Guide to the M. Charles Bakst papers , 1927-2009

(bulk 1962-2008)


Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2148
Fax: 401-863-2093
email: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title: M. Charles Bakst papers
Date range: 1927-2009, (bulk 1962-2008)
Creator: Bakst, M. Charles (Merrill Charles)
Extent: 10 linear feet (8 records center boxes and 1 oversize box)
Abstract: These papers date from 1927-2009 and include the personal papers and materials of M. Charles Bakst, Brown '66, and journalist for the Providence Journal. Includes manuscripts, correspondence, notebooks, ephemera, photographs, audiocassettes and videotapes related to his student days at Brown and his career as a reporter and columnist.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
Collection number: MS-1U-B6

Scope & content

The papers of M. Charles Bakst consist of manuscripts, correspondence, typed articles, notebooks, ephemera, and other materials documenting the career of M. Charles Bakst as a student at Brown University and the Providence Journal. After graduating from Brown University in 1966, he was a fulltime reporter and columnist covering education and politics for the Providence Journal from 1968 to 2008. The earliest materials include a scrapbook belonging to Bakst's mother, Anna Horvitz Bakst (Brown '31) and a newspaper scrapbook detailing the 1960 Presidential election. Bakst's educational career at Brown is documented in course notebooks, term papers, and other materials relating to Bakst's time as editor of the Brown Daily Herald. Political papers include letters from President George H.W. Bush, Massachusetts Governor Mike Dukakis, Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun, and Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci.

Audio microcassettes are arranged chronologically and provide on-hand interviews with politicians, including then-Senator Barack Obama and Vice President Al Gore. Videotapes (177 in total) include political debates, some involving Governor Donald Carcieri (Brown '65) and Senator Lincoln Chaffee (Brown '75). Approximately 100 of these videotapes include primarily episodes of "A Lively Experiment", a Rhode Island-based political show and the flagship program of Rhode Island PBS in which M. Charles Bakst participated.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Names Subject Organizations Subject Topics Subject Topics Document Types Occupations

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series 1. Awards and Citations
  • Series 2. Education, 1958-1967
  • Series 3. Personal Papers, 1927-2009
  • Series 4. Political Papers, 1968-2009
  • Series 5. Professional Writings and Articles, 1968-2009
  • Series 6. Audiotapes
  • Series 7. Videotapes

Biographical Note

Merrill Charles Bakst was born on Feb. 22, 1944 in Fall River, Massachusetts. His parents were Lester Bakst, a lawyer, and Anna Horvitz Bakst, Brown '31.

M. Charles Bakst attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and later Brown University from 1962 to 1966. While at Brown University, Bakst worked for the Brown Daily Herald, serving as editor-in-chief in 1965, and for the Providence Journal as a summer intern.

In 1967, Bakst earned a graduate degree in Journalism from Columbia University. He began working for the Providence Journal covering education in 1968, and became a fulltime political writer in 1972. From 1987 to 1995, Bakst was the Journal's government affairs editor. In 1995 until his retirement in 2008, Bakst was the fulltime political columnist, writing at least three times a week.

A regular participant in numerous local television programs, M. Charles Bakst appeared as a regular commentator and moderator for shows including Channel 10's "10 News Conference", Channel 12's "News Makers", Channel 6's "6 News on the Record", and Channel 36's "A Lively Experiment".

bio

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials: Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: M. Charles Bakst papers, MS-1U-B6, Brown University Archives.
Contact information: Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2148
Fax: 401-863-2093
email: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: This collection was donated by M. Charles Bakst in December 2008.
Accruals: Additional materials may be added to this collection.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Evan Usler.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Evan Usler 2009 March 30
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

Series 1. Awards and Citations
Box 1, Folder 1-8, Box 9 (oversize)

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1-3 State and Local Citations
Box 1, Folder 4 Michael P. Metcalf Media Award
 1998 October
Box 1, Folder 5 Michael P. Metcalf Media Award
 2002 September
Box 1, Folder 6 Alliance Education Foundation Award
 1997
Box 1, Folder 7 The Urban League of Rhode Island Power of the Pen Award
 1998 June
Box 9 3rd Annual Bert Ely Hatchet Award
 1993
Box 9 (oversize), Folder 8 "License to Lurk" Award
1981
Box 9 Rhode Island Senate Citation
 1986
Box 1, Folder 8 Campaign for a Healthy Rhode Island Media Award
 2004 September

Series 2. Education
Box 1, Folder 9-18

Subseries A. Phillips Academy (Andover)
Box 1, Folder 9-10

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 9 Miscellaneous
Contents Note: Includes class grades, counselor reports, and a class photo with Robert Frost.

 1958-1962
Box 1, Folder 10 Student Newspapers and Magazines
 1958-1962

Subseries B. Brown University
Box 1, Folder 11-16

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 11-13 Miscellaneous
Contents Note: Includes class assignments, exams, syllabi, and grade reports.

 1962-1966
Box 1, Folder 14 Notebooks
 1962-1966
Box 1, Folder 15 Mississippi Trip / Tougaloo College
 1964
Box 1, Folder 16 Brown Daily Herald
1962-1966

Subseries C. Columbia University / Internships
Box 1, Folder 17-19

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 17 Early Providence Journal Internships
 1963-1967
Box 1, Folder 18 Columbia University
 1966-1967
Box 1, Folder 19 Master's Paper
 1967

Series 3. Personal Papers
Box 2, Folder 20-35

Subseries A. Presidential Race Scrapbook
Box 2, Folder 20-21

Subseries B. Anna Horvitz Bakst
Box 2, Folder 22-23

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 22 Miscellaneous
Contents Note: Includes memory book, Pembroke 50th reunion medal, and letter.
Box 2, Folder 23 Photographs
 1971-1981

Subseries C. Letters
Box 2, Folder 24-29
Includes response letters from Providence Journal readers. Some letters are derogatory and antisemitic in nature.

