Finding Aid of the Paciolan Systems records 6124

Jacqueline Morin
USC Libraries Special Collections
2017
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0189
specol@usc.edu


Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Paciolan Systems records
Creator: Kleinberger, Jane C.
Creator: McQuade, Thomas J.
Creator: McQuade, Donna
Creator: Paciolan Systems
Creator: Thomas, Cary
Identifier/Call Number: 6124
Physical Description: 11.5 Linear Feet 20 boxes + computer and keyboard
Date (inclusive): 1978-2020
Abstract: Paciolan Systems, Inc. began as a small computer software development company specializing in ticketing for college athletics. In its past four decades of history, the company grew, developed, and merged with other companies-- and now is once again known as Paciolan as part of Learfield. Paciolan's role in Learfield is providing ticketing, fundraising, marketing, and analytics solutions to athletic and entertainment events. Paciolan's earlier history is documented in this collection of records preserved by Jane [Couch] Kleinberger, Thomas McQuade, and other founders of the company. The records consist of administrative manuals, client contracts, industry newsletters, financial information, and company scrapbooks providing a snapshot of a small corporation in its formative years. An early (1989) Wyse computer terminal and keyboard are included in the collection.
Language of Material: English .

Historical Background

Paciolan Systems was a small computer software development company cofounded by two innovative entrepreneurs, Thomas McQuade and Cary Thomas. It was in 1980 that San Diego State called upon them as contract programmers to purchase the ticketing software they had previously written and installed for the University of Southern California, as well as have them program accounting modules for them. At that point, the decision was made to incorporate and name the company after the father of accounting. Since most business accounting relies on the double-entry method, it was thought proper in naming the corporation to credit the author of the first treatise on double-entry bookkeeping, Luca Paciola. This remarkably modern man published his work in 1494.
With Cary Thomas acting in a sales role as well as design, and Thomas McQuade as the chief designer and programmer, two more employees were hired within the first year. The first two employees—Jane Couch and Kathleen Kern—performed quality assurance, technical writing, customer installations, training, and support. Cary Thomas left in 1981 to start his own venture and returned in 1984 as PSI's one and only sales person until 1988. Also part of PSI's earliest staff were Brian J. Gladish and Donna McQuade
In 1982 Paciolan entered into a contract with USC to develop and implement a campus-wide financial system using the Athletics Business Office software as a base. And thus a new corporation was formed: Paciolan Financial Systems.
At the time, Paciolan's principal product was a computer system for university athletics (The Athletics System). The Athletics System included packages for Ticketing, Accounting and Budgeting, Purchasing, Payables, Receivables, Payroll, Support Group, Sports Information, Financial Aid, Academic Eligibility, Strength Training, Summer Camps, Recruiting, Scouting, Athletics Management, and Inventory Control. And because Paciolan was chiefly associated with university athletics, it had its own mascot—an alley cat named Howard Knockwurst, from the unofficial School of Hard Knocks. (Aside from its alley cat logo, Paciolan also created a more formal logo—the Paciolohedron.) Besides USC, Paciolan's earliest clients consisted of San Diego State University, the University of Illinois, the University of Washington, and the University of Nebraska.
Thomas McQuade was a highly influential personality of the company. His world view was influenced by the economics philosopher Andrew Joseph Galambos. In the early years, the company employees were encouraged to attend classes which taught this philosophy that featured a heavy emphasis on free market principles and individual responsibility and effort. Someone who puts forth a large effort should themselves receive the fruits of their labor. This philosophy led to Paciolan's development of the Royalty Distribution (RD) system. Each employee received an advance on a base salary. All the revenues that came into the company from sales or maintenance were then appropriated to those individuals within the company that had a part in bringing in that revenue. In addition, 10% of the sale price of every software product that was sold went back to the designers, programmers, and technical writers. A certain percentage of the maintenance revenue went to the account manager who supported that client. Commissions were shared by sales reps with those who had a part in assisting the sale (including people external to the company)—providing leads, demos, cultivating the customer, and negotiating the close. However, as the company grew and matured, the system became unworkable, and by 1989 McQuade and Jane Couch (Kleinberger) declared all the advances paid in full and switched to a salary and bonus pay plan, linked to employee performance reviews every six months.
Over the years, Paciolan sold a few institutions its accounting packages without Ticketing, but Ticketing remained the mainstay of the organization. Paciolan's first venture out of the athletic ticketing marketplace was in 1986 when they automated the first of three racetracks owned by the International Speedway Corporation—Daytona Raceway; many other racetracks then became automated. This was quickly followed in 1988 by another diversification—PSI modified the Ticketing system so that it would fit the needs of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii. In 1989-90, PSI developed and installed a new product, Ticket Reservations, at Atlantis Submarines of Hawaii.
Since that time, Paciolan has gone through buy-outs, mergers, subsidiaries, etc. involving Ticketmaster New Ventures Holdings, Inc.; Freeway Merger Sub, Inc., etc. In 2004, Comcast Spectacor made an equity investment in Paciolan and acquired the right to use its technology platform. In 2010, the company acquired the remaining percentage of Paciolan from a subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment and became sole owner of Paciolan's ticketing platform and other technology.
In 2015, Comcast Spectacor unified the business of its three long-standing and renowned divisions—Global Spectrum, Ovations Food Services, and Paciolan into one brand: Spectra. Spectra then consisted of three divisions: Venue Management, Food Services and Hospitality, and Ticketing and Fan Engagement. In 2017 the leading college sports marketer, Learfield, acquired Spectra's Ticketing and Fan Engagement division—Paciolan—from Comcast Spectacor and decided that the division would once again be known as Paciolan. As of 2017, Dave Butler is the Chief Executive Officer of Paciolan and Kim Damron its President and Chief Operating Officer. Jane (Couch) Kleinberger, one of the original founders of Paciolan and co-founder of Spectra Ticketing and Fan Engagement, has remained with Paciolan for the past 37 years. She served as the company's President from 1992 to 2000 when she assumed the position of CEO. Though she retired in 2004, Kleinberger returned in 2005.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of 20 boxes of records documenting the history of Paciolan Systems Inc. and its evolution through the years into Comcast Spectacor's ticketing division known as Spectra, and then to Learfield's ticketing and fan engagement division-- and once again known as Paciolan. The records include newsletters, users meeting booklets, administration and training manuals, photographs, scrapbooks, and stakeholder documentation.

