Search Results

Creator:

Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.  Search this

Names:

Nobel Voices: Celebrating 100 Years of the Nobel Prize (Exhibition).  Search this

Extent:

0.75 Cubic feet (4 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Oral history

Videotapes

Interviews

Betacam sp (videotape format)

Photographs

Date:

2001-10-01

Summary:

Approximately five hours of video footage documenting Harold Kroto, chemist and Nobel Laureate (Chemistry, 1996) discussing carbon structures called "bucky balls" named after architect Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes. Kroto describes properties and mathematical principles represented by these structures and he discusses his background and winning the Nobel Prize.

Scope and Contents:

This collection contains five (5) hours of original (BetaCam SP), master (BetaCam SP), reference videos (VHS) and one (1) audio cassette documenting Harold Kroto, chemist and Nobel Laureate (Chemistry, 1996). Kroto discusses carbon structures called "bucky balls" named after architect Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes and describes properties and mathematical principles represented by these structures. Kroto also discusses his background and winning the Nobel Prize. Audience participants are students from Queen Anne School (Upper Marlboro, Maryland) and Nysmith School for the Gifted (Herndon, Virginia). There are two sets of reference viewing copies; the Innovative Lives Presentation was filmed using two different camera angles (camera 1 and camera 2). The content is the same.

Arrangement:

The collection is divided into three series.

Series 1, Original Videos and Audio Cassette, 2001

Series 2, Master Videos, 2001

Series 3, Reference Videos and Audio Cassette, 2001

Biographical / Historical:

Harry Kroto (1939-) was born in Wisbech, Cambridegshire, England and raised and educated in Bolton, Lancashire, England. He attended Bolton School where he studied art, geography, gymnastics, and woodwork. He later graduated from the University of Sheffield earning a BSc degree (1958-1961) and a Ph.D. (1961-1964) in chemistry. Kroto's doctorate work focused on "Spectroscopy of Free Radicals Produced by Flash Photolysis." Kroto's postdoctoral work in electronic and microwave spectroscopy was conducted at the National Research Council in Ottawa, Canada, and at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey studying liquid phase interactions by Raman Spectroscopy. In 1967, Kroto joined the staff at the University of Sussex (Brighton) where he became a professor in 1985 and in 1991 was made Royal Society Research Professor. At Sussex, Kroto began exploring the possible source of carbon chains in space. Based on this research along with his colleagues Robert Curl and Richard Smalley, both of Rice University, Kroto received the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of "fullerenes." Named after architect Buckminster Fuller's soccer-ball shaped geodesic dome, fullerenes are formed when vaporized carbon condenses in an atmosphere of inert gas.

The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation was founded in 1995 at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History through a generous gift from the Lemelson Foundation. The Center's mission is: to document, interpret, and disseminate information about invention and innovation; to encourage inventive creativity in young people; and to foster an appreciation for the central role invention and innovation play in the history of the United States. The Innovative Lives series brings together museum visitors and, especially, school aged children, and American inventors to discuss inventions and the creative process and to experiment and play with hands-on activities related to each inventor's product. This collection was recorded by the Innovative Lives Program of the Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.

Provenance:

This collection was recorded by the Innovative Lives Program of the Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation on October 1, 2001.

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions. Signed release forms on file.

Topic:

Nobel Prizes  Search this

Chemists -- 20th century  Search this

Chemistry -- 20th century  Search this

Slides  Search this

Genre/Form:

Oral history -- 2000-2010

Videotapes

Interviews -- 2000-2010

BetaCam SP (videotape format)

Photographs

Citation:

Harry Kroto Innovative Lives Presentation and Interview, October 1, 2001, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0792

See more items in:

Harry Kroto Innovative Lives Presentation and Interview

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8fbc29a95-cf23-40af-8a02-67270d5e3905

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0792

Creator:

Mathis, Nathaniel, 1946- (barber, motivational speaker)  Search this

Interviewer:

Ruffins, Fath Davis  Search this

Extent:

5.5 Cubic feet (18 boxes, 1 oversize folder)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Awards

Certificates

Correspondence

Interviews

Oral history

Photographs

Videotapes

Place:

Washington (D.C.) -- Small business -- 20th century

Date:

1946-2004

bulk 1970-2004

Summary:

Nathaniel Mathis is a Washington, D.C., hairstylist, inventor, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur. His papers document his business life and community involvement.

Scope and Contents:

The collection documents the work of a hairstylist, inventor, entrepreneur, and public figure whose career reflects significant changes in the African American community in the later 20th century. It is rich in visual imagery created by and for this community. Business papers, correspondence, publicity, photographs, awards and certificates documenting Mathis's work as a highly regarded barber and hairstylist in Washington, D.C., and as member of the D.C. Board of Barbering and Cosmetology are included. Business papers offer insight into the workings of a small privately-owned business. Numerous publicity items and photographs offer evidence of African American style and fashion in New York and Washington, D.C., from the late 1960s through today. Additional material documents Mathis's activities as a community activist, motivational speaker and distance runner. The collection also includes photographs, oral history interviews, and audio-visual materials.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into ten series.

