California's Gold memorial archive, 2013-2014

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Summary

Title:
California's Gold memorial archive
Dates:
2013-2014
Abstract:
Memorial items created to honor the passing of Huell Howser.
Extent:
3.0 Linear feet (1 document box, 1 large box, 3 framed awards, and 10 foamcore panels)
Language:
Preferred citation:

[identify item and box], California's Gold Memorial Collections (2013.011.r.c), Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection is composed of memorial materials relating to the memory of television personality, Huell Howser and the popularity of his television program, California's Gold. This collection includes foam poster boards from various fans, businesses and restaurants in remembrance of Huell Howser as well as formal memorial material from various organizations and individuals. There are awards from the California Library Association and the California State Senate, as well as a tree dedication certificate from Santa Barbara Beautiful. The collection also includes a mosaic piece that a fan created in rememberance of Huell Howser.

Biographical / historical:

Huell Burnley Howser (1945-2013) was an American broadcast journalist best known for California's Gold, his travel show based in Los Angeles at KCET and aired on California public broadcast stations.

Born in Gallatin, Tennessee, Howser received a BA in history from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He served for five years as an aircraft mechanic. In 1971, Howser began working at WSM-TV in Nashville, Tennessee where he developed his interviewing style. He served as their Feature Reporter and Director of Special Projects and appeared live nightly on the six o’clock news. His assignments included the country music scene in Nashville, politics, human interest stories, and general news. Howser also produced television series focused on human interest stories such as Happy Features and The Happy World of Huell Howser.

Howser also worked in New York before moving to Los Angeles in 1981 to work as a reporter for KCBS-TV. He served as a weekend host and correspondent for the show, Entertainment Tonight from 1981 to 1983. In 1985 he joined the public broadcast system affiliate KCET as a producer for the show Videolog. At KCET, Howser created California's Gold in 1991 and Visiting...with Huell Howser in 1993. Along with cameraman, Luis Fuerte, Howser sought untapped, "unmined" stories throughout the state.

By 2000, Howser's shows aired six nights a week and were watched by nearly one million viewers a week on KCET alone. In addition to local stations, his programs could be viewed on PBS stations in Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada, Tennesse, countless public access channels, and even the Armed Forces radio and Television Service. By 2012, Howser had produced nearly 1,500 programs chronicling the people and places of California. He announced his retirement on November 28, 2012. Howser passed away on January 7, 2013 at the age of 67 at his Palm Springs home.

Acquisition information:
This collection is composed of gifts created and donated by various parties from 2013-2014, including Robert DaGasta, City of Los Angeles council member Tom Labonge, Bud Stuart, Leann Dickson, and Santa Barbara Beautiful.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged by date.

Physical location:
B11B, Leatherby Libraries.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Angel Diaz and Briana Blanchard
Date Prepared:
07/17/2014
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2014-07-22T11:00-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.

Preferred citation:

[identify item and box], California's Gold Memorial Collections (2013.011.r.c), Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Location of this collection:
One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866, US
Contact:
(714) 532-6088
calgold@chapman.edu
Website