Apple Computer, Inc. Records, 1977-1998

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Summary

Abstract:
Collection contains organizational charts, annual reports, company directories, internal communications, engineering reports, design materials, press releases, manuals, public relations materials, human resource information, videotapes, audiotapes, software, hardware, and corporate memorabilia. Also includes information regarding the Board of Directors and their decisions.
Extent:
600 Linear Feet and ca. 600 linear ft.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item] Apple Computer, Inc. Records, M1007, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

Contains organizational charts, annual reports, company directories, internal communications, engineering reports, design materials, press releases, manuals, public relations materials, human resource information, videotapes, audiotapes, software, hardware, and corporate memorabilia. Also includes information regarding the Board of Directors and their decisions.

Biographical / historical:

Apple Computer, Inc. was incorporated on January 3, 1977. Apple Computer, Inc., ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh, of which it had sold more 30 million systems as of the end of 1998. Apple's original mission as articulated by its co-founder Steven Jobs was to bring the best personal computing products and support to students, educators, designers, scientists, engineers, business persons and consumers in over 140 countries around the world. In 1998, Apple Computer, Inc. maintained Research & Development sites in Cork, Ireland; Cupertino, California; Tokyo, Japan; and Zhuhai, China. Apple owned manufacturing facilities in the United States, Ireland, and Singapore. Distribution facilities are located in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Japan.

Missing Title
Date Event
1976
Steve Job and Steve Wozniak create the Apple computer, which is just a circuit board and does not come with a case, keyboard, mouse or monitor. Venture capitalist "Mike" Markkula invests $91,000 in the new company.
1977
The Apple II released. First personal computer with a plastic case and color graphics.
1978
Storage peripheral on Apple II changed from cassette to disk drive.
1979
Apple II+ released.
1980
Apple III released. Apple has several thousand employees, no domestic unions and goes public at $22/share.
1981
Problems with Apple III lead the company to temporarily halt production. Forty employees are laid off. Wozniak and girlfriend injured in a plane crash. Jobs becomes chairman, "Apple Values" drafted. IBM releases its first PC.
1983
Apple III+, Apple IIe and Lisa released. Lisa was the first graphical-interface computer available to the public. Lisa also comes with a mouse and a 3.5 inch disk drive. John Sculley leaves PepsiCola to run Apple. Over 200 Apple employees have become millionaires since 1980. Apple is the youngest company to enter the Fortune 500.
1984
Apple IIc, Lisa 2 and Macintosh are released. The classic "1984" commercial runs during the Superbowl.
1985
Lisa and Apple III discontinued. Lisa 2 re-released as Mac XL. Jobs resigns, Apple lays off 1200 employees and begins to look into Microsoft's GUI development after the release of Windows 1.01.
1986
Apple IIgs, enhanced Apple IIc and MacPlus released. Apple achieves Fortune 200 classification.
1987
Mac SE and Mac II released. Hypercard added to operating system.
1988
Apple IIc+ and Mac IIx released. Apple has over 9000 employees worldwide and is doing business in 85 countries. Jobs' new project NeXT is released.
1989
Mac SE/30, Mac IIcx, Mac portable and Mac IIci released. Excess Lisa computers buried in a Utah landfill.
1990
Mac IIfx, Mac Classic, Mac LC and Mac IIsi released. IBM released Windows 3.0.
1991
Classic II (later sold as Performa 200), Quadra 700, Quadra 900 and PowerBook 170 released.
1992
Mac IIvx (Performa 600 and 600CD), Mac IIvi, Quadra 950 and PowerBook 160 released.
1993
Color Classic, Color Classic II, LC III, LC III+, LC 475/ Quadra 605, LC 520, Quadra 610, Quadra 650, Quadra 800, Workgroup Server 80, PowerBook 165, PowerBook 5300 and Newton released. Scully leaves and Michael Spindler becomes CEO of Apple. NeXT computers are discontinued.
1994
LC 550, Quadra 630, PowerMac 6100 and various Performas released.
1995
Various PowerMacs, various Performas and Duo 2300c released. Apple has $1 billion in backorders. Windows 95 released.
1996
Various PowerMacs and Performas released. Spindler resigns and Gil Amelio becomes chairman. Apple buys NeXT and Jobs returns to work at Apple.
1997
Various PowerMacs and PowerBooks released. Amelio resigns. Jobs becomes "interim" CEO and crafts an alliance with Microsoft. Newton cancelled.
1998
iMac released. Apple begins to be profitable again.
Acquisition information:
Gift of Apple Computer, Inc., 1997.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research; material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. As per legal agreement, copies of audio-visual material are only available in the Special Collections reading room unless explicit written permission from the copyright holder is obtained. For further details please contact Stanford Special Collections (specialcollections@stanford.edu).

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item] Apple Computer, Inc. Records, M1007, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Location of this collection:
Department of Special Collections, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6004, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
specialcollections@stanford.edu
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