History: Online Exhibits
Celebrating Lane in Words & Pictures

Elderberry Wine		Selected Radio Commentaries by Peter Wotton
Welcome to "Elderberry Wine"

"Welcome to Elderberry Wine. I'm Peter Wotton bringing you news, views, and interviews of interest to those of us who are 55 or 60 or better."

"Elderberry Wine is a weekly salute to seniors broadcast by KLCC (FM 89.7)."

"Like elderberry wine, we get better every year."

With those words, Peter Wotton opened and closed his "Elderberry Wine" commentaries.  For 14 years, he broadcast over 700 weekly commentaries on KLCC-FM radio in Eugene, Oregon, from 1982 until his death in 1996.  His commentaries focused on issues of interest to older people in his community.  He provided information on local events, services, and resources in Eugene and Lane County; commented on national political, environmental, and social issues; and included his reflections on the process of growing older.  The commentaries were often quite personal and Peter's own life experiences were an integral part of "Elderberry Wine."

Carol Browne Wotton, Peter's wife, wrote in her preface to Elderberry Wine: Selected Radio Commentaries by Peter Wotton, published in 1998 , that the radio program was "more than just observations about and for the elderly of the community ... it chronicled a man's reflections on his life, and the process of living and growing older."  In 1996, his prostate cancer returned and Peter shared his thoughts on his impending death with his radio audience.  At the suggestion of Tripp Sommer, news director for KLCC, Peter recorded his last commentary which was broadcast the day after he died.

Elderberry Wine Commentaries

What Is Old?  # 24, November 17, 1982

Over the Hill  # 73, October 19, 1983

Eugene Celebration # 74, October 26, 1983

Volunteers # 349, April 10, 1989 RSVP # 8, July 21, 1982

Celebration: 10th Anniversary of Elderberry Wine # 520, July 27, 1992

Diversity # 604, June 27, 1994

Things Take Time # 522, August 10, 1992 Goals for the New Century # 707, July 22, 1996

Alzheimer's # 527, September 14, 1992 Hospice # 716, September 1996

Old is... # 702, June 17, 1996 Sunset # 709, August 5, 1996 Postscript / Peter's Goodbye # 1000, November 4, 1996

Copyright

"Elderberry Wine" is copyrighted by KLCC-FM.  Permission to rebroadcast or publish the commentaries must be obtained from KLCC-FM.

Donation of the Peter Wotton Papers & Finding Aid

The Peter Wotton Papers were donated to the Lane Community College Archives by Carol Browne Wotton on September 25, 1999.  They have been cataloged and given the manuscript collection number: M-003.  The collection contains the typed scripts and taped audio recordings for nearly all of the "Elderberry Wine" commentaries, as well as newspaper columns, correspondence, speeches, sermons, scrapbooks, and photographs.