Series 1: Biographical Information and Activities, 1946-2001, undated

Series 2: Beauty Business Documents and Advertising, 1969-2002, undated

Series 3: Publicity, 1963-2002

Series 4: Washington, D.C. Barbering and Cosmetology Boards, 1966-1997, undated

Series 5: Correspondence, 1967-2002, undated

Series 6: Awards and Certificates, 1969-2001, undated

Series 7: Photographs, 1966-1989, undated

Series 8: Video Materials, 1983-2002, undated

Series 9: Audio Tapes, 1998-2004, undated

Series 10: Memorabilia, 1992-1998, undated

Biographical / Historical:

"Nat Mathis (b. 1946) is a native Washingtonian. He is a man of many talents and measures his success in many ways: innovative hairstylist, entrepreneur, inventor, community activist, motivational speaker and distance runner. Mathis opened his first barber shop in 1969. He is the winner of many national and international hairstyling awards and competitions and was the first African American to win the International Hair Styling competition in Cairo, Egypt in 1981. Mathis was among the first African American hairstylists to embrace and popularize the Afro and, later, cornrows -- hairstyles which many view as expressions of black empowerment. Mathis himself seldom expresses a political ideology of hair, but by 1970, Nat was known among his many satisfied clients and peers as "the Bush Doctor" for his expertise in Afro style and maintenance. He has styled hair for many celebrities; made numerous television appearances; and has been a stylist for several productions at the Kennedy Center, and for two major motion pictures, including Nixon, for which he re-created period hairstyles. He is active in community affairs, gives motivational speeches throughout the Washington, D.C., area, and is particularly interested in mentoring young people. He currently operates a barber shop adjacent to his home in Capitol Heights, Maryland."

*Biographical information provided by Nat Mathis's Official Website, "A Man of Many Talents." http://www.natmathis.com (accessed 02 August, 2006).

Separated Materials:

Mr. Mathis donated three of his patented barbering vests (See Accession # 1998.0114) to the Division of Home and Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life).

Provenance:

Collection donated to the Archives Center, National Museum of American History by Nathaniel Mathis on April 9, 1998.

Restrictions:

The copllection is open for research.

Physical Access: Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with gloves.

Technical Access: Series 8, Video materials and Series 9, Audiotapes may not be used by researchers unless reference and viewing copies are made available.

Rights:

Copyright held by the Smithsonian Institution. Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Reproduction permission from Archives Center: fees for commercial use. The Archives Center does not own rights to the patent, trademark or any related interest in the artifacts.

Topic:

African American barbers  Search this

African American beauty operators  Search this

Barbers  Search this

Barbering  Search this

Barbershops -- Equipment and supplies -- 1970-2000 -- Washington (D.C)  Search this

Beauty culture  Search this

Hair  Search this

Hairdressing of African Americans -- 1970-2000 -- Washington (D.C.)  Search this

Inventors  Search this

Motivation -- Public speaking -- 1970-2000  Search this

Public speaking -- 1970-2000  Search this

Genre/Form:

Awards

Certificates

Correspondence -- 1970-2000

Interviews -- 1980-2000

Interviews -- 2000-2010

Oral history -- 1990-2000

Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin -- 1950-2000

Videotapes

Citation:

Nathaniel Mathis Collection of Barbering and Beauty Culture, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0641

See more items in:

Nathaniel Mathis Collection of Barbering and Beauty Culture

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8c5b4bd0f-53cd-4a97-b4ba-930fe65c5330

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0641

Creator:

Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.  Search this

Interviewee:

Meyer, Edgar  Search this

Extent:

0.25 Cubic feet (3 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Interviews

Motion pictures (visual works)

Audiocassettes

Cd-roms

Oral history

Date:

2005-07-07

Summary:

Original and reference audiocassettes, digital images, video clips, and a 16mm film documenting biochemist, artist, and sculptor Edgar Meyer and his large scale models of the polio virus (interview).

Scope and Contents:

Collection documents Edgar Meyer's work in creating large scale models of molecules, specifically models of the polio virus.

Series 1: Original Audio Cassettes, 2005, consists of two audio recordings of Edgar Meyer's Innovative Lives Program and Gallery talk for the exhibition "Whatever Happened to Polio?" on July 7-8, 2005. The two cassettes are approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes in length.

Series 2: Reference Audio Cassettes, 2005, consists of three audio cassettes documenting Meyer's Innovative Lives Program and gallery talk for the exhibition "Whatever Happended to Polio?" on July 7-8, 2005.

Series 3: Digital Images, 2005, consist of one CD-ROM containing 24 digital images (jpeg files) and 5 video clip files documenting Meyer's Innovative Lives Presentation in the Museum's Information Age Theatre.

