The HBCU Radio Preservation Project (HBCU RPP) will host an open house on Wednesday, May 13, to celebrate the return of preserved historic audio produced by Central State University’s radio station, WCSU 88.9. The newly digitized audio consists of 24 hours of unique and original programs that have aired on WCSU since the station’s inception in 1962. WCSU was the first federally licensed radio station in the nation and is the only minority-owned and operated non-commercial public radio station in Ohio. Complementing the digitized audio from WCSU are 12 oral history interviews recorded over the last year with individuals with ties to the station. They include interviews with current CSU President Dr. Morakinyo Kuti, past CSU President John W. Garland, and WCSU Station Manager Charles Fox. Oral histories collected through the project are housed at HBCU RPP partner the Margaret Walker Center, at Jackson State University.
The WCSU return celebration and open house will take place on Wednesday, May 13, 4 p.m. at WYSO, in the Union Schoolhouse, 314 Dayton Street, in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The event is open to the public.