History of Science and Technology

Biological Sciences | Civil Engineering | Classical Physics | Computer Science
Electrical Engineering | High Energy Physics | Industrial Revolution and Heavy Industry |
Military Science | Telecommunications

In keeping with Stanford University's historic role in the rise of, as well as its location in the heart of, the Silicon Valley, the Manuscripts Division of the Department of Special Collections has an exceptionally strong set of collections in the History of Science and Technology, including the papers of many of the key figures in the rise of the computer revolution.

An equally rich set of related and complementary collections can be found in the Stanford University Archives.

Topics in the History of Science collections at Stanford range from astronomy to telecommunications, from botany to high energy physics.

Biological Sciences

Collections relating to the Biological Sciences include the George A. Clark Fur Seal Controversy Papers (M0118), the Dall-Oldroyd correspondence, 1860-1927 (M0197), the James Lewis Letters, 1868-1873 (M0108), the Edward F. Ricketts Papers, 1936-1979 (M0291) (Ricketts was immortalized as the character "Doc" in John Steinbeck's Cannery Row), and the Alvin Seale Diaries, 1901-1940 (M0172).

Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering as a collecting are is represented by the James Deitrick Correspondence (M0092) and Papers, 1900-1918 (M0140), the Ralph M. Heintz (Ralph M.) Prints, tracings, and sketches, n.d. (M0293), the Sanitary Reform of London : the Working Collection of Sir Joseph Bazalgette, the Joseeph Strauss Bridge Plans (M0163), which include plans for the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Adolph Sutro Papers (JL004).

Classical Physics

Collection in Classical Physics include the Frederick E. Brasch Papers, 1745-1963 (M0275), the Sir Isaac Newton (Sir Isaac) Collection, 1684-1949 (M0132), and the Scientists and science collection, 1870-1948 (M0133).

Computer Science

Of greatest note in the Computer Science collections are the Apple Computer, Inc. Records, 1977-1998 (M1007), the Douglas Englebart Papers (M0638, M0735, M1108, and MISC 668), the Charles Irby Papers, 1962-1975 (M0671), and the Mark D. Weiser Papers, 1969-1999 (M1069). Also of interest to researchers in the area of computer science are the Stephen M. Cabrinety Collection in the History of Microcomputing, ca. 1975-1995 (M0997) and the Whole Earth Catalog Records, correspondence, etc., 1969-1986 (M1045), especially the editorial files of visionary Stewart Brand.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering collections include the William W. Eitel Papers, ca. 1972-1979 (M0940), George Rostky's History of the Integrated Circuit (M0851), and the Robert Y. Wing (Robert Y.) Electric vehicles (EV) collection, 1970-1997 (M0980).

High Energy Physics

The field of High Energy Physics is represented by the Ervin J. Nalos Papers (M0801). See also the collections in this field held by the University Archives.

Industrial Revolution and Heavy Industry

The Manuscripts Division contains numerous collection relating to the rise of the Industrial Revolution, including the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corp. Records (M0015), the California Oil Collection (M0078), the Conrad Family Papers, ca. 1850-1902 (M0343), the James Deitrick Correspondence (M0092) and Papers, 1900-1918 (M0140), the Arthur H. Markwart (Arthur H.). Panama Pacific-Exposition (M0142), the Pacific Improvement Company. Records, 1869-1931 (JL001), the Stephen Farnum Peckham Papers (M0387), the Paul Shoup Papers (M0057), and the United Railroads of San Francisco Records (M0161).

Military Science

The Stanford University Libraries have a small number of manuscript collections dealing with Military Science, namely the École Imperiale d'Application de l'Artillerie et du Génie. Cours d'Art militaire : notes, drawings, etc. concerning military engineering in France, 1833-1865 (M0465), and Hans Liska's Skizzenbuch : collection of drawings done for Junkers Flugzeng und Motorenwerke AG, Dessau, 1941-1943 (M0795).

Telecommunications

The development of the Telecommunications industry is documented in such collections as the Oakland Home Telephone Company Collection, 1893-1909 (M0177) and the United States of America v. American Telephone & Telegraph, et al. : Legal documents, 1974-1982 (Mss Codex M0396)

Curator Henry Lowood is the primary individual responsible for selecting manuscript collections that fall into this area. For a fuller description of his current collecting activities, please refer to the History of Science and Technology home page.