Series 4: Moving Image contains one 16 mm film titled "Exercising the PDP II," undated.

Digital images were taken by American History Museum staff members Paul Rosenthal, Matthew White and Hugh Talman of Smithsonian Photographic Services.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into 4 series.

Series 1: Original Audio Cassettes, 2005

Series 2: Reference Audio Cassettes, 2005

Series 3: Digital Images, 2005

Series 4: Moving Image, undated

Biographical / Historical:

Sculptor who creates large-scale models of molecules.

Related Materials:

Materials at the National Museum of American History

Edgar Meyer's molecule sculpture of the polio virus is the exhibition "Whatever Happened to Polio?" The molecule sculpture was donated to the Division of Medicine and Science.

Provenance:

This collection was made for the National Museum of American History on July 7-8, 2005.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Occupation:

Artists  Search this

Topic:

Sculpture  Search this

Molecules  Search this

Poliomyelitis  Search this

Inventions  Search this

Inventors  Search this

Biochemistry  Search this

Sculptors  Search this

Models and modelmaking  Search this

Genre/Form:

Interviews -- 2000-2010

Motion pictures (visual works)

Audiocassettes

CD-ROMs

Oral history -- 2000-2010

Citation:

Edgar Meyer Innovative Lives Presentation, 2005, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0918

See more items in:

Edgar Meyer Innovative Lives Presentation

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8beaa759c-f042-4b01-b4f6-d36b1072b361

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0918

Creator:

Mangione, Chuck, 1940-  Search this

Extent:

6 Cubic feet (12 boxes, 10 oversize folders)

Container:

Box 2

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Posters

Photographs

Picture postcards

Recordings

Articles

Press releases

Dvds

Handbills

Audiocassettes

Sound recordings

Compact discs

Scores

Date:

1972-2009

Summary:

Archival materials documenting the career of musician Chuck Mangione.

Scope and Contents:

The collection documents the career of musician Chuck Mangione. It includes recordings including 33 rpm and 45 rpm records, CDs, audio cassettes and DVDs; photographs, posters, postcards, articles, press releases, handbills, and printed material. The collection is arranged into five series.

Arrangement:

The collection is dividedinto five series.

Series 1; Personal Papers, 1998 - 1999, undated,

Series 2: Music Scores, 1970-1978 Series 3: Photographs, undated Series 4: Posters, 1980 Series 5: Audiovisual Materials, 1972-1979

Biographical / Historical:

Charles Frank Mangione was born on November 29, 1940 in Rochester, New York. He has enjoyed fame as both a musician and a composer. Early in his musical career, he performed with Art Blakey's band. Mangione has created compositions for both the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York. In addition, he has created the music for motion picture films including the 1978 soundtrack for The Children of Sanchez, in which he won a Grammy in 1979, and for the theme song in 1981 for The Cannonball Run.

Provenance:

Donated by Chuck Mangione to the Archives Center, National Museum of American History in 2009.

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with gloves. Researchers must use reference copies of audiovisual materials. When no reference copy exists, the Archives Center staff will produce reference copies on an "as needed" basis, as resources allow.

Listening to audio discs requires special arrangement. Do not use original materials when available on reference video or audio tapes.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Music -- 20th century  Search this

Jazz musicians  Search this

Trumpet  Search this

Jazz  Search this

Genre/Form:

Posters -- 20th century

Photographs -- 20th century

Photographs -- 2000-2010

Picture postcards -- 20th century -- United States

Recordings

Articles

Press releases

DVDs

Handbills

Audiocassettes

Sound recordings

Compact discs

Scores

Citation:

Chuck Mangione Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.1151

See more items in:

Chuck Mangione Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep83f3a07b2-5654-455f-bd80-2aea4322f37a

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-1151

Creator:

Magellan GPS  Search this

Extent:

12 Cubic feet (14 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Correspondence

Notebooks

Instructional materials

Design drawings

Photographs

Notes

Memorandums

Manuals

Videocassettes

Reports

Press releases

Advertisements

Clippings

Audio cassettes

Articles

Date:

1978-2005

bulk 1986-1998

Summary:

The Magellan Systems Corporation Records document various aspects of the development of several different Magellan GPS devices through engineering, research, design, manufacturing, and marketing records. Magellan Systems Corporation introduced the first hand-held differential GPS product and the conpany's focus was on research, product engineering, and design activities for GPS receivers. The collection includes correspondence and internal company reports and memoranda; design drawings; research notes; engineering notebooks, technical notes, schematics; photographs, slides and negatives; video and audiocassettes; advertisements; product literature, magazine articles and newspaper clippings; press releases; and user guides and manuals.

