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Libby, (Lester L.) papers
M1406
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Lester L. Libby papers
Identifier/Call Number: M1406
Physical Description:
11 Linear Feet
(24 manuscript boxes; 1 map folder; 1 flat box)
Date (inclusive): circa 1934-1984
Abstract: The Lester L. Libby papers consist of files created and maintained by Lester Louis Libby (1916-2002) pertaining to his work
in the technical field of sound engineering and the application of microwave frequency technologies in various industries
including radio, television, and early electronics from the 1930s to the 1970s. Materials include Libby's resarch notebooks,
work papers, diagrams and schematics, articles he authored, and patents received.
Open for research, with the exception of born-digital materials, which are closed until processed. Note that material must
be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials are not available in original format, and
must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was given by Grace F. Libby to Stanford University Special Collections in 2003.
Lester Louis Libby was born at Hartford, Connecticut in 1914. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering
from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1935 and 1936, respectively. In 1934, Libby began his career in the radio engineering
field when he became radio transmitter operator at radio station WTAG in Worcester, Massachusetts. Throughout the 1930s, Libby
held positions at companies involved with pioneering research and technological developments in radio communications, including
as a radio-tube design engineer for RCA Radiotron, and at the radio receiving-tube division of Tung-Sol Lamp Works. In 1941,
Libby began working in research development and eventually became Chief Engineer for the Federal Telegraph Company, a company
founded in Palo Alto, California that specialized in developing high-powered transmitters used for long distance radiotelegraph
communication.
In 1942, Libby completed a course in Ultra High Frequency at the Newark College of Engineering for the United States Office
of Education. This accomplishment eventually lead him to conduct research in early television receiver and antennae design.
Libby several articles on the topic and communication technologies while he served as Chief Engineer of the Ohmega Laboratories
in Pine Brook, New Jersey. By the 1950s, Libby began working for various industries in the electronic communications field
and with advanced technologies using sound wave frequency, including at the Eimac Division of Varian Associates in the Bay
Area, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab Research Institute in Pasadena. Libby also had an active consulting career, working on
projects for companies such as Pacific Avionics for airplane radar safety, Sierra Electronics for public safety communication
systems, and the Nebula guitar synthesizer for BCD Technologies. Libby passed away in Los Altos, California in 2002.
[identification of item] Lester L. Libby Papers (M1406). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
Original order of the materials was kept, and file folder titles written by Libby were mostly maintained with additional information
added when available.
The Lester L. Libby papers consist of research files created and maintained by Lester Louis Libby (1916-2002), and pertain
to his work in the technical field of sound engineering and the application of microwave frequency technologies in various
industries including radio, television, and early electronics from the 1930s to the 1970s.
Types of materials include professional correspondence and Libby's research papers and notebooks from his academic and professional
careers. Materials related to Libby's consulting work at firms include correspondence, manuals, schematics, management notes,
Carad (Carpentier Radio) board minutes (1957-1971), and patents, including one from Hewlett-Packard. Published articles authored
by Libby on radio and television technologies are complimented by a small collection of newsletters and publications that
he kept related to these particular fields.
In addition to Libby's academic and professional materials, there is a limited amount of biographical items including the
meeting minutes and related documents pertaining to Libby's employment with the United States governement, and his involvement
with the San Jose, California district's Office of Civil Defense during the early 1950s. Also included in the collection is
a selection of papers and reports written by Libby's research partner and colleague at Polytechnic, Sydney Frankel.
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Science -- History.
Electronics -- Research -- United States.
Microwave communication systems
Wireless communications
Radio engineers
Sound engineers
Radio frequency modulation--Receivers and reception
Frequency synthesizers
Eitel-McCullough, Inc.
Libby, Grace F.