# To Madge with Love: The Story of Marion’s First Lady of Broadcasting, Madge Cooper Guthery

- Link: https://wmrnhistory.com/accession/wmrn-2026-054/
- Published: 2026-09-29T17:03:04-04:00
- Author: Brendon Hamblin

## Document

## Identification & Description

### Title

To Madge with Love: The Story of Marion's First Lady of Broadcasting, Madge Cooper
Guthery

### Description

### Media Preview

 <iframe src="https://wmrnhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/To-Madge-with-
Love-by-Scott-Spears.pdf" title="To Madge with Love by Scott Spears" style="display:
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  To Madge with Love by Scott Spears (WMRN-2026-054) is a digitized 66-page biographical
booklet about longtime WMRN broadcaster Madge Cooper Guthery, preserved within the
WMRN Personalities and Staff Documentation Collection. Written by Scott Spears with
Chris Collins, the booklet was digitized from a Marion Public Library reference 
copy. No formal publication date appears in the scanned pages, although the library
copy contains a December 6, 2011 catalog or accession stamp.  The booklet documents
Guthery's life and long association with WMRN, beginning with her arrival at the
station in 1941. It covers her work as director of women's activities, continuity
writer, and WMRN's first woman program director, along with her later local-history
program The Way We Were and her extensive community service. Photographs and contextual
material also document WMRN, Marion broadcasting culture, Ray Marsh, Rod Serling,
Scott Spears, and other people connected with Guthery's life and career.  Career
and Historical Topics Documented in Booklet 1941 - Madge Cooper Guthery begins her
association with WMRN shortly after the station goes on the air. Director of Women's
Activities - Guthery develops and presents programming directed toward women in 
the Marion community. Continuity Writer - Guthery writes station copy, announcements,
and other broadcast material for WMRN. First Woman Program Director - Guthery becomes
the first woman to hold the program director position at WMRN. The Way We Were -
Guthery later hosts a local-history program focused on Marion's people, places, 
and community memories. Community Service - The booklet documents Guthery's involvement
in civic, historical, and community organizations. WMRN Broadcasting History - Photographs
and narrative material provide additional context concerning WMRN-AM, WMRN-FM, station
personalities, and Marion broadcasting culture.

### Historical Significance

 This booklet preserves one of the most detailed known accounts of Madge Cooper
Guthery's life and broadcasting career. It is especially useful because it documents
her arrival at WMRN during the station's earliest years, her progression through
several important programming and writing positions, and her role as WMRN's first
woman program director.  The item also preserves a broader history of WMRN and Marion
broadcasting through photographs, personal recollections, and contextual material
involving station employees, community figures, and local media history. As a biographical
document, it helps connect Guthery's personal story with the institutional history
of WMRN and the development of local radio in Marion, Ohio.

### Exhibit Label

 To Madge with Love: The Story of Marion's First Lady of Broadcasting, Madge Cooper
Guthery. c. 2011. Written by Scott Spears with Chris Collins. Digitized biographical
booklet. This item is preserved as part of the WMRN Radio History Archive.

### Accession Number

WMRN-2026-054

### Object Type

[Document](https://wmrnhistory.com/archive/?taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bcompare%5D=IN&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Btaxonomy%5D=tnc_tax_2741&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D%5B0%5D=234)

### Date

circa 2011

### Sort Year

2011

### Organizations

[Marion Public Library](https://wmrnhistory.com/archive/?taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bcompare%5D=IN&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Btaxonomy%5D=tnc_tax_2799&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D%5B0%5D=444)

## Content and Context

### People

[Chris Collins](https://wmrnhistory.com/archive/?taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bcompare%5D=IN&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Btaxonomy%5D=tnc_tax_2788&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D%5B0%5D=365)
| [Jessica Choina](https://wmrnhistory.com/archive/?taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bcompare%5D=IN&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Btaxonomy%5D=tnc_tax_2788&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D%5B0%5D=366)
| [Madge Cooper Guthery](https://wmrnhistory.com/archive/?taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bcompare%5D=IN&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Btaxonomy%5D=tnc_tax_2788&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D%5B0%5D=367)
| [Ray Marsh](https://wmrnhistory.com/archive/?taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bcompare%5D=IN&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Btaxonomy%5D=tnc_tax_2788&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D%5B0%5D=369)
| [Rod Serling](https://wmrnhistory.com/archive/?taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bcompare%5D=IN&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Btaxonomy%5D=tnc_tax_2788&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D%5B0%5D=309)
| [Scott Spears](https://wmrnhistory.com/archive/?taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bcompare%5D=IN&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Btaxonomy%5D=tnc_tax_2788&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D%5B0%5D=370)

### Stations / Brands

[WMRN-AM 1490](https://wmrnhistory.com/archive/?taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bcompare%5D=IN&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Btaxonomy%5D=tnc_tax_2792&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D%5B0%5D=431)
| [WMRN-FM 106.9](https://wmrnhistory.com/archive/?taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bcompare%5D=IN&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Btaxonomy%5D=tnc_tax_2792&taxquery%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D%5B0%5D=432)

### Archive Collection(s)

WMRN Personalities and Staff Documentation Collection

### Keywords

Documents

## Rights and Access

### Access / Use Restrictions

Processed as a digital document accession. Internal research/reference use permitted
under archive policy; do not publish or redistribute the full PDF until rights and
source permissions are confirmed.

### Rights Status

Rights Unknown

## Digital Preservation / Media

### Digital Format

PDF

## Attachments