Scope and Contents:

The Magellan Systems Corporation Records document various aspects of the development of Magellan GPS devices, including the engineering, research, design, manufacturing, and marketing of the devices. The collection includes correspondence and internal company reports and memoranda; design drawings; research notes; engineering notebooks, technical notes, schematics; photographs, slides and negatives; video and audiocassettes; advertisements; product literature, magazine articles and newspaper clippings; press releases; and user guides and manuals. In Series 1, Operational Materials, Subseries 3, Weekly Reports, 1988-1996, provides an excellent overview of the issues facing the company and what actions/decisions were made and in Series 3, Engineering and Product Development Materials, Subseries 8, Technical Product Development Seminars provide a good foundation for understanding what the product development staff accomplished.

The core team of players who developed, tested and brought to market the GPS devices included: Janice Jones Blankenhorn, Gary Barta, John Foukos, Randy Hoffman, Norm Hunt, Sab Ifune, Don Rea, Dennis Rich, Ed Tuck, Jon Vavrus, Larry Weill, Val Fife Wong, and James Yuan. The majority of the core team were software and hardware engineers as well as mechanical designers. Their energy, enthusiasm, vision, and unwillingness to fail produced the first handheld commercial GPS receiver in 1989 and Magellgan was the first company to make GPS devices affordable to consumers.

Series 1, Operational Materials, 1988-1993, is divided into four subseries: Subseries 1, Organizational Materials, 1988-1994; Subseries 2, Strategic and Operating Plans, 1989-1995; Subseries 3, Weekly Reports, 1988-1996; and Subseries 4, Company Newsletters, 1991-1992.

Subseries 1, Organizational Materials, 1988-1994, consists of an organizational chart detailing Magellan's corporate structure, a document discussing the communication and functional objectives of the company, and a company Christmas card. The Orbital Sciences Corporation profile was prepared by Alex. Brown and Sons Incorporated and provides an overview of the ORBCOMM system technology, a two-way data-only personal communications service.

Subseries 2, Strategic and Operating Plans, 1989-1995, consists of a variety of strategic and operational plans for the company. The plans are arranged chronologically.

Subseries 3, Weekly Reports, 1988-1996, consists of handwritten and typescript reports primarily from Randy Hoffman, president and CEO of Magellan and Gary Barta, Senior Engineer and Vice President of engineering. The reports document issues that include, personnel issues, product development, technological developments, military orders, investments, marketing and sales, financial issues, orders, resource activities, and future activities. The subseries is arranged chronologically and provides an excellent overview of the issues facing the company and what actions/decisions were made.

Subseries 4, Company Newsletters, 1991-1992, consists of two external company newsletters, The Global Navigator, 1991 and The Magellan Explorer, 1992. The Global Naviagtor was created for the marine market and was sent to all NAV PLUS owners as well as dealers.

Series 2, Correspondence, 1989-1994 and undated, is divided into two subseries: Subseries 1, Customer Correspondence, 1989-1993 and Subseries 2, Business Correspondence, 1989-1994 and undated. The customer-related correspondence consists of letters from users of Magellan GPS units (primarily maritime-related) and their feedback about the product. Some color photographs are included. The business-related correspondence consists of records of conversations, invoices, suggestions for strategic planning, correspondence between Randy Hoffman and the Boundary Found, and the agreement and plan for the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and Magellan Corporation in 1994.

Series 3, Engineering and Product Development Materials, 1978-1998, consists of ten subseries: Subseries 1, Product Development, 1989-1994; Subseries 2, Engineering Notebooks, 1987-1996; Subseries 3, Technical Notes, 1978-1994; Subseries 4, Breadboard Design, 1986-1994; Subseries 5, First Generation (NAV 1000/NAV 1200), 1985-1994; Subseries 6, Second Generation, 1988-1996; Subseries 7, Third Generation, 1986-1994; Subseries 8, Swiss Army Chip (SAC) Development, 1987-1995; Subseries 9, Technical Products Development Seminars, 1997-1998; Subseries 10, Specifications, 1992-1994 and Subseries 11, TriQuint Semiconductor Materials, 1986-1992.

Subseries 1, Product Development, 1989-1994, consists of documentation related to product development at Magellan. There are sketches for the third generation of GPS products, descriptive materials for the Meridian Plus and third generation receiver, testing data from the Forest Service using GPS in the wilderness near Missoula, Montana, and position description for the director of product engineering at Magellan outlining the skills and responsibilities.

Subseries 2, Engineering Notebooks, 1987-1996, consists of bound, paginated and handwritten notebooks belonging to two Magellan engineers, Janice Jones Blankenhorn, senior software engineer and Don Rea, director of engineering. Each of Don Rea's notebooks contains a page of handwritten annotations made in 2010 describing the contents. Don Rea's 1987 notebook contains documentation on the original Magellan breadboard, custom digital chip (SAC 1), and the digital board design and test, all of which deal with the first generation of the NAV 1000. Rea's 1986 and 1988 notebook contains information about the first generation of software used, GaAS chips, radio frequency (RF) board, second generation (NAV 5000), design work for Swiss Army Chips (SACs), SAC2 digital chip, SAC2B, and the SAC3 chip. Don Rea's 1993-1995 notebook contains notes on the testing of the SAC5, SAC5M and SAC6 custom digital integrated circuit for the third generation.