Conditions Governing Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder no. or item name], Paciolan Systems records, Collection no. 6124, , Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Thomas J. McQuade and Jane C. Kleinberger, July 6, 2016.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Accounting -- Computer programs -- Archival resources
Bookkeeping -- Computer programs -- Archival resources
Computer programs -- Archival resources
Computer software -- Archival resources
Corporations -- Investor relations -- United States -- Archival resources
Corporation reports
Newsletters
Printed ephemera
Scrapbooks
Tickets
Kleinberger, Jane C. -- Archives
McQuade, Thomas J. -- Archives
Paciolan Systems -- Archives
Comcast Corporation -- Archival resources
Learfield Sports -- Archival resources
National Association of Women Business Owners (U.S.) -- Archives
Pacioli, Luca, approximately 1445-1517 -- Archives
Thomas, Cary -- Archives

 

Paciolan Newsletters 1982-2001

Box 1, Folder 1

Paciolan Systems Newsletter 1982-1983

Box 1, Folder 2

PSI Newsletter 1983-1985

Box 1, Folder 3

PSI For Your Information 1989

Box 1, Folder 4-9

Interface 1990-2001

Box 1, Folder 10-14

Financial Statements 1981-1999

Box 1, Folder 15

Paciolan Systems Character Study 1990

 

Clients and Client Contracts 1991-2011

Box 1, Folder 16

Client Contract--San Diego State University 1991

Scope and Contents

Data Processing System Purchase Contract
Box 1, Folder 17

Client Contract--University of Nebraska 1992

Scope and Contents

Data Processing System Purchase Contract
Box 1, Folder 18

Client Contract--University of Illinois 1998

Scope and Contents

Software Support and Services Contract
Box 1, Folder 19

System Contract with San Diego Padres 2000-2007

Box 1, Folder 20

College Athletics Product Roadmap for University of Iowa 2011

 

PACnet Users Meeting Booklets 1985-2016

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of materials generated by and for Paciolan/ Spectra users meetings. They include ticketing users meeting booklets, software systems enhancement booklets, accounting systems users meeting booklets, PACnet users meeting books, etc.
Box 2, Folder 1

