President's Office records, 1919-2007
Part of collection: David Sarnoff Research Center records (2464-09)
Dates
- Creation: 1919-2007
Historical Note
When RCA Laboratories was established in 1941, the top two executives were Vice-President, RCA Laboratories Otto S. Schairer and Research Department Director Ralph R. Beal. In 1943, Beal was replaced by Elmer W. Engstrom.
In 1945, Schairer stepped down in favor of Charles B. Joliffe, who was succeeded by Engstrom in 1951, with Irving Wolff taking over the Research Department. Promoted to Executive Vice-President, Research and Engineering in 1954, Engstrom also continued as Vice-President, RCA Laboratories until Douglas H. Ewing’s appointment the following year. Engstrom was promoted again in 1955 to Senior Vice-President, but remained responsible for Research and Engineering.
Ewing was promoted to Vice-President, Research and Engineering in 1957 and James Hillier took over his previous position. George H. Brown replaced Ewing in 1961 and the Research Department, where Humboldt W. Leverenz had replaced Wolff in 1959, was abolished.
James Hillier succeeded Brown in 1968, while William M. Webster took over RCA Laboratories. In 1976, Hillier moved into an advisory position and William C. Hittinger was appointed Executive Vice-President, Research and Engineering. Hittinger served until a reorganization in 1983 eliminated Research and Engineering.
James J. Tietjen, who had succeeded Webster as Vice-President, RCA Laboratories in 1985, became the first President of the David Sarnoff Research Center when it was incorporated as a subsidiary of SRI in 1987. James Carnes was appointed President in 1990 and served until 2002 when he was replaced by Satyam C. Cherukuri. Carnes returned as interim President in 2006-2007. After brief terms as president by Don Newsome and Mark A. Clifton, the position was eliminated when the Sarnoff Corporation was integrated into SRI in 2011.
Vice-Presidents of Research and Engineering
- Elmer W. Engstrom
- 1954-1955 (Executive Vice-President)
- Title not used, but role filled by Senior Vice-President Elmer W. Engstrom
- 1955-1957
- Douglas H. Ewing
- 1957-1961
- George H. Brown
- 1961-1968 (Executive Vice-President, 1965-1968)
- James Hillier
- 1968-1976 (Executive Vice-President, 1969-1976)
- William C. Hittinger
- 1976-1983 (Executive Vice-President)
Vice-Presidents of RCA Laboratories
- Otto S. Schairer
- 1941-1945
- Charles B. Joliffe
- 1945-1951 (Executive Vice-President)
- Elmer W. Engstrom
- 1951-1955
- Douglas H. Ewing
- 1955-1957
- James Hillier
- 1957-1968 (General Manager, 1957-1958)
- William M. Webster
- 1968-1985 (Staff Vice-President, 1968-1969)
- James J. Tietjen
- 1985-1987
Directors of the Research Department
- Ralph R. Beal
- 1941-1943
- Elmer W. Engstrom
- 1943-1951 (Vice-President, 1945-1951)
- Irving Wolff
- 1951-1959 (Vice-President, 1954-1959)
- Humboldt W. Leverenz
- 1959-1961
Presidents of the David Sarnoff Research Center/Sarnoff Corporation
- James J. Tietjen
- 1985-1987
- James Carnes
- 1990-2002
- Satyam C. Cherukuri
- 2002-2006
- James Carnes
- 2006-2007
- Don Newsome
- 2007-2009
- Mark A. Clifton
- 2009-2011
Scope and Content
The President’s Office records include high-level planning and management records from Otto S. Schairer, James Hillier, and James Carnes. The Hillier papers also document his work developing the electron microscope from the late 1930s to early 1950s.
Arrangement
The President's Office records are arranged in three series:
I. Otto Sorg Schairer notebook assembled by George S. Schairer
II. James Hillier papers
III. James Carnes papers
Extent
From the Collection: 990 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Additional Description
Access Restrictions
Records subject to 25-year time seal.
Arrangement
The President's Office records are arranged in three series:
I. Otto Sorg Schairer notebook assembled by George S. Schairer
II. James Hillier papers
III. James Carnes papers
Related Names
Creator
- From the Collection: Sarnoff Corporation (Organization)
- From the Collection: Radio Corporation of America. David Sarnoff Research Center, Princeton, N.J (Organization)
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