Subseries 3 Technical Notes, 1978-1994, consists of handwritten and typescript notes of Gary Barta, Janice Jones Blankenhorn, John Foufos, Janice Intyre, Don Rea, Larry Weill, and James Yuan. Where possible, file level information about what the notes relate to and the Magellan staff member who wrote the notes is listed. Much of the documentation consists of equations, algorithms, sketches, block diagrams, and narrative describing processes and research. The subseries is loosely arranged chronologically.

Subseries 4, Breadboard Design, 1986-1994, consists of memoranda, technical notes, drawings, and sketches detailing the radio frequency breadboard design. Magellan's first-generation breadboard, circa 1987, was developed by the team of Janice Jones Blankenhorn, Val Fife Wong, Ed Tuck, Norm Hunt, Sab Ifune, Gary Barta, Larry Weill, Randy Hoffman, and Don Rea.

Subseries 5, First Generation (NAV 1000/NAV 1200), 1985-1994, consists of technical notes, design notes, memoranda, drawings, and blueprints documenting the development of the first generation (primarily the NAV 1000/NAV 1200), handheld GPS unit produced by Magellan. The first generation of GPS were single channel receivers and were quite simple. The NAV 1000 was 8.75" x 3.5" x 2.25" and weighed only 1.5 pounds. The NAV 1000 converted GPS satellite information into a satellite/navigation (sat/nav) positioning. It used Gallium arsenide (GaAs) a compound of the elements gallium and arsenic, and monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology to reduce its size and power consumption. GaAs is a semiconductor used in the manufacture of devices such as microwave frequency integrated circuits, monolithic microwave integrated circuits, infrared light-emitting diodes, laser diodes, solar cells, and optical windows. The device sold for approximately $3,000 dollars.

Subseries 6, Second Generation, 1988-1996, consists of technical notes, design notes, memorandums, drawings, and blueprints documenting the development of the second generation (primarily the NAV 5000) handheld GPS unit produced by Magellan. The NAV 5000 used five channels working simultaneously to locate and collect data from GPS satellites. The units GaAs circuitry rapidly processed the data received from the satellites to compute current location, altitude, velocity and navigation in under one minute. The NAV 5000 was designed primarily for marine use. Other second generation products included: OEM Brain, OEM 1/2 Brain, Nav 500 Pro, NAV 100M5, Skaynav, Fieldpro, NAV 5200 PM, NAV 5000A, NAV 5000D, DX, DLX, Pro mark V, and the Map 7000.

Subseries 7, Third Generation, 1986-1994, consists of technical notes for the development of the third generation (primarily Meridian and Trailblazer models) of Magellan GPS devices. Third generation models were intended for the lower end of the GPS market and were compact hand-held (size, weight, battery life) and a retail price that was reasonable. Other third generation devices included: the meridian, Trailblazer, AIV10 OEM, Skatblazer, NAV 6500 PM, Meridian/TB/SB XL, NAV 1200 Pm, NAV 1200 XL PM, NAV DLX 10, Promark X, and the Pro Mark X-CM.

Subseries 8, Swiss Army Chip (SAC) Development, 1987-1995, consists of technical notes, diagrams and drawings, and specifications for the development of a digital chip used in Magellan GPS products. Don Rea and Norm Hunt of Magellan are credited with naming the chip. The chip combined several elements--GPS DPS channels, correalators, real time clock, alarm timer, interval timer, keyboard interface, display interface, precise timing, power sequencing, memory decoding, code generators, and beeper driver, to name a few--which allowed the development team reduce the overall power, size, and cost of the chip. Magellan outsourced the manufacture of the SAC.

Subseries 9, Technical Products Development Seminars, 1997-1998, consists of documentation for nine seminars in a series of technology seminars initiated by the product develpment group at Magellan. The seminars were created to keep all staff up to date on past, present, and future technology developments at Magellan. The nine seminars cover the history of Magellan GPS technology and address specific areas of development such as antennas, circuits, signal processing, software, navigation needs, and radio frequency. Other information includes tables providing comparisons for the first, second, and third generations, timelines, SAC chip characteristics, and product shipping dates. The seminars provide a good foundation for understanding what the product development staff accomplished. Researchers should consult Series 8 which documents some of the technical seminars.

Subseries 10, Specifications, 1992-1994, consists of preliminary, functional, and system requirements describing technical characteristics for several Magellan products.