Ticketing Users Meeting Booklet 1985

Box 2, Folder 2

Ticketing Enhancements Preliminary Document Booklet 1985

Box 2, Folder 3

Ticketing Users Meeting Booklet 1986

Box 2, Folder 4

Ticketing Enhancements Preliminary Document Booklet 1986

Box 2, Folder 5

Ticketing Users Meeting Booklet 1987

Box 2, Folder 6

All Systems Users Meeting Booklet 1987

Box 2, Folder 7

Software Systems Enhancements Booklet 1987

Box 2, Folder 8

Ticketing Users Meeting Booklet 1988

Box 2, Folder 9

Ticketing Users Meeting Booklet 1989

Box 2, Folder 10

Accounting Systems Users Meeting Booklet 1989

Box 2, Folder 11

Systems Operations Users Meeting Booklet 1989

Box 2, Folder 12

Ticketing Users Meeting Booklet 1990

Box 2, Folder 13

Accounting Systems Users Meeting Booklet 1990

Box 2, Folder 14

Systems Operations Users Meeting Booklet 1990

Box 2, Folder 15

Specialty Systems Meeting Booklet 1990

Box 2, Folder 16

Support Group Enhancements Booklet 1990

Box 2, Folder 17

Ticketing Users Meeting Booklet 1991

Box 2, Folder 18

Users Meeting Breakout Sessions Booklet 1991

Box 2, Folder 19

Accounting Users Meeting Booklet 1991

Box 2, Folder 20

Systems Operations Meeting Booklet 1991

Box 3, Folder 1

Users Meeting Booklet (Update) 1993

Box 3, Folder 2

PACnet Users Meeting Resource Materials 1996

Box 3, Folder 3

PACnet Users Meeting Resource Materials 1998

Box 3, Folder 4

PACnet Executive Forum Resource Materials Booklet 2001

Box 3, Folder 5

Executive Forum and Marketing Workshop Brochure 2003

Box 3, Folder 6

PACnet Conference Booklet 2009

Box 3, Folder 7

PACnet Conference Booklet 2010

Box 3, Folder 8

PACnet Conference Booklet 2013

Box 3, Folder 9

PACnet Conference Booklet 2014

Box 3, Folder 10

PACnet Conference Booklet 2015

Box 3, Folder 11

PACnet Conference Booklet 2016

 

Paciolan Administration Manuals 1981-2007

Box 4, Folder 1

Athletic Department Information System 1981

Box 4, Folder 2

Athletic System 1983

Box 4, Folder 3

FYI: The Information System Manual [First Edition] 1988

Box 4, Folder 4

Ticketbuilder 1990

Box 4, Folder 5

Programming Standards 1992

Box 4, Folder 6

PSI: Basic Operations 1994

Box 4, Folder 7

Customer Support Training Manual 1998

Box 4, Folder 8

TX/ SG Reporting Manual 1998

Box 4, Folder 9

System Administrators Manual 1999

Box 4, Folder 10

Customer Support Reference Guide 1998

Box 4, Folder 11

Introduction to TX2 Ticketing Manual 2000

Box 4, Folder 12

Paciolan Executive Summary [Prepared for investment community] 2001

Box 4, Folder 13

System Administration Manual 2003

Box 4, Folder 14

Post-PACnet Training--Reporting with ODBC/Crystal 2006

Box 4, Folder 15

Employee Survey Results 2006-2007

Box 5, Folder 1-4

TX2 Ticketing Reference Manual 1999

Box 5, Folder 5

Online Ticketing Book of Knowledge circa 2005

 

Awards and Ephemera

Box 5, Folder 11

Business Card File

Scope and Contents

Plastic card case with pocket pages for business cards. All the cards in it are of Paciolan employees with their names, job titles, and contact information. Included are cards for Thomas McQuade, Cary Thomas, Jane Couch [Kleinberger], William Dodson, Christine Harding, etc.
Box 5, Folder 14

Sports and Miscellaneous Tickets 1970-2012

Scope and Contents

30 sports and other tickets for the Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, other football and basketball games, some concert and movie tickets.
Box 1, Folder 22

Piece of Cake Award 1992-1997

Scope and Contents

The "Piece of Cake" award was an annual award begun in 1992 with Thomas McQuade as its first recipient. The award was bestowed upon the Paciolan employee who displayed a spirit of innovation as nominated by his colleagues. This folder does not contain the actual awards (plaques), but correspondence and news articles regarding it.
Box 5, Folder 12

Holiday Cards from Teams, Clients, and Business Partners

Box 5, Folder 13

Cards and Notes to Jane Kleinberger

Box 5, Folder 15

Paciolan Systems Stationery

Box 8, Folder 1

Jane Kleinberger: National Association of Women Business Owners Awards Luncheon Program 2002 October 25

Box 8, Folder 2

Jane Kleinberger: National Association of Women Business Owners Congratulations Package 2002 October

Box 8, Folder 3

Jane Kleinberger: National Association of Women Business Owners Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate [framed] 2002 October 25

Box 13, Folder 2

The Ultimate Calendar Fiscal 1992

Box 20

Hard Knocks vs. Nebraska Framed Souvenir Ticket 1991

Scope and Contents

Framed souvenir joke ticket for Game 7 of the Hard Knocks vs. Nebraska football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Box 5, Folder 4

