Series I.A.1.b. 1973 to 1978 Editorial: Editor Philip Kunhardt Files, 1971-1978, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Philip Kunhardt's files document his work as head of editorial for the Magazine Develoment Group (MDG) and Managing Editor of Life Special Reports, a publication overseen by the MDG. Since he worked as an editor within the MDG prior to his promotion to head the editorial side, his administrative files for these two positions were mixed together and remain that way. His records contain some materials to and from Sutton during the time of his 1976 sabbatical.
Arrangement
Organized into three subsubseries:
Subsubseries I.A.1.b.i. Administrative Files
Subsubseries I.A.1.b.ii. Life Special Reports
Subsubseries I.A.1.b.iii. People Test Issue Files
The Life Special Reports files were originally together. The series for Administrative Files and People Test Issue Files were imposed by the archivist.
Biographical / Historical
Philip Kunhardt was Assistant Managing Editor of Life in 1972 when Life closed due to financial issues. Along with others from the Life staff, he immediately began work on reviving Life. He became the Managing Editor (ME) of Life Special Reports (LSR), which was published twice a year by the newly established Magazine Development Group (MDG). Near the end of 1975, Otto Fuerbringer, the first editorial head of the MDG, retired, and Kunhardt took over while retaining his role as LSR ME. From January to July 1976, Kunhardt went on sabbatical to write a book. Kelso Sutton and Edward Kern filled in as Acting Editor of the MDG and Acting ME of the LSR, respectively. Kunhardt and the MDG succeeded in reviving Life as a monthly in 1978. When the MDG closed, Kunhardt became ME of the new Life publication.
Subseries I.A.1.b.i. Administrative Files, 1971-1978, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Philip Kunhardt's administrative files include materials from his positions as Life Special Reports Managing Editor and as head of editorial for the Magazine Development Group (MDG). The Magazine Development Meeting folder includes a transcription which describes the formation of the first MDG.
Arrangement
Organized alphabetically. Arrangement imposed.
Bills Paid, 1974-1975, inclusive
Book/Subscription Orders, 1974-1976, inclusive
Cables, 1974, inclusive
Check Requisitions, 1974, inclusive
Congratulation Notes on Magazine Development Editor Announcement, 1975, inclusive
Correspondence: General, 1972-1974, inclusive
Correspondence: Mili, Gjon, 1974, inclusive
Correspondence: Nilsson, Lennart, 1971-1974, inclusive
Expense Accounts, 1973, inclusive
Expense Reports: Staff, 1974-1976, inclusive
Kudo File on Life Special Report, 1974, inclusive
Life Before Birth Letters (Reprint Requests), 1974, inclusive
Life Specials, 1973, inclusive
Magazine Development Meeting, 1973 May, inclusive
New Ideas, 1973, inclusive
New Magazines: Agreement Letter, 1977-1978, inclusive
Wires, 1973, inclusive
Woman Magazine: Dummy #2 Complimentary Copies Sent, 1977, inclusive
Woman Magazine: Memoranda, 1977, inclusive
Subseries I.A.1.b.ii. Life Special Reports, 1973-1978, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Life Special Reports contains records on the editorial decisions for these biannually published issues. Records include correspondence along with reader letters; lists of ideas; check requisitions and correspondence for payments to writers, researchers, and photographers; article drafts; photograph releases; internal memoranda; news clippings; and lists of who received complimentary copies.
The correspondence in One Day in the Life of America includes photographers' descriptions of their rolls of film and letters from the public regarding their submissions. Additional material from One Day in the Life of America is in the Business Office General Files on Life Special Reports in a folder titled "Kunhardt file."
Correspondence in Picture Editor John Loengard's files mention a prototype for "regular Life" that he worked on in Spring 1974. The materials in Kunhardt's protoype files might be for that although these folders were with the other LSR folders.
Restricted materials include payments to temporary staff and stringers with personally identifiable information, and release forms from minors.
Arrangement
Organized chronologically in order of publication, then alphabetically by folder title within each issue's files.
Historical Note
Life Special Reports were published twice a year by former Life staff within the Magazine Development Group after the closure of the weekly Life and are a continuation of the Life special issues. LSR were sometimes called occassional Life Specials.
Year in Pictures is the official title of the issue published in January of every year regarding the prior year. It is called colloquilly in the records the "Life Year End". 1973 is the only time the year is used in the title.
The Spirit of Israel celebrates the 25th anniversary of the establishment of modern day Israel and events and accomplishments of the country.
One Day in the Life of America published photographs and stories from September 5, 1974 in order to "show the essence" of the country as seen by 100 photographers.
For the Bicentennial Issue, the MDG consulted historians to choose the events depicted in the issue and licensed photographs from museums, other historical repositories, and private collections.
Remarkable American Women is not "a catalogue of the 'most important' women in American history. It is a gallery of individuals... we consider remarkable."
The New Youth discusses the viewpoints and activities of American youth ages 15 through mid-20s.
1973: The Spirit of Israel, 1973, inclusive
1973: The Spirit of Israel, 1973, inclusive
1974: The Year in Pictures 1973, 1973-1974, inclusive
1974: The Year in Pictures 1973 [RESTRICTED], 1873-1874, inclusive
1974: Prototype Issue, 1974, inclusive
1974: One Day in the Life of America, 1974, inclusive
1974: One Day in the Life of America, 1974, inclusive
1974: One Day in the Life of America [RESTRICTED], 1974, inclusive
Scope and Contents
May also include materials for the prototype and the Year in Pictures.
1975: Year in Pictures (1974), 1974-1975, inclusive
1975: Bicentennial Issue: The 100 Events That Shaped America, 1975-1976, inclusive
1975: Bicentennial Issue: The 100 Events That Shaped America [RESTRICTED], 1975, inclusive
1976: Year in Pictures (1975), 1975-1976, inclusive
1976: Year in Pictures (1975) [RESTRICTED], 1975, inclusive
1976: Remarkable American Women, 1976, inclusive
1976: Remarkable American Women [RESTRICTED], 1976, inclusive
1977: Year in Pictures (1976), 1976-1977, inclusive
1977: Year in Pictures (1976) [RESTRICTED], 1976, inclusive
1977: The New Youth, 1977, inclusive
1977: The New Youth [RESTRICTED], 1977, inclusive
1978: Year in Pictures (1977), 1977-1978, inclusive
1978: Year in Pictures (1977) [RESTRICTED], 1977, inclusive
Subseries I.A.1.b.iii. People Test Issue Files, 1973, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The records document editorial work on People magazine dummies and test issues prior to its first publication in 1974. Records include lists of magazine sections and article topics; correspondence and cables; check requisitions to pay photographers and photo agencies; expense reports from MDG staff and from the News Service for use of stringers; and notepads listing photograph credits.
The General folders include a call for story submissions sent to all the Time Inc. domestic and foreign news bureaus and an exchange between Kunhardt and former Life correspondent and bureau chief Dora Jane Hamblin regarding their blunt opinions of the new magazine. In his letter to Hamblin, Kunhardt states he will no longer be working on People.
Restricted material includes payroll records with personally identifiable information.
Arrangement
Organized alphabetically.