Bette Rogge Morse papers

Collection

Identifier: UASC-016

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Bette Rogge Morse papers document Bette's career as a radio and television personality in Dayton, Ohio. The collection includes 569 audiovisual recordings on various media, including 8mm and 16mm film, 2-inch quadruplex videotape, 1/4-inch audiotape, VHS tapes, and DVDs. The films include original high-quality masters as well as copies of shows and interviews covering over 40 years.

The interviews cover topics of entertainment, art, politics, sports, and local issues. Bette interviewed many national celebrities such as Kirk Douglas, Erma Bombeck, and William Holden, as well as representatives of local organizations such as the Dayton Art Institute, the Dayton Opera Guild, and the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

The collection also includes biographical information, scripts, advertising materials, programs, photographs, and other documentation related to Bette's television shows. A few other professional endeavors are also documented, including Bette's work as an actress, professor, and philanthropist.

Dates

1940-2011

Creator

Morse, Bette Rogge (Person)

Access to Materials

This collection is open and available to the public for research in the Archives and Special Collections reading room. The materials are non-circulating. Many of the audiovisual formats are now obsolete and require special technical arrangements for access; some have been digitized. Please contact the University Archives and Special Collections for more information.

Copyright

The materials in this collection may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). The materials are available for personal, educational, and scholarly use. It is the responsibility of the researcher to locate and obtain permission from the copyright owner or his or her heirs for any other use, such as reproduction and publication.

Cox Media Group Ohio and WHIO-TV is the copyright owner of all WHIO-TV materials, including interviews recorded for The Bette Rogge Show.

Biography of Bette Rogge Morse

Bette Rogge Morse was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. She graduated from the University of Dayton in 1944 before attending Northwestern and Colombia Universities for post-graduate work in English and drama. She also received her master's degree from the University of Dayton in 1977. She has been an active radio and television personality in the Dayton area since 1951, when she began a series of commercial appearances. From 1967 to 1972 she hosted The Bette Rogge Show, a variety show on WHIO-TV, where she had also worked as women's editor and a commercial announcer. She hosted subsequent shows on other local television stations: Getting Together With Bette Rogge on GTV-19; Culture Scene on DGTV/DATV; and Senior Chronicle on FOX45.

Bette began teaching communications in 1977 at the University of Dayton, where she was also head of the university's Mother's Club and one of the first women to serve on the university's Board of Trustees (1975-1981). For her service to the community and university, Bette was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 1999.

Morse has also been very active in civic affairs in the Dayton area, holding numerous positions such as president and campaign chairman of Montgomery County Easter Seals; president of the Salvation Army Advisory Board; member of the Board of MS; and charter member, along with her husband Wayne Morse Sr., of the University of Dayton's President's Club. The greater Dayton area has recognized Bette's service to the community with the Hope Chest Award, Lily Award, and the Distinguished Service Award.

Extent

48 Linear Feet (47 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Papers of Bette Rogge Morse, a University of Dayton alumna and active television personality in Dayton, Ohio. Bette Rogge Morse has hosted several talk shows on local television, including The Bette Rogge Show (WHIO-TV, 1967-1972); Getting Together with Bette Rogge (GTV-19); Culture Scene (DGTV/DATV); and Senior Chronicle (Fox45, 1996). This collection is an accumulation of audiovisual recordings, documents, photographs, and other materials following her long career.

Arrangement

The Bette Rogge Morse papers are arranged in two series.

Missing Title

Series 1: Audio and video recordings
Series 2: Professional papers

Technical Requirements

Some audiovisual materials in the collection require digitization or special technical arrangements for access. Please contact the University Archives and Special Collections for more information.

Acquisition Information

The Bette Rogge Morse papers were donated by Wayne H. and Bette Rogge Morse on December 12, 2002. Additional materials were donated on April 10, 2006; September 13, 2011; October 26, 2011; November 14, 2011; December 12, 2011; and September 28, 2012.

Digitized Materials

Some of the film recordings and photographs in this collection have been digitized and are available at http://ecommons.udayton.edu/archives_morse/

Processing Information

The audio and video recordings in this collection were boxed and inventoried in the 2000s. The papers were processed by David Brownell in 2011. Additions were processed by Rachel Bilokonsky in October 2012.