Libraries A GUIDE TO THE PAPERS OF
WILLIAM M. BRISH
National Public Broadcasting Archives
University of Maryland Libraries
Processed by: Rachel E. Ban
November 1999
6.75 lin. ft. 2
BIOGRAPHY
William M. Brish was born September 6, 1906 in Frederick, Maryland. He graduated
from Frederick High School in 1924. He received an AB degree from Franklin and Marshall
College in 1928, a masters degree for Teachers College, Columbia University in 1932 and a
doctor of Pedagogy degree from Franklin and Marshall in 1956. He did some additional graduate
work at George Washington University.
Brish began his career as a history and science teacher at Thurmont and Frederick (MD)
High Schools. He subsequently served as principal of Elm Street School in Frederick, Maryland.
Prior to his time as superintendent in Washington County, he was the Assistant Superintendent
of Schools for Prince George's County and then Superintendent of Schools in Kent County.
He served as the Superintendent of Schools for Washington County (MD) from 1947 to
1973. During his tenure, the Washington County closed-circuit television program was
developed and instituted. Brish became known as an expert in using television for instructional
purposes. As a result of the closed-circuit program, Washington County was selected by the U.S.
government to partner with Nigerias education system in developing instructional television.
Brish was the home base coordinator for the U.S.A.I.D. Modern Aids to Education Project for
Nigeria from 1963 to 1969. Dr. Brish also served as a consultant in educational television for All
India Radio as a part of a Ford Foundation project (1950-1961) and for several workshops at
universities in the United States (1957-1960).
After his retirement from Washington County Schools, Brish was a cluster director
(1973-1975) and then consultant for the Appalachian satellite project from 1976 to 1987 (AESP -
Appalachian Educational Satellite Project, ACSN - Appalachian Community Service Network).
An active member in his community, he served on the boards of the Hagerstown
Chamber of Commerce, Washington County Free Library, Washington County Museum of Fine
Arts, Mason-Dixon Council, and Boy Scouts of America. Dr. Brish left a legacy in Washington
County beyond his work as superintendent. As a result of his involvement in developing the
Hagerstown Junior College which is now the Hagerstown Community College, the college
library is named after him as well as the local planetarium.
William Brish died June 1, 1999.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Papers of William M. Brish cover the years 1942 to 1992, with the bulk of the
collection ranging from 1958 to 1976. There is a sizeable amount of print publications including
various reports, brochures and booklets relating to Washington County Schools, the Appalachian
Educational Satellite Project (AESP) which later became the Appalachian Community Service
Network (ACSN) and the Ford Foundations India project. Also included are papers, speeches, 3
and reports by Dr. Brish on the concepts behind the use of instructional television in the
classroom including the roles of classroom and television teacher.
The collection consists of four series:
Series 1: Instructional Television
Subseries 1: Closed-Circuit
Subseries 2: Satellite Broadcasting
Series 2: Washington County
Subseries 1: Washington County Schools
Subseries 2: WJEJ - Potomac Echoes
Subseries 3: History Papers
Series 3: Conferences and Workshops
Series 4: Personal and Professional Papers
PROVENANCE
The Papers of William M. Brish were donated to the National Public Broadcasting
Archives, University of Maryland Libraries by Margaret Wagner in August of 1999.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
Series 1: Instructional Television, 1950-1992 (3.0 lin. ft.)
This series documents the closed-circuit television program in the Washington County
Schools, consulting by Dr. Brish for the Ford Foundation in India, the Appalachian satellite
efforts, information on satellite use in Alaska and the project between Washington County and
Nigeria. The material is arranged chronologically, undated items follow the chronological run.
Subseries 1: Closed-Circuit
This sub-series includes reports produced by the Washington County Board of Education,
teacher workshop materials, writings on the program by Dr. Brish, several articles and a doctoral
dissertation written by Aminda L. Nicoloro on the closed-circuit program, Washington Countys
Instructional Television Project and Program, Hagerstown, Maryland, 1947-1992, A Case Study"
(2 vols). There are also 28 photos relating to the program.
Subseries 2: Satellite Broadcasting
This sub-series documents Dr. Brishs consulting efforts in India (1960-1961) and the six
year long U.S.A.I.D. project between Washington County and Nigeria (includes photos). 4
Series 2: Washington County, 1963-1985 ( 1.5 lin. ft.)
This series documents Washington County educational endeavors beyond the closed-circuit
program. The series also includes the radio program Potomac Echoes which was a broadcast of
WJEJ which included the involvement of Dr. Brish and E. Russell Hicks a Washington County
history teacher. The materials are arranged chronologically where possible.
