Brown F. Williams files on the photovoltaics program, 1978-1984
Part of collection: David Sarnoff Research Center records (2464-09)
Dates
- Creation: 1978-1984
Biographical Note
RCA regularly discovered and patented technologies they then licensed to other companies that would develop the technology for commercial applications. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Brown F. Williams (1940-2016), Staff Vice President, Display and Energy Systems Research, was responsible for directing these efforts in his division.
By 1978, RCA employees at the David Sarnoff Research Center (DSRC) had developed technologies in photovoltaics, or solar power, and Williams was tasked with finding a company to license the technology. DSRC employed several consulting firms for guidance, then met with municipal utility companies and oil companies across the United States, as well as several international firms to find a buyer. In 1982, RCA entered negotiations with a small solar power cell venture, Solarex, a subsidiary of Standard Oil of Indiana/AMOCO. An agreement was reached and signed in 1983, after which DSRC oversaw the transfer of equipment to Solarex, and continued to provide laboratory testing and personnel support to Solarex.
Scope and Content
The Brown F. Williams files on the photovoltaics program include correspondence, presentations, and inventories related to RCA Laboratories’ initiative to develop and patent, then license solar power technologies developed at the David Sarnoff Research Center.
Twenty-six of his lab notebooks (1966-1981) can be found in Record group 26.
Arrangement
Folders arranged alphabetically by subject.
Extent
From the Collection: 990 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Additional Description
Access Restrictions
This collection contains material from the Manuscripts and Archives Department (M&A) and the Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department (AVD). Box prefixes indicate which department holds an individual file or item.
Boxes M&A 127-846, M&A 1061-1064, and M&A 1283-1313 are stored offsite. Please contact the Manuscripts and Archives Department at least 48 hours in advance of research visit.
Arrangement
Folders arranged alphabetically by subject.
Processing Notes
Processed by Rachael A. Beyer, September 2014.
Subjects
Related Names
Subject
- Williams, Brown F., 1940-2016 (Person)
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
