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.

Access to Collection

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.

Publication Rights

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.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Stanford University, Center for Integrated Systems, Records (SC1147). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Gregory Kovacs, 2013.

Biographical / Historical

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

Scope and Contents

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.

Related Materials

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