Subseries D. Retirement
Box 2, Folder 30-31

Subseries E. Miscellaneous
Box 2, Folder 32-33
Includes childhood documentation, family letters, a bar mitzvah recording, and personal photographs.

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 32 Miscellaneous
 1953-1960
Box 2, Folder 33 Miscellaneous
 1960-2009

Subseries F. Daybooks
Box 2, Folder 34-40

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 34 Daybooks
Physical Description Note: 2 volumes
 2005
Box 2, Folder 35 Daybooks
Physical Description Note: 2 volumes
 2006
Box 2, Folder 36 Daybook
 2007
Box 2, Folder 37 Daybook
 2008

Subseries G. Business Cards
Box 2, Folder 38

Subseries H. Membership Cards
Box 2, Folder 39

Series 4. Political Papers
Box 3, Folder 40-51

Subseries A. Correspondence with Bruce Sundlun
Box 3, Folder 40

Subseries B. Memos and Reports
Box 3, Folder 41-43

Container Description Date
Box 3, Folder 41 Bevilacqua Impeachment Inquiry
 1986
Box 3, Folder 43 Opinion Memo of Sen. Reed In Re Impeachment
 1999

Subseries C. Letters and Ephemera
Box 3, Folder 44-51

Container Description Date
Box 3, Folder 44 RI Gubernatorial Races
 1986-1994
Box 3, Folder 45 White House Trip
 1990
Box 3, Folder 46 Providence Journal
 1979-1991
Box 3, Folder 47 Berlin Wall from Machtley
 1990
Box 3, Folder 48-51 Miscellaneous
Contents Note: Includes letters from President George H.W. Bush, President Gerald Ford, Vice President Al Gore, Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun, Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci, and others.

Subseries D. Notes
Box 3, Folder 52-53

Subseries E. Photographs
Box 3, Folder 54-56

Subseries F. Political Passes and Credentials
Box 3, Folder 57

Series 5. Professional Writings and Articles
Box 4, Folder 58-70

Subseries A. Classical High School
Box 4, Folder 58-60

Subseries B. Providence School Strike
Box 4, Folder 61-63

Subseries C. Barrington Poverty Article
Box 4, Folder 64

Subseries D. President Bush / Holocaust Articles
Box 4, Folder 65

Subseries E. Bruce Sundlun Article
Box 4, Folder 66

Subseries F. Chanukah/Christmas Poems
Box 4, Folder 67-68

Subseries G. Miscellaneous
Box 4, Folder 69-71

Series 6. Audio Materials
Box 4

Subseries A. Microcassettes
Box 4
Microcassettes are arranged chronologically.

Container Description Date
Box 4 Gov. Almond interview
 1993 September
Box 4 Jesse Jackson
 1996 November 4
Box 4 Surgei K
 2001
Box 4 Gov. Almond interview
 2002 December 10
Box 4 Fogarty/Whitehouse
 2005 April 4
Box 4 Bill Clinton at Brown
 2005 April 29
Box 4 George H. W. Bush
 2005 July 22
Box 4 George H. W. Bush/Chris Evert at Newport
 2005 July 22
Box 4 Laura Bush
 2006 May 19
Box 4 Lincoln Chaffee/John McCain
 2006 June 6
Box 4 Carcieri/Fogerty
 2006 September 20
Box 4 Lt. Gov. Fogerty
 2006 September 26
Box 4 Barack Obama at RIC
 2006 October 12
Box 4 Rudy Guiliani
 2006 October 13
Box 4 Bill Clinton
 2006 October 16
Box 4 Obama Candidacy
 2007 February 11
Box 4 Sen. Chris Dodd
 2005 March 8
Box 4 Rudy Giuliani
 2007 June 6
Box 4 Bishop Tobin
 2007 June 13
Box 4 Sue Carcieri
 2008 January 22
Box 4 Roberts
 2008 February 12
Box 4 Sen. John McCain
 2008 February 14
Box 4 Lincoln Chaffee
 2008 February 14
Box 4 Michelle Obama
 2008 February 20
Box 4 Hillary Clinton
 2008 February 24
Box 4 Mike Huckabee
 2008 February 25
Box 4 Gov. Phil Noel interview
 2008 March 3
Box 4 George H. W. Bush
 2008 May 17
Box 4 Patrick Kennedy
 2008 May 27
Box 4 Ted Sorenson phone interview
 2008 June 10
Box 4 Sheldon Whitehouse
 October 17
Box 4 Mitt Romney interview
 November 5
Box 4 Gov. Carcieri
 December 17

Subseries B. Other Audio Formats
Box 4

Container Description Date
Box 4 Cassette: President Reagan
 1987 February 11
Box 4 Cassette: Al Gore
 1999 June 2
Box 4 CD: Kate Coyne-McCoy for Congress
 unknown

Series 7. Videotapes
Box 5-8
177 total videocassettes. Box 5-6: A Lively Experiment (1988-2002). Box 7-8: Miscellaneous (1984-2008).

Subseries A. A Lively Experiment
Box 5-6
98 videotapes, in rough chronological order, including episodes of "A Lively Experiment", a Rhode Island-based political show and the flagship program of Rhode Island PBS in which M. Charles Bakst participated. The dates of the videotapes range from October 1988 to October 2002.

Subseries B. Miscellaneous
Box Box 7-8
79 videotapes, in rough chronological order, containing local newscasts from various television stations, local and national political debates, and other programs related to political events and news. The dates of the videotapes range from October 1984 to December 2008.