Subseries 1: Washington County Schools
Most of the annual reports for teachers published during Dr. Brishs tenure are found in
this series along with teacher training materials, meetings and workshops.
Subseries 2: WJEJ - Potomac Echoes
This subseries contains the Potomac Echoes broadcasts on WJEJ that were done by E.
Russell Hicks.
Subseries 3: History Papers
This subseries contains papers and writings pertaining Washington County and
Hagerstown, Maryland history. It includes published and unpublished materials by E. Russell
Hicks. There are 14 photos related to the history papers.
Series 3: Conferences and Workshops, 1939-1991 (0.5 lin. ft.)
This series documents the attendance and participation of Dr. Brish in conferences and
workshops on instructional television. There are also proceedings for conferences in this area
beyond what is documented by his attendance. The information is arranged chronologically.
Series 4: Personal and Professional Papers, 1946-1977 (0.5 lin. ft.)
This series includes correspondence by Dr. Brish beyond that already included in the
other series, notably letters of condolences to others, job recommendations and letters related to
his retirement in 1973. Personal information such as his resume, and activities of his high school
graduating class are included. Dr. Brish had begun work on a doctoral dissertation for George
Washington University included in this series is a proposed thesis and thesis outline. 5
BOX INVENTORY
SERIES 1: INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION
SUBSERIES 1: CLOSED-CIRCUIT
Box
Folder
1
1
Closed-Circuit Television Project Proposal, May 15, 1956
2
Newspaper articles on closed-circuit TV, Washington County, 1956-1957
3
Bakal, Carl, The Schools of Tomorrow The Saturday Review, August 24, 1957
4
Weiss, John K., Teaching by Television in Hagerstown, The School Review,
Winter 1957
5
Washington County Closed-Circuit Television Project: Statement of William M.
Brish before Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce,
April 24, 1958
6
Washington County Closed-Circuit Educational Television, TV Guide, 1958-
1960
7
Closed-Circuit Television: Teaching in Washington County 1958-1959, Progress
Report, March 1959
8
Guidance Information Telecasts to the High Schools, 1959
9
Notes Concerning the Use of Television as a Resource in Education,
October 13, 1959
10
Washington County Closed Circuit Television Report, circa 1963
11
Brish, William, Eight Years of Instructional Television, October 2, 1964
12
Conference, Maryland County Superintendents, The Use of Television in the
Educational Program, January 21-22, 1965
13
Current Trends in the Use of Television for Instruction, November 1965
14
Washington County Schools, Hagerstown, MD, Instructional Television, Staff
Report, Meetings April 25 and May 3 , 1968
15
Kumar, Narenda, TV Utilization in Washington County, 1970.
16
Washington County School System, Instructional Television, Financial Data and
Analysis, February 1973
17
Photos, Washington County TV Project, nd
18
Teaching by Television - Presentation Boards, nd
19
Miscellaneous notes, presentations, etc., nd
20
Miscellaneous Ideas, nd
21
Various notes on television in the classroom, nd
2
1
The Use of Television for Instructional Purposes, nd
2
A Look at Learning, nd
3
The Challenge of Secondary Education, nd
4
Television is a Medium of Communication, nd
5
Nicoloro, Aminda, letters re: dissertation, June-July, 1992 SERIES 1: INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION
SUBSERIES 1: CLOSED-CIRCUIT
6
Box
Folder
2
6
Dr. Mindy Nicoloro: Resume, Portfolio, Addendum, Recommendations and
Evaluations
7
Nicoloro, Aminda L., Excerpts from Research Study, nd
8-9
Nicoloro, Aminda L., Washington Countys Instructional Television Project and
Program, Hagerstown, Maryland, 1947-1992, A Case Study. 1991 (2 vols.)
SUBSERIES 2 : SATELLITE BROADCASTING
India
10
India TV Project, Correspondence, 1970
11
An Introduction to School Television, India, circa 1961
12
Directorate for Education, School Television Project, 1961-1962", India
Nigeria
3
1
AID/US Nigeria Educational Radio and Television Project, Report of
Visit, March 13-April 11, 1963
2
Hagerstown Seminar, AID Nigerian Project, Notebook, July-August
1963
3
Western Nigeria - Progress to Date, August 14, 1963
4
Visit to US by Nigerian Team, August 1963 and nd
5
Nigeria, notes, nd and 1963
6
USAID, Notes on Contract Operation, Board of Education, Washington
County, MD, circa 1964
7
Nigeria, correspo