS Tape: Nightwatch, Radio Homemakers	5/10/1991

 

Artifacts

• Artifacts belonging to Florence Falk, including embroidered wall hangings, arrowhead collection, nameplate, leather case.
• 1 box.
• Unarranged.

Container Listing

Box	Folder	Series	Content	Date
4	1	Artifacts	Embroidered wall hanging
4	2	Artifacts	Embroidered wall hanging
4	3	Artifacts	Arrowhead Collection/plaque
4	4	Artifacts	"The Farmer's Wife" nameplate
4	5	Artifacts	Leather case with KMA logo

 

Other Finding Aids

None.

See Also

• Homemaker Newsletter Collection

• Catalog Record