Archives: Guide to Carolyn Spector Papers, 1990-2001

Title:  Carolyn Spector Papers Dates:  1990 - 2001 Collection #:  M-005 Size:  1 document box (.5 cu.ft.) Description:  Carolyn Spector broadcast book reviews on KLCC-FM, a public radio station in Eugene, Oregon.  The book reviews aired twice per month on KLCC's Northwest Passage for 12 years, 1990-2001.  The collection includes the book review scripts, lists of the titles and authors of the books reviewed, and correspondence.

Access Restrictions: The collection is open for research.  Permission to publish the book reviews must be obtained from KLCC radio. 
Provenance:  Donated by John Bredesen on January 25, 2003.
Processed by: Elizabeth Uhlig, 2003.

Collection Citation: Carolyn Spector Papers, 1990-2001 (M-005), Lane Community College Archives, Eugene, Oregon

Repository:
Lane Community College
Archives and Records Management
Elizabeth M. Uhlig, Archivist
4000 East 30th Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97405 USA
Telephone: (541) 463-5466
Fax: (541) 463-3996
E-mail: archives@lanecc.edu

Biography: Carolyn Spector

Carolyn Spector was born Carolyn Gaines on May 27th, 1937, in Chicago. Raised in Highland Park and Glenco, Illinois, she attended New Trier High School, graduating in 1955. She is a graduate of Brown University with a B.A. in French and spent her junior year at the Sorbonne in Paris. That was followed by two years at the University of Chicago where she received an M.A. in Teaching. She also did postgraduate work at the University of Oregon.

Carolyn has two children, Robert Spector and Miriam Sincere by a former husband, Norman. In 1971 she taught French at a middle school operated by the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The following year she was transferred to a similar school in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where she met and married Phil Bredesen.

In 1974 the family moved to Eugene. Carolyn was a substitute teacher for several school districts in the area. Beginning in 1977, she taught French for Lane Community College through the Adult Education program, continuing until her retirement in 1994. She also taught at the Looking Glass Shelter for two years.

She married John Bredesen in August, 1983. Carolyn was an avid knitter and reader. She loved to travel, with a two week wildlife photo safari to Botswana being a special highlight. She was the volunteer book reviewer for KLCC for twelve years and KLCC's Heart of the Arts Super Volunteer for 2000. She was also a volunteer with the Eugene Symphony.

Carolyn Spector died August 27, 2001, of cancer. She was 64.

Scope & Content Note

The Carolyn Spector Papers contain the scripts of the book reviews written by Carolyn and broadcast on KLCC-FM radio from January 1990 to July 2001.  The book reviews were aired twice a month on Northwest Passage, KLCC's afternoon local news program.  Most of the books reviewed were written by authors from the Pacific Northwest or were about the Northwest.  The theme music played in the background for both the book reviews and the promos was composed and played by her son, Robert Spector.

The collection is divided into 2 series.

• Series A: Book Review Lists and Scripts, 1990-2001
  • This series contains the scripts of the book reviews, with notations of the date the review was aired, and the promos, brief announcements which contained information about an upcoming book review and were used to promote the book reviews.  The collection also contains lists of the books reviewed.
• Series B: Correspondence, 1991-1998
  • This series contains several letters written to Carolyn Spector about her book reviews.

Finding Aid

For a detailed finding aid which includes a complete list of the contents of this collection, refer to:

• Guide to Carolyn Spector Papers (NWDA Web site)
• Guide to Carolyn Spector Papers (MS Word file)
• Guide to Carolyn Spector Papers (Adobe PDF file)

Related Resources

Carolyn Spector Website on KLCC. The website contains a conversation between Carolyn and Tripp Sommer; tributes to Carolyn from her husband and staff at KLCC; recordings of Carolyn's book reviews, 1999-2001; and the text version of selected reviews.

Book Review List. A list of the books Carolyn Spector reviewed, organized by review date. (MS Word file)