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Computer storage devices

 Subject
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Scope Note: Associative storage; Buffer storage; Cache memory; Cathode ray tube memory systems; Counters; Disk access; Magnetic drums; Magnetic memory; Memory hierarchy; Microfilm aperture card systems; Optical storage devices; Punched card systems; RAID; Random access memory; Read-only memory; Computer Registers; Semiconductor storage devices; Smart cards; Storage fragmentation; Virtual storage.

Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:

Charles B. Dieterich papers, 1976-1984

 Series
Accession: 2464-09Identifier: 2464-09-13.-I.
Scope and Content:

The Charles B. Dieterich papers are composed of internal office correspondence, reports, schematics, notes, articles, and news clippings from Dieterich’s work on the improvement of digital storage, control systems, and sound for the VideoDisc project from 1978 to 1984.

Four of Dieterich's lab notebooks (1975-1987) can be found in Record group 26.

Dates: 1976-1984

Charles M. Wine papers, 1953-2001

 Series
Accession: 2464-09Identifier: 2464-09-7.-V.
Scope and Content:

Charles Wine's papers include information about patents awarded to Wine and other scientists whose patents were relevant to his; the Cole Patent, over which RCA unsuccessfully sued several companies for infringement; various resources RCA's scientists used during the invention process; projects sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); and Wine's Identity Controller Utility (ICU.)

Of particular value are the papers documenting the DSRC's unsuccessful attempt to develop a virtual reality video game console in the 1990s (see Subseries F.).

Eight of Wine's lab notebooks (1959-1988) can be found in Record group 26.

Dates: 1953-2001

Computer, 1944, 1952-1977

 Series
Accession: 1995-220Identifier: 1995-220-V.
Scope and Contents:

The Computer series are images of equipment, components, and parts. The series is arranged into five subseries: Bizmac, Card punch/punch tape, Card readers, Equipment, Spectra-70. There are some overlap in the Equipment subseries. The materials date from 1944 to 1977. Related materials can be found in the Government projects series.

Dates: 1944; 1952-1977

David L. Jose papers, 1973-1984

 Series
Accession: 2464-09Identifier: 2464-09-13.-II.
Scope and Content:

The David L. Jose papers are composed of product brochures, notes and schematics, office memos, and demonstration materials such as holotape samples, from Jose’s work on the VideoDisc project at the David Sarnoff Research Center.

One of Jose's lab notebooks (1969-1970) can be found in Record group 26.

Dates: 1973-1984

Engineering Department records, 1959-1974

 Series
Accession: 1825-IIdentifier: 1825-I-V.
Scope and Content:

The Engineering Department records include the files of J.P. Eckert, who was department head from 1953 to 1964 and those of Herman Lukoff who led the department from 1965 to 1975. The files describe the development of the Livermore Automatic Research Calculator (LARC) that was completed during the late 1950s and the early 1960s. This project, undertaken in conjunction with the Atomic Energy Commission's Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, proved to be a tremendous drain on the company's resources. Sperry Rand wound up losing $19 million on the project which was twenty-seven months behind schedule when it was finally completed in 1961. Despite the fact that only two machines were sold, the LARC did make significant contributions to the development of computer technology. The engineers at Sperry were convinced their experiences with the LARC enabled them to build a much more powerful UNIVAC III than would have otherwise been possible.

The Herman Lukoff papers document Sperry-Univac's effort to apply semiconductor and solid-state technology to computer development. The records trace the relationship between advances in these areas and innovations in magnetic memory and mass storage. The files on the UNIVAC 80 show that in 1958 Sperry was the first company to market a computer with transistorized circuitry. Four months later, however, IBM responded with a solid state machine of its own, the 1401, which was to dominate the market for much of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Dates: 1959-1974

James Hillier papers, 1922-2007

 Series
Accession: 2464-09Identifier: 2464-09-1.-II.
Scope and Content:

The James Hillier papers are composed of reports, publications, and correspondence related to the electron microscope, VideoDisc, and other RCA products. The papers also include reports, meeting minutes, and business plans from Hillier’s time as an RCA administrator. Along with reference publications and product guides, the papers also consist of a number of Hillier’s speeches.

Thirty-eight of Hillier's lab notebooks (1940s) and two of his patent disclosure books (1940, 1942) can be found in Record group 26.

Dates: 1922-2007

James R. Matey papers, 1974-2003

 Series
Accession: 2464-09Identifier: 2464-09-22.
Scope and Content:

James R. Matey preserved documents which help to explain his work in developing instruments used to control and manipulate data and materials, tools to measure the impact of materials introduced in his experiments, and microscopes which became useful to describe and improve various products. His work is reflected clearly by the number of patents he received, and by the many records which document his work with microscopy, picture tubes, and VideoDiscs.

The Matey papers includes photographs, overhead transparencies, 35mm slides, videocassettes, and one video disc. These depict work done with scanning capacitance microscopy (SCaM) including micrographs of silicone on sapphire, video discs, and graphs and diagrams used in a presentation on scanning capacitance microscopy.

Twenty-nine of Matey's lab notebooks (1977-1991) can be found in Record group 26.

Dates: 1974-2003

Jan A. Rajchman papers, 1938-1976

 Series
Accession: 2464-09Identifier: 2464-09-23.
Scope and Content:

Dr. Jan A. Rajchman was an international legend for his early work in the development of several generations of computer memories. His papers communicate the results of his work, the approval of his work by his colleagues as evidenced by the demand for his speeches at universities, international symposia and colloquia and his promotions to managerial positions within RCA. Understandably, much of his collection pertains to the development of a variety of computer memories and storage of data. In addition, information about his disclosure of inventions and awards of patents equally attests to his importance to RCA and to the science of electronics. Rajchman's papers include detailed information about his world wide travels to Europe and Japan, as well as to Russia, Turkey and Australia. Dr. Rajchman was active in several societies and Institutes, including committees in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the National Science Foundation, the activities of which are well documented in his papers.

Seventy-three of Rajchman's lab notebooks (1936-1976) and six of his patent disclosure books (1943-1953) can be found in Record Group 26.

Dates: 1938-1976

Leonard P. Fox papers, 1951-1983

 Series
Accession: 2464-09Identifier: 2464-09-9.-I.
Scope and Content:

The Leonard P. Fox papers are composed of articles, notes, and photographs of chemical processes related to Fox’s work on the research and development of etching and plating techniques to improve the production of VideoDiscs, particularly on the conductive coating for the VideoDisc surface and on scratch testing.

One of Fox's lab notebooks (1970-1980) can be found in Record group 26.

Dates: 1951-1983

Michael J. Lurie papers, 1968-2000

 Series
Accession: 2464-09Identifier: 2464-09-21.
Scope and Content:

The Michael J. Lurie papers are composed of presentation materials, notes, articles, photographs, slides, and correspondence related to Lurie’s work on projects related to optics, including optical readers for VideoDisc, cameras, and advanced monitor displays.

Nine of Lurie's lab notebooks (1969-1987) can be found in Record group 26.

Dates: 1968-2000

Robert A. Bartolini papers, 1960-1990

 Series
Accession: 2464-09Identifier: 2464-09-11.-I.
Scope and Content:

The Robert A. Bartolini papers are related to RCA's and the Sarnoff Corporation's research and development of optical and laser recording and storage technology. The materials include technical reports, research papers, operating system proposals, published articles covering optical recording, and photographic materials. In addition in contains folders on meetings and symposiums, presentations by and correspondence with Dr. Bartolini.

Eight of Bartolini's lab notebooks (1957-1983) can be found in Record group 26.

Dates: 1960-1990