Panhandle PBS Archives Local Broadcast History through Grant

Panhandle PBS has been selected by the American Archive of Public Broadcasting (AAPB) to participate in a national preservation initiative that will digitize nearly 1,000 pieces of historic media content—from one-inch and three-quarter-inch videotapes to reel-to-reel audio recordings—documenting the stories and people of the Texas Panhandle.

The project represents an in-kind grant valued at approximately $50,000, through which AAPB and its partners will digitize, catalog, and return the preserved content to Panhandle PBS in modern digital formats.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to protect and share the stories that have shaped our region,” said Cullen Lutz, Panhandle PBS community impact manager. “Much of this material can no longer be accessed due to outdated formats and degrading media, but thanks to this partnership, it will live on for generations to come.”

The content—spanning from the station’s founding at KACV-TV in 1988 through the early 2000s—includes hundreds of short- and long-form programs produced by Panhandle PBS that highlight local culture, history, and community leaders.

The digitization is being completed by George Blood, L.P., a Pennsylvania-based archival company that specializes in preserving historical audio and video collections. The process will take about six months, after which Panhandle PBS will receive a digital server containing the newly preserved files.

This effort has involved close collaboration between Panhandle PBS and multiple Amarillo College partners, including AC’s Central Receiving, which consulted on and coordinated the careful transport of 30 boxes of archival material. The detailed cataloging and packaging was completed by AC mass media student Holly Warren, who worked alongside longtime media professional and former Panhandle PBS producer Buddy Squyres to create an extensive digital inventory.

“It’s been inspiring to watch our students engage directly in preserving our community’s heritage,” Jill Frank, Panhandle PBS operations/traffic coordinator. “This work connects generations and reinforces the importance of public media’s role in education and storytelling.”

The American Archive of Public Broadcasting is a collaboration between GBH in Boston and the Library of Congress, established to preserve and make accessible the nation’s public radio and television programming. Since 2013, the initiative has digitized more than 100,000 historic public broadcasting programs and maintains records for more than 2.5 million additional assets. Select portions of the Panhandle PBS collection may eventually become available through the AAPB Online Reading Room and the Library of Congress for public research and access.

“This is not just about preserving tapes,” Cullen added. “It’s about safeguarding the voices, faces, and stories that define who we, the Texas Panhandle, are as a community.”