Thanks to the Hartford Public Library for permission to record this celebration.

Hartford Public Library and its Hartford History Center presented a special exhibition on the life of Radio Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Steele, the voice of WTIC for half a century.  The opening reception was held on Thursday, December 8 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Café space at the Downtown Library, 500 Main Street. The exhibition will run through December 22, 2011.

Join the Library in celebrating the life of this local personality. By the time of his retirement from daily radio in 1991, Bob Steele (1911 – 2010) had created one of the longest running radio shows in the country. Materials on exhibit are on loan from his personal collection and include letters, cartoons he loved to draw and photographs.

Welcoming remarks will began at 6:00 p.m. at the December 8th evening reception and featured the popular radio personality Brad Davis as the keynote speaker. “I would not be broadcaster today if it wasn't for Bob Steele's mentoring,” said Davis.

“Bob Steele was the voice of Hartford,” said chief executive officer at Hartford Public Library Matthew K. Poland.  “We are delighted to host an exhibit celebrating the life of a broadcast icon who was part of our daily lives for most of the 20th century.”

The opening reception and exhibition were free and open to the public.

About Hartford Public Library
 
The Hartford Public Library traces its roots to 1774.  It operates 10 locations in the City of Hartford. The Library receives more than 860,000 visits per year.  Services include access to a large collection of materials for reading and research, as well as music and video.  Programs provide education, information and enrichment to the people of Hartford in such areas as citizenship training, literacy, business skills and cultural awareness.  The mission of Hartford Public Library is to provide free resources that inspire reading, guide learning, and encourage individual exploration. www.hplct.org

About Hartford History Center

Hartford History Center at Hartford Public Library, collects, preserves, and makes available materials and information relating to the history, literature, and culture of Hartford.  The holdings include, but are not limited to books; scrapbooks; pamphlets; the City of Hartford archives; the Hartford City Parks collection; image collections; maps; fine and graphic arts, including paintings, posters, prints and drawings; and memorabilia – those materials that preserve and share the story of Hartford, Connecticut - its place, its people, and its past. Located on the third floor of the Downtown Library, 500 Main Street, the Hartford History Center is open 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, please call the Center at 860-695-6297 or visit online at www.hplct.org/hhc .