Conditions Governing Access
Information about Access
Ownership & Copyright
Cite As
Biographical/Historical note
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Edward J. McCluskey papers
Identifier/Call Number: SC1112
Physical Description:
134.25 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1940-2009
Language of Material:
English .
Conditions Governing Access
Materials in Addenda, 2012-043, Boxes 47 and 60-63 are restricted and may be made available
in 2026.
Information about Access
The materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in
original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
Ownership & Copyright
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must
be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, California 94305-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special
Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s) or assigns. See:
http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/pubserv/permissions.html.
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of
digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Cite As
[identification of item], Edward J. McCluskey Papers (SC1112). Dept. of Special Collections
and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Biographical/Historical note
Professor McCluskey worked on electronic switching systems at the Bell Telephone
Laboratories from 1955 to 1959. In 1959, he moved to Princeton University, where he was
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Director of the University Computer Center. In 1966,
he joined Stanford University, where he is Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science, as well as Director of the Center for Reliable Computing. He founded the Stanford
Digital Systems Laboratory (now the Computer Systems Laboratory) in 1969 and the Stanford
Computer Engineering Program (now the Computer Science MS Degree Program) in 1970. The
Stanford Computer Forum (an Industrial Affiliates Program) was started by Dr. McCluskey and
two colleagues in 1970 and he was its Director until 1978.
Professor McCluskey developed the first algorithm for designing combinational circuits -
the Quine-McCluskey logic minimization procedure as a doctoral student at MIT. At Bell Labs
and Princeton, he developed the modern theory of transients (hazards) in logic networks and
formulated the concept of operating modes of sequential circuits. His Stanford research
focuses on logic testing, synthesis, design for testability, and fault-tolerant computing.
Prof. McCluskey and his students at the Center for Reliable Computing worked out many key
ideas for fault equivalence, probablilistic modelling of logic networks, pseudo-exhaustive
testing, and watchdog processors. He collaborated with Signetics researchers in developing
one of the first practical multivalued logic implementations and then worked out a design
technique for such circuitry.
Dr. McCluskey served as the first President of the IEEE Computer Society. He is the
recipient of the 1996 IEEE Emanuel R. Piore Award. He is a Fellow of the IEEE, AAAS, and
ACM; and a member of the NAE. He has honorary doctorates from the University of Grenoble and
Bowdoin College. He has published several books including two widely used texts.
[source: http://www-crc.stanford.edu/users/ejm/McCluskey_Edward.html]