John Luther Dickson Papers

From 1930-1940, John Luther Dickson ran a religious radio ministry broadcasted across the Chicago metropolitan area. The WMAQ “Midday Chimes,” later the Chicago Tribune-supported WGN “Midday Service” hosted prominent Christian and Jewish religious leaders from across the United States. This collection contains materials relating to the broadcasts—including transcripts, speeches, and listener letters—and correspondence and gathered materials relating to John Luther Dickson and his wife, Nellie May Clingman.

Series I, Radio ministry, contains programmatic materials from the broadcasts organized chronologically, including speeches and schedules for the “Midday Chimes” and “Midday Service” and letters from listeners across the Chicago metropolitan area. The series provides insight into the structure, content, and reception of the broadcasts.

Series II, Writings, includes essays by John Luther Dickson and substantial handwritten and undated poems most likely read by Dickson on radio broadcasts.

Series III, Personal correspondence, contains letters from the beginning of Nellie and John’s relationship as well as from relatives across the Midwest.

Series IV, Biographical documentation, contains ephemera dating from throughout the lives of Nellie May Clingman and John Luther Dickson as well as papers written and gathered by their grandson, Ronald Dickson Ball, on family history and genealogy.