Subseries 11, TriQuint Semiconductor Materials, 1986-1992, consists of materials documenting TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.'s work. TriQuint was a division of Tektroninix, Inc., a manufacturer of analog and mixed signal gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated circuit products. TriQuint supplied custom radio frequency (RF) and Gallium arsenide (GaAs) chips for Magellan's hand-held GPS systems and tested its chips. Documentation includes trip summaries and observations to TriQuint by Don Rea, a Magellan engineer as well as technical drawings, memorandums, development schedules, invoices, purchase orders, and tests results, production quantity and costs, and specifications. In 1986, Don Rea met Gary Barta, then principal engineer at TriQuint through his frequent visits to the company. Barta led the engineeering development of the an integrated circuit which combined the GPS L-band low-noise pre-amplifier, UHF local oscillator, down converter and high speed digital divisers on a single gallium-arsenide chip. Nothing like this had been done before for a cost senstive commerical application. Barta later joined Magellan in November 1988 as Vice President of Engineering and made the chip he had designed actually work in the environment of a hand-held product.

Series 4, Marketing and Promotional Materials, 1985-1997, is divided into six subseries: Subseries 1, Market Research, 1985-1993 and undated; Subseries 2, Product Literature, circa 1990s; Subseries 3, Advertisements, 1988-1995 and undated; Subseries 4, Press Releases, 1988-1996; Subseries 5, Presentation Materials, 1990-[1997?] and undated; and Subseries 6, Newspaper and Magazine Clippings, 1988-1996 and undated. The series consists of product literature, advertisements, press releases, presentation materials, and newspaper and magazine clippings about Magellan products as well as competitors.

Subseries 1, Market Research, 1985-1993 and undated, consists of market research data in the form of reports prepared by Merrill Lynch, Simmons Market Research Bureau, J & H Instruments, and others, directed interviews and focus group data. There are directed interviews and discussion documentation from 1986 with Coast Guard Rescue, survival trainers, surveyors, hunters, harbor patrols, expeditionists, and mountaineer trainers providing detailed feedback into experiences with the product. The focus group information consists of transcribed interviews, survey text, selection criteria, participant lists, invoices, and technical drawings and mock-ups for the marine, outdoor and hunting markets.

Subseries 2, Product Literature, circa 1990s, consists of one file folder of product information sheets detailing specifics about Magellan products such as the NAV 1000, NAV 5000DX, NAV 1000 PRO/Geolink, NAV 5200, NAV 1000M, Meridian GPS, ProMARK V, GPS 2000, and the Global Satellite Communicator (GSC) 100.

Subseries 3, Advertisements, 1988-1995 and undated, consists of point of purchase ads, artwork and transfer designs for Magellan products. There are some oversize drawings (copies of blueprints) with the transfer design materials.

Subseries 4, Press Releases, 1988-1996, consists of press releases and one press kit containing biographies of staff members, black-and-white prints of Randy D. Hoffman, President and Chief Executive Officer, prints of the NAV 1000, and press releases introducing the NAV 1000. The marine outdoor press releases also contain 1993 dealer price lists for the Trailblazer, Meridian, NAV 5000DX, NAV 5200DX, and the mimimum advertised price policy for 1993.

Subseries 5, Presentation Materials, 1990-[1997?], consists primarily of staff presentation materials used to promote Magellan products. There is one bound presentation, Magellan Systems Corporation Management Presentation, undated, prepared by Merrill Lynch, that provides documentation about the company (an overview), market segments, competition, sales and marketing, product development, technology, manufacturing, and a financial overview.

Subseries 6, Newspaper and Magazine Clippings, 1988-1996 and undated, consists primarily of magazine articles. The articles appeared in a variety of publications and included Defense Electronics, Southern Boating, Maritime Reporter, Cruising World, Boating the Journal of the Sport, International Defense Review, and Navigation News. The subseries is arranged chronologically.

Series 5, User Guides and Manuals, 1989-2005 and undated, consists of training, reference, and user guides for the consumer who purchased Magellan products. The guides are primarily spiral bound and some are annotated. Multiple copies of some years exist. The series is arranged chronologically.

Series 6, Financial Materials, 1991-1995 and undated, consists of stock information, a Securities and Exchange Commission registration statement, correspondence, registration rights agreements, preferred stock purchase agreements, agreement and plan of merger documents between Magellan Corporation and Orbital Sciences Corporation (November 1994), and two floppy discs (3 1/2" and 5") containing information about the company and its staff.

Series 7, Photographs and Slides, 1987-1995 and undated, consists of slides, negatives, transparencies, and color and black-and-white prints of Magellan products. Many of the images document early product concepts, and there are some promotional and publicity materials. There is one folder of photographs with images of employees from 1989.

Series 8, Audiovisual Materials, 1991-1998 and undated, consists of 1/2" VHS, BETA Cam SP, and 8 mm video cassettes documenting technical seminars presented by Magellan Systems Corporation staff and instances of Magellan products featured in news segments. Researchers consult the technical seminar documentation in Series 3, Engineering and Product Development Materials. The series is arranged chronologically.

Arrangement:

Collection arranged into eight series.