Paciolan Preferred Stock Financing Documents 2000

Box 5, Folder 6

5-Year Arts Business Plan by Charles Woodard 2010

Box 5, Folder 7

Positioning Paper Analyzing All Competitors 2009

Box 5, Folder 8

PACnet Attendee List 2011

Box 5, Folder 9

PACnet Internal FAQ Document 2011

Box 5, Folder 10

SB+ Software System Documentation

Box 6, Folder 1

Acquisition of Paciolan Systems, Inc. by Robert F. Brown 1991

Box 6, Folder 2-3

Management Buyout/ Robert F. Brown 1992

Box 6, Folder 4

Acquisition of Paciolan Systems, Inc. by Robert F. Brown [Plaque]

Box 6, Folder 5

Royalty Distribution Program-- Developer's Royalty Agreements 1992-1995

Box 7, Folder 1

Royalty Distribution Program-- General Correspondence and Royalty Statements 1998

Box 7, Folder 2

Paciolan Shareholder Documents, UB/CEDLI Loan Guarantys, PSI-Kern Stock Redemption Agreement 1998

Box 7, Folder 3-5

Paciolan Preferred Stock Financing Documents 2000

Box 7, Folder 6

Paciolan Sale/Merger-- Ticketmaster New Ventures Holdings, Inc. and Freeway Merger Sub, Inc. 2007

 

Articles and Publications About Paciolan

Box 7, Folder 7

Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal 2007-2010

Box 7, Folder 8

Venues Today 2007, 2012

Box 7, Folder 9

The Globe 2007

Box 7, Folder 10

Paciolo Articles and Related Ephemera 2007, 2012

 

Scrapbooks

Box 9

Scrapbook #1 1978-1984

Scope and Contents

Materials prepared by Carey E. Thomas and Thomas J. McQuade describing the Ticket Enterprise and Athletic Management (TEAM) system, its features, and functional capabilities. Documentation manual for the Fund Accounting Subsidiary Ledger System (FASL). Correspondence and invoices between Paciolan Systems and USC (Jane Couch, Pat Tyner). Bylaws of Paciolan Systems, Inc. Short history of Luca Pacioli. Interviews with key members of the Ultimate Corporation (John Keogh, Ted Sabarese). Correspondence from the athletics department at San Diego State University, Paciolan Systems newsletters, hardware and software price lists, photographs of a computer convention (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics) (NACDA), customer lists, photographs of the 1983 ticketing class in Los Alamitos, etc.
Box 9

Scrapbook #2 1985-1989

Scope and Contents

Photographs of users meetings, ticketing classes, NACDA conventions, the move from Los Alamitos to Signal Hill... lists of current customers using the "Ahtletics System" software on mini-computers and personal computers, PSI newsletters, financial statements, copies of checks from PSI to individuals for design royalties, sales commissions, etc. Correspondence, letter (1989)from Cary E. Thomas to the McQuades thanking them for making the scrapbooks, several issues of the magazine "Pick World."
Box 9

Scrapbook #3 1990-1991

Scope and Contents

Newsletters (with new name "Interface" beginning in January 1990), correspondence between Cary Thomas and Thomas McQuade, correspondence between Paciolan Systems and various clients, photographs of meetings and conventions, financial statements, 10th anniversary ephemera and photos, many thank-you notes from various clients for the coffee mugs, sale of stock papers between Thomas McQuade and Robert Brown (1991), photocopies of stock certificates.
Box 10

Scrapbook #4 1992-1999

Scope and Contents

Correspondence between Paciolan and clients; 1992 correspondence and ephemera regarding Thomas McQuade's departure from Paciolan;newsletters ("Interface"); Correspondence between Thomas McQuade and Bob Brown regarding profit-sharing ("Bob Brown Saga"); stock transactions and copies of certificates.
 

Photographs and Photograph Albums

Box 10

Photo Album (Users Meeting/ PACNET--Hyatt, Long Beach) 1991

Box 10

Photo Album (Staff; Christmas Party) 1991

Box 10

Photo Album (Christmas Party) 1992

Box 10

Photo Album (Users Meeting/ PACnet, Cocktail Party) 1993

Box 11

Photo Album (Users Meeting/ PACnet; Tribute to Thomas [McQuade]) 1992-1993

Box 11

Photo Album (Users Meeting/ PACnet) 1994

Box 11

Photo Album (Users Meeting/ PACnet) 1995

Box 11

Photo Album (Staff; Users Meeting/PACnet) 1996

Box 12

Photo Album (Users Meeting/ PACnet) 1997

Box 12

Photo Album (Users Meeting/ PACnet) 1999

Box 12

Photo Album (Users Meeting/ PACnet) 2000

 

