Guide to the Stanford University, Center for Integrated Systems, Records SC1147
Daniel Hartwig & Jenny Johnson
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
March 2013
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
Undetermined
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Stanford University, Center for Integrated Systems, records
creator:
Stanford University. Center for Integrated Systems
Identifier/Call Number: SC1147
Physical Description:
3.25 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1978-1997
Abstract: Background and planning documents relating to the founding of the Center for Integrated Systems.
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.
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.
[identification of item], Stanford University, Center for Integrated Systems, Records (SC1147). Dept. of Special Collections
and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Gift of Gregory Kovacs, 2013.
The proposal for the Center for Integrated Systems was written in 1978 as a joint effort by Electrical Engineering Professors
Michael J. Flynn, James F. Gibbons, John G. Linvill, and James D. Meindl. Included in the proposal were the statements:
“The products of the Center for Integrated Systems will be educated people, primarily doctoral student, and research results.”
…and
“Research results coming out of the studies at the Center for Integrated Systems and, in particular, from the experimental
work involved at the Center are projected to be of significant usefulness to the sponsors of the research and to the industrial
community to which the Center is connected.”
Linvill, Meindl, and other colleagues had realized that the exponential growth of semiconductor technology was creating problems
and challenges that were too big and complex for one discipline to tackle. The process of designing integrated systems was
beginning to involve computer architects, circuit engineers, material engineers and software design engineers. Linvill and
his colleagues wanted to bring together the best people from all the fields, which contribute and/or make use of integrated
circuitry, which would also enable close interactions with industry. In 1980, the CIS Development Committee, headed by John
Young, president of Hewlett-Packard, was formed. Working with this committee, Linvill began recruiting companies to underwrite
a new research center that is now the Center for Integrated Systems.
Originally housed in the basement of the McCullough Building at Stanford, ground was broken for a new building in 1983 and
the present CIS building was completed in 1985. The heart of the CIS building is its 10,500 square foot integrated circuit
fabrication laboratory. Surrounding the laboratory are smaller supporting laboratories, several conference rooms and both
open and closed offices.
On March 26, 1984, the president of France became a Stanford student for a day. Francois Mitterrand visited the Center for
Integrated Systems to meet with Stanford professors and technology magnates to learn more about the emerging economic powerhouse
called Silicon Valley.
In 1996, the CIS building was expanded due in large part to Paul Allen’s (Co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation) gift to
the School of Engineering. The building was subsequently renamed the Paul G. Allen Building. The new extension provides 52,000
gross square feet to service various labs and conference areas.
Original Industrial Sponsors were:
Digital Equipment Corporation
Fairchild Camera and Instrument corporation
General Electric Company
GTE Laboratories, Incorporated
Gould Inc.
Hewlett-Packard Company
Honeywell, Incorporated
ITT Corporation
Intel Corporation
International Business Machines Corporation
Monsanto Electronic Materials Company
Motorola, Incorporated
Northrop Corporation
Philips Research Laboratories/Signetics Corporation
Rockwell International
TRW Incorporated
Tektronix, Incorporated
Texas Instruments, Incorporated
United Technologies Corporation
Xerox Corporation
In addition to Mr. Allen’s gift, the following donors contributed to make the building possible:
Apple Computer, Inc.
Peter G. Behr
Estate of Eleanor Buchanan
Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
Estate of James D. Fleming
Ford Motor Company
William R. Hewlett
Raychem Corporation
Xerox Corporation
Source:
http://cis.stanford.edu/about/history.php
The materials consist of background and planning documents, meeting minutes, correspondence, and proposals relating to the
founding of the Center for Integrated Systems at Stanford University.
Stanford University Website Collection (SC1015)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Integrated circuits.
Stanford University -- Administration.
Electrical engineering -- Study and teaching.
Electrical engineering -- California.
Stanford University. Center for Integrated Systems
Feigenbaum, Edward A.
Linvill, John G.
Hellman, Martin E.
Miller, William F.
Meindl, James D.
Stanford University. Department of Electrical Engineering
Records Accession ARCH-2013-043
Box 1
1978-1979
Additional records Accession ARCH-2017-018
Box 1
1980-1982
Box 2
1984-1997