Series 1, Operational Materials, 1988-1993

Subseries 1, Organizational Materials, 1988-1994

Subseries 2, Strategic and Operating Plans, 1989-1995

Subseries 3, Weekly Reports, 1988-1996

Subseries 4, Company Newsletters, 1991-1992

Series 2, Correspondence, 1989-1994 and undated

Series 3, Engineering and Product Development Materials, 1978-1998

Subseries 1, Product Development, 1989-1994

Subseries 2, Engineering Notebooks, 1987-1996

Subseries 3, Technical Notes, 1978-1994

Subseries 4, Breadboard Design, 1986-1994

Subseries 5, First Generation (NAV 1000/NAV 1200), 1985-1994

Subseries 6, Second Generation (NAV 5000), 1988-1996

Subseries 7, Third Generation, 1986-1994

Subseries 8, Swiss Army Chip (SAC) Development, 1987-1995

Subseries 9, Technical Product Development Seminars, 1997-1998

Subseries 10, Specifications, 1992-1994

Subseries 11, TriQuint Semiconductor, 1986-1992

Series 4, Marketing and Promotional Materials, 1985-1997

Subseries 1, Market Research, 1985-1993 and undated

Subseries 2, Product Literature, circa 1990s

Subseries 3, Advertisements, 1988-1995 and undated

Subseries 4, Press Releases, 1988-1996

Subseries 5, Presentation Materials, 1990-[1997?]

Subseries 6, Newspaper and Magazine Clippings, 1988-1996 and undated

Series 5, User Guides and Manuals, 1989-2005 and undated

Series 6, Financial Materials, 1991-1995 and undated

Series 7, Photographs and Slides, 1987-1995 and undated

Series 8, Audiovisual Materials, 1991-1998 and undated

Biographical / Historical:

Ed Tuck of the Boundary Fund, a venture capital firm specializing in technologies founded the Magellan Systems Corporation in 1986 and served as its director from 1986 to 1993. Tuck assembled the initial team of Norm Hunt, Larry Weill, Val Wong, and Sab Ifune to conduct a feasibility study in early 1986 to pursue commercial markets for products based on global positioning system (GPS) technology. Magellan introduced the first handheld commercial GPS receiver in 1989 and was the first company to make GPS devices affordable to consumers. Magellan introduced the first handheld commercial GPS receiver in 1989 and was the first company to make GPS devices affordable to consumers. The company successfully introduced GPS products into the marine, professional, military and automotive and general aviation markets.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) began as a United States Department of Defense Program in the 1960s with a navy system known as Transit (first satellite navigation system). Two other projects soon followed, Timation (satellite to broadcast accurate time reference) and Air Force Project 612B, which began in the 1970s. In 1973, the development of the Navigation Signal Timing and Ranging Global Positioning System (NAVSTAR) began under the management of the Air Force. Designed by the military, the system provided twenty-four positioning satellites under all- weather conditions using passive (non-transmitting) receivers. This kept a user's presence from being detected as a result of the receiver. Although primarily for military use, the system also offered a less-precise coded signal for civilian use.

GPS uses a group of twenty-four earth-orbiting satellites which broadcast continuously. The data being broadcast can be processed by a portable receiver to determine a user's position, velocity and time. GPS has three parts: 1) space part with twenty-four satellites; 2) ground part with monitor and 3) user part with receivers that process the signals and calculate position.

In the spring of 1986, the Magellan team published a specification for a custom mixed signal RF (radio frequency) integrated circuit and by fall 1986, had a breadboard (used in prototyping of electronics) and began software development and testing. Magellan focused its research, product engineering, and design activities on the development of GPS receivers that were application-specific, software-intensive, reliable, lower power, easy to use, and affordable.

From 1986 to 1988, the Boundary Fund provided the venture capital for feasibility studies and the initital product design. By 1988, the company occupied its first stand-alone facility in Monrovia, California with thirty-five employees. In May 1989, the company's first product, the NAV 1000, shipped, and in that same year, the company entered the military market with the NAV 1000M. The company entered the professional market in January 1990 with the NAV 1000 PRO, the world's first hand-held GPS product. By 1991, Magellan moved to a new facility in Dimas, California and introduced advanced five-channel technology. It also incorporated in the United Kingdom (UK) as Magellan Systems to handle product distribution in the rest of the UK and Europe.

The SkyNAV 5000 was introduced in 1992 for the general aviation market, and in the same year, hand-held differential GPS technology for the marine market appeared. Magellan was purchased by Orbital Sciences Corporation in 1994. In 2001, Thales Group purchased the Magellan division of Orbital Sciences, and the company became known as Thales Navigation. In 2006, a private equity firm, Shah Capital Partners, and other investors purchased Thales Navigation, and the company was officially renamed Magellan Navigation. Magellan (also known as MiTAC Digital Corporation) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC International Corporation and promotes and sells products and services under the Magellan brand name. Magellan is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

Related Materials:

The Division of Work and Industry holds related artifacts (GPS receivers, computer electronics boards, computer chips, antennas, packaging, components, circuit boards, keyboards, a Swiss Army Chip (SAC), and receiver brackets). See Accession numbers 2010.0117; 2010.0118; 2010.0151; 2010.0152; 2010.0153; 2010.0154 and 2010.0155.