Audiovisual Materials

 

Videotapes

Box 14

PACnet [19?]: Spoofs on Paciolan circa 1995

General Note

"Property of Christine Harding"
Box 14

Paciolan: The Movie (2 copies) 1994

Box 14

A Tribute to Thomas [McQuade]; Paciolan Systems: Users Meeting 1992

Box 14

Programming Class #2, McQuade; PSI 1988 February 18

Box 14

Programming Class #1, McQuade; PSI 1988 February 11

Box 14

Luca Pacioli: Unsung Hero of the Renaissance 1990

 

CDs and DVDs

Box 14

PACnet: Live from Long Beach--It's Wednesday Night! (DVD) circa 1996

Box 14

Paciolan: The Movie (DVD) (2 copies) 1994

Box 14

Luca Pacioli: Unsung Hero of the Renaissance 1990

Box 14

Tribute to Thomas [McQuade] 1992

Box 14

PSI PACnet Users Meeting Resource Materials (CD) 1999

 

Realia

Box 13, Folder 1

Paciola California License Plates (2) 1987

Box 15

Paciolan Souvenir Coffee Mugs (8 items) 1990-1996

Box 16

Paciolan Souvenir Coffee Mugs (11 items) 1998-2001; undated

Box 17

Mouse Pads [3 Generations of Branding]

Scope and Contents

3 computer mouse pads: PSI--Paciolan Systems; Paciolan Systems--Integrated Ticketing Solutions; Paciolan--Your Tickets, Your Way
Box 17

PSI Paciolan Systems Ruler 1998

Scope and Contents

Ruler designed for laying out ticket stock specifications: 170 characters for Data Products, 102 characters for Printronix.
Box 17

Paciolan Branded Solar Calculator

Box 17

Paciolan Branded Playing Cards

Box 17

Paciolan Branded Ball-point Pen

Box 17

PACnet Room Key Cards (2) 2012-2013

Box 17

Paciolan Systems Brass Door Sign

Box 18

St. Louis Rams Super Bowl Champions Commemorative Football 2000

Box 18

Framed Letter Accompanying Football 2000

Scope and Contents

Letter from Michael T. Naughton (Vice-President Ticket Operations for St. Louis Rams) to Jane Kleinberger (Paciolan Systems Chairman of the Board).
Box 18

Colorado Rockies Commemorative Rally Towel 2007

Box 18

Colorado Rockies World Series Baseball 2007

Box 19

Fra Luca Pacioli Costume

Scope and Contents

Costume includes robe, cross, and rope belt.
Box 20

Wyse Computer Terminal and Keyboard 1989

General Note

The computer terminal is covered with names, initials, and logos of Paciolan employees and clients. There are also pictures of a bandaged cat ("school of hard knocks") and a monk (symbolizing Friar Luca Pacioli. The computer keyboard is a Wyse also, and the Wyse Users Guide is also included in the keyboard box.
 

Blog posts by the founders for 40th anniversary of Paciolan's founding 2020 July

40th Anniversary of the Founding of Paciolan [blog post]: 2020-07-01-
Paciolan: The First Five Years [blog post]: 2020-07-01-

Scope and Contents

[Facebook post by Thomas McQuade, July 1, 2020:]
July 1 is the 40th anniversary of the founding in 1980 of Paciolan (https://www.paciolan.com/), a company created by Cary Thomas and me to develop and market ticketing and accounting computer systems. Cary has posted an account of the founding in his blog at http://research-game-book.blogspot.com/2020/07/40th-anniversary-of-founding-of-paciolan.html, and I have provided him with an additional post (at https://research-game-book.blogspot.com/2020/07/paciolan-first-five-years.html) which goes into some detail about the people involved and the products produced during the first 5 years of the company's life.
Cary left the company in 1988 for a career in research institute management; I left in 1992 to read economics at Auburn. Jane Kleinberger, who was the company's second full-time employee, took over as CEO after a rough year or so when my initial replacement didn't work out. (The first employee was my good friend Brian J. Gladish, to whom I owe the impetus to think about entrepreneurship in the first place.)
If there is one person most responsible for the company's long-term success, it is Jane. Although she was not a cofounder (despite being represented as such from time to time in company literature), she was associated with the company from its earliest days as a contractor before coming on full time. She has been the face of Paciolan for most of its 40 years.

Existence and Location of Copies

The blog posts referenced in the Scope and Contents note above are also included as Digital Objects linked to this record. The textual contents of these posts have also been saved offline and added to the collection's accession files.