WLBZ radio evolved from the passion of Thompson Guernsey, an amateur radio buff from Dover-Foxcroft who began experimenting with radio at the age of thirteen. As noted in a piece written by Fred Thompson in The History of Broadcasting in Maine: the First Fifty Years, Guernsey, considered by some to be an "eccentric genius," began with homemade receivers and transmitters and an amateur license granted in 1921. After graduating from the University of Maine in 1926 with an A. B. in electronic engineering, Guernsey began operating WLBZ as a commercial broadcast station from Dover-Foxcroft.

In 1928, he moved his studio to the back of the Andrews Music House at 100 Main Street in Bangor and connected to a transmitter located at 861 Broadway. According to Thompson, "Radio was new to everyone in 1926, and aside from WCSH in Portland, his was the only commercial radio station in the state." Subsequent WLBZ general managers were Edward Guernsey, (1934-1974), Irving Hunter (1974-1976), Edward Owen, (1976-1978) and Barry Darling (1978-1983).

The WLBZ station records and audio recordings at the University of Maine's Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Department reflect rapid growth and evolution of the station from the 1930s to the 1970s. Materials include station logs, items related to licensing and operations, and many audio recordings of locally recorded programming. This digital collection makes several of these audio recordings available along with accompanying transcribed text.

For more information about files included in this collection or other materials in the station records, contact Special Collections, 5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library, Orono, ME 04469-5729, 207.581.1686, um.library.spc @ maine.edu.