Elizabeth Campbell
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell (December 2, 1902 – January 9, 2004) was one of the first and most prominent public television pioneers in the United States
. Campbell also served as a teacher, college administrator, as a notable board member for the Arlington Public Schools
, and as the founder of WETA-TV
, the first public television station in Washington, D.C.
to a Moravian minister and a music teacher. She received her high school education at Salem Academy
where she graduated in 1919, and received her bachelors degree in Education from Salem's sister institution, Salem College
in 1923. She then went to receive her master’s degree in Education from Columbia University
and taught high school girls at Salem Academy afterwards. She also served as an administrator at Moravian College
and Mary Baldwin College
after teaching at Salem. Pfohl married Edmund Campbell in 1936, a trial lawyer and moved with him to Arlington, Virginia, where he lived. They would have four children together.
In 1948, Campbell was elected to the school board of Arlington County, Virginia
, which was the first directly elected school board in Virginia. While on the board, she was instrumental in adding fine arts classes, comparable facilities for African- American and white students, securing higher teacher salaries, and building new schools. She served as the chair from 1950–1956, when she retired temporarily, and again from 1960-1962. In 1954, she helped pave the way to desegregate schools in Arlington, despite Virginia's "massive defiance" of Brown vs. Board of Education.
(FCC) authorized Channel 26 to be designated for educational television, and in 1953, the Greater Washington Educational Television Association (GWETA) was created. Campbell joined the GWETA in 1956 initially as vice chairman, and became president a year later. While she was the GWETA president, Campbell worked hard to raise funds for a local educational TV station in Washington, DC. In 1961, an application was sent to the FCC to open WETA, and on October 2, the station finally went on the air.
The station initially was on the air only during daytime hours on weekdays, but it was soon on the air 86 hours a week, including weekends in 1966. WETA-TV today is on the air 24 hours a day and is the third largest public television station in the United States. In 1966, Campbell helped expand WETA into the radio market, with a WETA radio station going on the air in 1970 at 90.9 FM, which plays mostly classical music, and NPR
news programming.
and Salem College
. Campbell also won many awards in the Public Broadcasting community for her service, from PBS
and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
. Campbell continued to serve on other community boards, including the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association, the YWCA, and as a board of trustees member for Salem Academy, where she organized a partnership between the school and WETA-TV which included internships for Salem students during their unique January term.
On January 9, 2004, Campbell died in Arlington after a brief illness at the age of 101. Arlington, Virginia honored her by naming a grade school as well as Campbell Lane after her.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Campbell also served as a teacher, college administrator, as a notable board member for the Arlington Public Schools
Arlington Public Schools
Arlington Public Schools is a public school division in Arlington County, Virginia. In 2010, there were 19,903 students, up from 18,715 a year earlier. In 2010, the students had come from more than 120 countries. There were 2,166 teachers....
, and as the founder of WETA-TV
WETA-TV
WETA-TV is a Public Broadcasting Service member public televisionstation for the Washington, D.C., area. Its studios are in nearby Arlington, Virginia...
, the first public television station in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Early life and education career
Elizabeth Pfohl was born in Winston-Salem, North CarolinaWinston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
to a Moravian minister and a music teacher. She received her high school education at Salem Academy
Salem Academy
Salem Academy is a boarding and day school for high school girls in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is formally known as Salem Academy and College where it shares its campus with Salem College, located near historic Old Salem...
where she graduated in 1919, and received her bachelors degree in Education from Salem's sister institution, Salem College
Salem College
Salem College is a liberal arts women's college in Winston-Salem, North Carolina founded in 1772. Originally established as a primary school, it later became an academy and finally a college. It is the oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college...
in 1923. She then went to receive her master’s degree in Education from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and taught high school girls at Salem Academy afterwards. She also served as an administrator at Moravian College
Moravian College
Moravian College a private liberal arts college, and the associated Moravian Theological Seminary are located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States, in the Lehigh Valley region.-History:...
and Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College is a private, independent, and comprehensive four-year liberal arts women's college in Staunton, Virginia. It was ranked in 2008 by US News & World Report as a top-tier, master's level university in the South. Mary Baldwin offers pre-professional programs in law, medicine,...
after teaching at Salem. Pfohl married Edmund Campbell in 1936, a trial lawyer and moved with him to Arlington, Virginia, where he lived. They would have four children together.
In 1948, Campbell was elected to the school board of Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, which was the first directly elected school board in Virginia. While on the board, she was instrumental in adding fine arts classes, comparable facilities for African- American and white students, securing higher teacher salaries, and building new schools. She served as the chair from 1950–1956, when she retired temporarily, and again from 1960-1962. In 1954, she helped pave the way to desegregate schools in Arlington, despite Virginia's "massive defiance" of Brown vs. Board of Education.
WETA and public broadcasting
Campbell was intrigued by the power of television since the 1940s, believing that it could be used for educational purposes. In 1952, the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) authorized Channel 26 to be designated for educational television, and in 1953, the Greater Washington Educational Television Association (GWETA) was created. Campbell joined the GWETA in 1956 initially as vice chairman, and became president a year later. While she was the GWETA president, Campbell worked hard to raise funds for a local educational TV station in Washington, DC. In 1961, an application was sent to the FCC to open WETA, and on October 2, the station finally went on the air.
The station initially was on the air only during daytime hours on weekdays, but it was soon on the air 86 hours a week, including weekends in 1966. WETA-TV today is on the air 24 hours a day and is the third largest public television station in the United States. In 1966, Campbell helped expand WETA into the radio market, with a WETA radio station going on the air in 1970 at 90.9 FM, which plays mostly classical music, and NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
news programming.
Post-WETA work
In 1971, Campbell retired from the GWETA and WETA-TV as its president, but held the position of Vice President of Community Affairs, which she held until she died. During this time, Campbell helped launch the Children’s Art Festival of the Washington, DC area; and the Elizabeth P. Campbell Lecture Series, which presented broadcasting notables. Because of her groundwork for WETA as well as public broadcasting in general, Campbell was given high honors, including an Emmy Award in 1987, honorary doctorates from Washington and Lee UniversityWashington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
and Salem College
Salem College
Salem College is a liberal arts women's college in Winston-Salem, North Carolina founded in 1772. Originally established as a primary school, it later became an academy and finally a college. It is the oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college...
. Campbell also won many awards in the Public Broadcasting community for her service, from PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
. Campbell continued to serve on other community boards, including the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association, the YWCA, and as a board of trustees member for Salem Academy, where she organized a partnership between the school and WETA-TV which included internships for Salem students during their unique January term.
On January 9, 2004, Campbell died in Arlington after a brief illness at the age of 101. Arlington, Virginia honored her by naming a grade school as well as Campbell Lane after her.