Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
The history of amateur radio might never be complete, but some omissions in that history are larger than others, and the story of women in the early years of amateur radio is rarely told. In this video, which was presented at the 2021 Antique Wireless Association Conference, media historian Donna Halper tells the story of some the earliest radio amateurs, who just happened to be women.
Donna L. Halper, PhD is an associate professor of Communication and Media Studies at Lesley University, Cambridge MA. She is the author of six books and many articles. Her most recent book is a newly revised and expanded second edition of “Invisible Stars: A Social History of Women in American Broadcasting,”. She is also the author of a well-received local history, “Boston Radio 1920-2010,” which tells the story of Boston radio in words and pictures. Donna has also coauthored "Fessenden's Christmas Eve Broadcast: Reconsidering an Historic Event", and authored "Preserving the Story of Greater Boston's Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI", and "Navigating Two Worlds: The Amateurs and the Story of Commercial Broadcasting" in the Antique Wireless Association Review: antiquewireless.org/homepage/awa-review
If you enjoyed this video, consider becoming a member of the Antique Wireless Association at: antiquewireless.org/homepage/membership
Subscribe to the Antique Wireless Museum channel and you'll receive news of our latest video uploads.
The history of amateur radio might never be complete, but some omissions in that history are larger than others, and the story of women in the early years of amateur radio is rarely told. In this video, which was presented at the 2021 Antique Wireless Association Conference, media historian Donna Halper tells the story of some the earliest radio amateurs, who just happened to be women.
Donna L. Halper, PhD is an associate professor of Communication and Media Studies at Lesley University, Cambridge MA. She is the author of six books and many articles. Her most recent book is a newly revised and expanded second edition of “Invisible Stars: A Social History of Women in American Broadcasting,”. She is also the author of a well-received local history, “Boston Radio 1920-2010,” which tells the story of Boston radio in words and pictures. Donna has also coauthored "Fessenden's Christmas Eve Broadcast: Reconsidering an Historic Event", and authored "Preserving the Story of Greater Boston's Pioneering Broadcast Stations 1XE and WGI", and "Navigating Two Worlds: The Amateurs and the Story of Commercial Broadcasting" in the Antique Wireless Association Review: antiquewireless.org/homepage/awa-review
If you enjoyed this video, consider becoming a member of the Antique Wireless Association at: antiquewireless.org/homepage/membership
Subscribe to the Antique Wireless Museum channel and you'll receive news of our latest video uploads.
