Thursday, October 17, 2019

Author, broadcaster and educator Randall Davidson will trace the history of Wisconsin Public Radio at the 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, October 17, History at Home programs at the Fond du Lac Public Library. The programs are free; no registration required.

Davidson will tell the story of how it started with the experimental station 9XM at the University of Wisconsin, with homemade equipment and guided by The Wisconsin Idea, the philosophy that the riches of the university research should be shared with all citizens of the state.

Davidson, of Fond du Lac, is the author of the book “9XM Talking: WHA Radio and the Wisconsin Idea.” He worked for Wisconsin Public Radio as a news producer and news anchor for 18 years and served as the network’s chief announcer and unofficial historian. Since 2008, he’s been the director of radio services and a senior lecturer in Radio TV Film at UW-Oshkosh.

The presentations are part of the library’s monthly History at Home program, which focuses on local and area history at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month (skipping December). Coming November 21: Fur Trading in Wisconsin.