Executive Director Alexander Magoun papers, 1972-2009
Part of collection: David Sarnoff Library records (2464-73)
Dates
- Creation: 1972-2009
Historical Note
Alex Magoun (b. 1958) received a B.A. in History from Trinity College in Connecticut in 1981, an M.A. in History from the University of East Anglia in 1983, and a Ph.D. in History from the University of Maryland in 2000. In 1998, Magoun was hired by the Sarnoff Corporation as the Curator for the David Sarnoff Library and became the Library’s Executive Director in 2000.
When the Library closed in 2009, Magoun preserved its legacy by arranging for the donation of the archival collections to Hagley and the museum objects to The College of New Jersey. In 2012, Magoun became the Outreach Historian for the IEEE History Center where he continues his work as a historian of technology. He is the author of David Sarnoff Research Center: RCA Labs to Sarnoff Corporation (2003), Television: The Life Story of a Technology (2009), and numerous articles.
Scope and Content
The papers of Alexander Magoun document his leadership of the David Sarnoff Library as it broadened its mission from the life of David Sarnoff to the history of RCA in general and RCA Laboratories in particular. The records of the Board of Directors and annual reports provide an overview of Magoun’s goals and strategies for the Library, while files on events and grants show how these were applied.
This series is particularly valuable in shedding light on the challenges faced by an archive that was mostly underwritten by a for-profit company, but responsible to the general public.
Extent
From the Collection: 9 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.
Negatives are housed in cold storage and must reacclimate prior to viewing (Box AVD-NG1). Please contact the Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department at least 48 hours in advance of research visit.
Records are subject to a 25-year time seal.
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