Provenance:

Donated to the Archives Center in 2010, by MiTAC Digital Corporation through Michael Williams, Director of Marketing and Gary Barta, Janice Itnyre, Jean Tuck McGregor, Donald Rea, Edward F. Tuck, Lawrence R. Weill, and James P. White.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning intellectual property rights. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Navigation  Search this

Navigation equipment and supplies  Search this

Global Positioning System  Search this

GPS receivers  Search this

Satellites  Search this

Genre/Form:

Correspondence -- 1950-2000

Notebooks

Correspondence -- 2000-2010

Instructional materials

Design drawings

Photographs -- 1980-2000

Notes

Photographs -- Black-and-white negatives -- 2000-2010

Photographs -- Black-and-white negatives -- 1950-2000

Memorandums -- 1950-2000

Manuals

Memorandums -- 2000-2010

Videocassettes

Reports

Press releases

Reports -- 2000-2010

Advertisements -- 1980-2000

Reports -- 1950-2000

Photographs -- 2000-2010

Clippings -- 2000-2010

Photographs -- Color transparencies -- 2000-2010

Photographs -- Color transparencies -- 1950-2000

Audio cassettes -- 1990-2000

Audio cassettes -- 1980-1990

Clippings -- 1950-2000

Audio cassettes -- 2000-2010

Articles

Advertisements -- 2000-2010

Citation:

Magellan Systems Corporation GPS Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.1214

See more items in:

Magellan Systems Corporation GPS Records

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep827a765bf-f29b-450e-89c1-91d8e5777a4a

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-1214

Interviewee:

Cecil, Chuck, 1922-  Search this

Chiacco, Bob  Search this

Childers, Buddy, 1926-2007  Search this

Comstock, Frank  Search this

Bernardi, Ernani  Search this

Bernhart, Milt, 1926-2004  Search this

Camaratta, Tutti, 1913-2005  Search this

Heidt, Horace, Jr.  Search this

Hillman, Roc, 1910-  Search this

Jeffries, Herb  Search this

Jerome, Henry  Search this

Costanzo, Jack, 1922-  Search this

Cron, Rosalind  Search this

Duncan, Cleveland  Search this

Hanna, Jake  Search this

Alpert, Trigger, 1916-  Search this

Alexander, Van, 1915-  Search this

Simon, George Thomas  Search this

Shaw, Artie, 1910-2004  Search this

Sheils, Tom  Search this

Sesma, Chico  Search this

Sevano, Nick  Search this

Robertson, Alastair  Search this

Schwartz, Peggy  Search this

Tracey, Sheila  Search this

Tucker, Orrin  Search this

Stone, Butch  Search this

Tilton, Martha  Search this

Starr, Kay  Search this

Stevens, Garry  Search this

Spear, Sam  Search this

Stafford, Jo  Search this

LaPorta, John  Search this

Kitchens, Mildred  Search this

King, Donna  Search this

King, Dick  Search this

Kahn, Donald, 1918-2008  Search this

Rey, Alvino, 1908-2004  Search this

Pinches, Barbara Knowles  Search this

O'Neill, Dolores, 1917-  Search this

Miller, Bill  Search this

May, Billy  Search this

Mandel, Johnny  Search this

Malone, Raymond J.  Search this

Wain, Bea  Search this

Wilson, Gerald, 1918-  Search this

Whiting, Margaret  Search this

Zarchy, Zeke, 1915-2009  Search this

Donor:

Tumpak, John R., 1940-  Search this

Names:

Beneke, Tex  Search this

Kahn, Gus, 1886-1941  Search this

Knowles, Legh  Search this

Leonard, Jack  Search this

Purtill, Maurice  Search this

Sinatra, Frank, 1915-1998  Search this

Extent:

1 Cubic foot

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Oral history

Interviews

Articles

Audio cassettes

Date:

1995-2007

Scope and Contents:

Oral history interviews conducted by Tumpak with Big Band figures (listed below), and a set of articles he wrote based on the interviews.

Arrangement:

1 series.

Biographical / Historical:

Author and journalist on music subjects.

Provenance:

Donated to the Archives Center by John Tumpak in 2010.

Restrictions:

Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Big band music  Search this

Musicians  Search this

Genre/Form:

Oral history -- 1990-2000

Interviews -- 1980-2000

Articles

Audio cassettes -- 1990-2000

Audio cassettes -- 2000-2010

Citation:

John R. Tumpak Big Band Oral History Collection, 1995-2007, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.1215

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep824dc4be5-32bc-4c89-a6cf-e22c521bfeb5

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-1215