Barnum joined RCA's Government Communications Systems division In 1984, just before the GE acquisition, Mr. Since 1991, the 48-year-old Cherry Hill resident has been best known to the public as the author of His Master's Voice In America, a sprawling illustrated history of the enterprise that began in 1901 as the Victor Talking Machine Company, then became RCA-Victor, which later became RCA before it was acquired by GE, which then sold it to Martin Marietta.
"I've been giving this talk for years and it's always packed like this," said the business development manager for Camden's L-3 Communications Systems who is also a Historical Society Trustee. When he arrived early to begin setting up his audio-visual gear he surveyed the large room, noted it was only half-filled with chairs and immediately called for library staff to quickly bring in as many more as would fit. "We are astounded by the size of the turnout," said Historical Society Executive Director Linda R. Sponsored by the Camden County Historical Society, the event drew such a crowd that many attendees were forced to watch the two-hour show from outside the Library Conference Center's corridor doors. Despite a driving rainstorm, more than 200 people - most of them senior citizens - showed up for the "Illustrated History of RCA" presentation by author Fred Barnum in the Cherry Hill library last Wednesday.Īuthor Fred Barnum signs copies of his RCA book during Wednesday's appearance at the Cherry Hill Library.