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Guide to the G.E. Tempo Collection, 1957-1969
Mss 139
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Title: G.E. Tempo Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1957-1969
Collection number: Mss 139
Creator: Kvaas, T. Arthur
Extent: 10 linear feet (8 boxes)
Repository:
University of California, Santa Barbara. Library. Dept. of Special Collections
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Shelf location: For current information on the location of these
materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language:
English.
Donated by T. Arthur Kvaas, May 27, 1992.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
[Identification of item], G.E. Tempo Collection, Mss 139, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University
of California, Santa Barbara.
From
TEMPO Technical Military Planning Operation brochure, ca. 1958:
· TEMPO's task is to lead the Defense Electronics Division in the conception and analysis of major systems for national defense
and to focus the talents of engineers and scientists in the equipment operations of the General Electric Company toward the
solution of major defense problems.
· TEMPO's task is to bring together the fruits of research, the apparent course of weapon development throughout the world,
and the economic and social factors in world conflict in order to help in the selection , design, and employment of weapon
systems which will guarantee the survival of the American way of life.
· TEMPO concentrates on studies and investigations for - and of interest to - the General Electric Company and the Military
Services and their contractors. Included are all technical aspects of weapon systems - from the simple and basic to the complex;
from conceptual design to logistics and operation. Some projects are supported by contractual relations with the interested
sponsor; others are supported by the Company.
· In addition to technical work conducted within TEMPO, contributions to these studies are also secured from the General Electric
Company's Operating Departments and Laboratories and from outside organizations whose personnel or facilities possess unique
capabilities. Experimental work will not be performed by TEMPO, but will be obtained when appropriate.
From
TEMPO Santa Barbara pamphlet, early 1960s:
· General Electric's TEMPO is a long-range planning organization, the first of its kind to be sponsored by private industry.
TEMPO was established in 1956; the Santa Barbara location was chosen to provide isolation from the day-to-day interchange
with engineering and manufacturing functions of General Electric and to encourage independent and objective studies by the
technical staff.
· TEMPO is concerned primarily with the world of 5 to 15 years from today. Social, Economic, military, technological, and
political trends which may affect a particular problem are projected to establish the environment in which the problem must
be addressed. Alternative policies and systems reflecting this environment are then developed and tested in terms of benefits
and costs, and preferred courses of action are recommended to the customer.
· Although originally subsidized by G.E.'s Aerospace and Defense divisions, TEMPO is self-supporting with a wide clientele
in government and industry. The total staff presently numbers about 300 persons with an annual business in excess of $5 million.
Most TEMPO studies have been defense-oriented, but the trend is toward achieving a balance of defense and non-defense work.
The collection was donated by T. A. Kvaas (TEMPO Manager - Synthesis), who had been Physical Scientist in the Missiles Division
of The RAND Corporation - concerned with aerodynamic and control system design and later Project Engineer for air-to-air weapons;
and Chief of Advanced Design Section in Douglas Aircraft Missiles Division - responsible for the direction of new missile
weapon system designs.
Other TEMPO staff included: Richard C. Raymond (Manager - Technical Military Planning Operation; selected by General Electric
to organize TEMPO in August of 1956); James T. Harker (Manager - Applications); H. O. Paxson (Manager - Environment); Roy
L. Stewart, Jr. (Manager - Evaluation); Russel L. Krapf (Manager - Finance and Administration).
The collection mainly consists of unclassified documents and reports, arranged in separate alpha-numeric series. The bulk
of the material is from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s.