Biographical/historical information

The International Broadcasting Bureau Greenville Transmitting Station, also knowsn as the Voice of America Greenville Transmitting Station was a United States government shortwave radio transmission facility located near Greenville, North Carolina. The station was constructed during the Cold War period to support the expansion of U.S. international broadcasting capabilities.

Planning for the facility began in the 1950s in response to the need for improved transmission coverage to audiences in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Construction commenced in 1960 following congressional authorization, and the station became operational in 1963. The site was selected based on technical considerations including geographic location, signal propagation conditions, and availability of land and electrical infrastructure.

The Greenville transmitting complex was originally composed of three separate installations, identified as Site A, Site B, and Site C. Sites A and B functioned as transmitting facilities equipped with high power shortwave transmitters and antenna arrays, while Site C served as a receiving and program control center. In 1968, the Site C facility was formally named the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station, in honor of Edward R. Murrow, who served as director of the United States Information Agency from 1961 to 1964.

Throughout its period of operation, the station has transmitted radio programming produced by Voice of America to international audiences in multiple languages. Changes in broadcasting technology and organizational priorities over time resulted in modifications to the facility's structure and use. Site C ceased operations in 1995, and Site A was later decommissioned. Site B ceased operations on March 16, 2025 when the station's transmitters were shut down.

Scope and arrangement

The collection consists of a single audio recording documenting the dedication of the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station on February 8, 1968. The recording captures remarks delivered by Edward R. Murrow in connection with the formal naming of the Voice of America Greenville Transmitting Station in his honor.

Administrative information

Custodial History

March 11, 2026 (processed), 0.25; A/V reel of the February 8, 1963, dedication of the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station/Voice of America Greenville Transmitting Station. Donor unknown, item found in collection.

March 11, 2026 (processed), 1 item; recording February, 1968) of the dedication of the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station/Voice of America Greenville Transmitting Station. Donor: Michael Cotle [sic]

Source of acquisition

Gift of Michael Cotle [sic]

Processing information

Processed by Patrick Cash, March 2026

Copyright notice

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Metadata Rights Declaration

This record is made available under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Creative Commons license.

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