Finding Aid for the L. G. Roberts (Lawrence G.) papers LSC.2328

Finding aid prepared by Ashton Prigge under the supervision of Kelly Besser, 2018. Processed by May Chua and Gretta S. Treuscorff in 2012, with additional assistance from Sonia Collazo.
UCLA Library Special Collections
2018 July 26
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu


Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: L. G. Roberts (Lawrence G.) papers
Creator: Roberts, L. G. (Lawrence G.)
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.2328
Physical Description: 0.4 Linear Feet (1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1962-2009
Abstract: In 1965, L. G. Roberts (Lawrence G.) successfully implemented the first computer-to-computer packet link between MIT and Systems Development Corporation (SDC). In 1966, Roberts became the chief scientist and in 1967 the director of the Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO) of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), later renamed the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). As director, Roberts was responsible for designing and managing the implementation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) computer communications network, a research packet switching computer communications network that was the precursor to the internet. The collection contains the professional and research files of L. G. Roberts dating from 1962 to 2009 and includes publications; notes written by Roberts concerning the development of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET); notes on the internet and on networked computing more broadly; professional correspondence.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access note

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

Property rights to the objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The collection was donated in December 2011 by Lawrence G. Roberts to the UCLA Kleinrock Internet History Center.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 9981345163606533 

Preferred Citation note

[Identification of item], Roberts, L. G. (Lawrence G.) papers (Collection 2328). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Custodial History note

This collection was acquired by University Archivist Charlotte Brown for a proposed Kleinrock Center for Internet Studies (KCIS) at UCLA in 2011. The former collection number was KCIS001.

Processing Information note

Processed by Ashton Prigge under the supervision of Kelly Besser, 2018. Processing by May Chua and Gretta S. Treuscorff with assistance from Sonia Collazo was supported by UCLA University Archives and Kleinrock Internet History Center, 2012.
Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.
We are committed to providing ethical, inclusive, and anti-racist description of the materials we steward, and to remediating existing description of our materials that contains language that may be offensive or cause harm. We invite you to submit feedback about how our collections are described, and how they could be described more accurately, by filling out the form located on our website: Report Potentially Offensive Description in Library Special Collections.  

Biographical/Historical note

L. G. Roberts (Lawrence G.) was born in Connecticut in 1937, the son of Elliott and Elizabeth Roberts. After graduating with his BS (1959), MS (1960), and PhD (1963) in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Roberts began work at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory, where he carried out research on computer networks. In 1965, Roberts successfully implemented the first computer-to-computer packet link between MIT and Systems Development Corporation (SDC).
In 1966, Roberts became the chief scientist and in 1967 the director of the Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO) of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), later renamed the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). As director, Roberts was responsible for designing and managing the implementation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) computer communications network, a research packet switching computer communications network that was the precursor to the internet.
In 1973, Roberts left IPTO to form the first commercial packet network, Telenet, where he held the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) until his departure in 1980. Starting in 1983, Roberts served as CEO of NetExpress and of Netmax Communications, president of ATM Systems, and founded Caspian Networks and Anagran Inc. while continuing his work with network technology. For the development of computer packet switching and network technology, Roberts received many honors and awards including the Charles Stark Draper prize (2001) and Secretary of Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1973).

Scope and Contents note

This collection documents the professional and research life of L. G. (Lawrence G.) Roberts who was the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) program manager responsible for designing and managing the implementation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The materials represent Robert's activities during the early period of development (1966-1973) of the packet computer network, ARPANET, started by the Department of Defense. The collection includes original data rate charts, logical and geographic maps, presentation slides, reports, conference itineraries, trade and scholarly publications, and correspondence relating to the cost, efficiency, research and development of the ARPANET. Materials dated later than 1973 consist primarily of special interest and trade publications which document the accomplishments of Roberts, the development of the ARPANET, and early computer networking history.

Arrangement note

The collection has been arranged in the following series:
Series 1: Network Notes and Diagrams, 1969-1988
Series 2: Correspondence, 1963-1973
Series 3: Publications, 1962-2009

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of collection materials are available on the UCLA Digital Library | Kleinrock Center for Internet Studies .

Related Material

Leonard Kleinrock papers.  Available at UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.
Michael Allen Wingfield papers.  Available at Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.
Computer Science Department. Student papers, abstracts, and reports. 1965-1977.  Available at Library Special Collections, University Archives, UCLA.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

ARPANET (Computer network).
Roberts, L. G. (Lawrence G.) -- Archives
United States. Advanced Research Projects Agency

 

Series 1: Network notes and diagrams 1969-1988

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

PORTIONS OF THIS SERIES HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Scope and Contents note

Series 1 contains notes and diagrams relating to L. G. Roberts' work including calculations, diagrams, graphs, charts, logical and geographical maps, network topologies, presentations, project descriptions, cost analysis, data usage analysis, traffic analysis, and ARPANET reports.
box 1, folder 1

Integrated Travel Reservation System 1978

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Scope and Content

This file contains sketches that propose an integrated travel reservation system.
box 1, folder 1

ARPANET presentation circa 1972

Scope and Content

This file contains various diagrams and flow charts regarding the functionality of the ARPANET.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
box 1, folder 1

ARPANET notes

Scope and Content

This file contains evaluation notes of the ARPANET.
box 1, folder 1

ARPANET network traffic notes

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Scope and Content

This file contains documentation which describes ARPA Network traffic by participant organization.
box 1, folder 1

ARPA Network data rates

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Scope and Content

This file contains graphs which describe data rates for nodes within the ARPANET.
box 1, folder 1

ARPANET graphs 1973

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Scope and Content

This file contains graphs regarding throughput speed, ARPA Network cost vs. capacity, 21 node net, and actual ARPANET.
box 1, folder 1

ARPANET node notes

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Scope and Content

This file contains various notes and diagrams detailing the locations and connections between nodes of the ARPANET.
 

Series 2: Correspondence 1963-1973

Scope and Contents note

Series 2 contains correspondence relating to the professional activity of L. G. Roberts. This series includes original and duplicate incoming correspondence from the Intergalactic Computer Network, International Business Machines (IBM), and University of California's Office of the President.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

PORTIONS OF THIS SERIES HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
box 1, folder 2

Intergalactic Computer Network memorandum 1963

box 1, folder 2

IBM letter 1967

Scope and Content

Letter to Roberts from Peter W. Markstein of International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

THIS ITEM HAS BEEN DIGITIZED. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
box 1, folder 2

University of California Data Communication letter 1972

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

THIS ITEM HAS BEEN DIGITIZED. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
box 1, folder 2

Telenet Communications Corporation news release 1973

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

THIS ITEM HAS BEEN DIGITIZED. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Scope and Content

A news release from Telenet Communications Corporation announcing Dr. Roberts' appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer.
 

Series 3: Publications 1962-2009

Scope and Contents note

This series contains conference papers, trade and scholarly publications, special interest publications, and ARPA publications documenting the evolution of ARPA network and development.
box 1, folder 3-4

Publications by Roberts 1966-2009

Scope and Content

This file contains papers individually and jointly authored by Roberts.
box 1, folder 5

Publications collected by Roberts 1962-2001

Scope and Content

This file includes publications regarding the history of the internet.