Hitachi Global Storage Technologies collection on IBM hard disk storage, 1955-1992

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Summary

Creators:
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.
Abstract:
The Hitachi Global Storage Technologies collection on IBM hard disk storage consists of manuals, promotional material, technical reports, internal memos, presentation materials, and conference proceedings ranging in date from 1955 to 1992. Approximately half of the collection contains documents organized chronologically that are related the history of IBM's hard disk drive research and development. This portion of the collection consists of manuals, memos, studies and research reviews, strategy and operating documents, and technical reports, many of which are associated with the IBM Corporate Technical Committee (CTC), the IBM Magnetic Recording Institute (MRI), and the IBM Advanced Magnetic Recording Technology organization (AMRT). The remainder of the collection holds information on hard disk drive, flexible disk storage, magnetic tape, and optical storage technologies. The collection includes a small amount of material on magnetic bubble and film library technologies, as well as a folder of 32mm slides.
Extent:
17.5 Linear feet, 14 record cartons
Language:
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], [Date], Hitachi Global Storage Technologies collection on IBM hard disk storage, Lot X5736.2010, Box [#], Computer History Museum.

Background

Scope and content:

The Hitachi Global Storage Technologies collection on IBM hard disk storage consists of documents ranging in date from 1955 to 1992. Materials include manuals, promotional material, technical reports, internal memos, presentation materials, and conference proceedings, most of which are related to IBM's hard disk drive research and development.

Approximately half of the collection contains documents that represent the history of the hard disk drive. This portion of the collection consists of documentation related to RAMAC, direct access storage technology, magnetic recording research, the IBM Random Access Memory Program (RAMP), and the IBM Compact Storage Laboratory. Types of materials in this portion include manuals, memos, studies and research reviews, strategy and operating documents, and technical reports, many of which are associated with the IBM Corporate Technical Committee (CTC), the IBM Magnetic Recording Institute (MRI), and the IBM Advanced Magnetic Recording Technology organization (AMRT).

The remainder of the collection holds information on hard disk drive technology, including head, magnetic media, channel, servo, and recording technology. There is also information on flexible disk storage, magnetic tape technology, and optical storage. The collection includes a small amount of material on magnetic bubble and film library technologies, as well as a folder of 32mm slides.

Biographical / historical:

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies was founded in 2003 as a merger of the hard disk drive businesses of IBM and Hitachi. The company specializes in computer storage products, such as hard disk drives, solid-state drives, and external storage devices. In 2012, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies was acquired by Western Digital, and its name was changed to HGST, Inc.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies staff maintained a hard disk drive historical collection, which was stored in the historical records storage room at the company until it was donated to the Computer History Museum in 2010.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, 2010.
Processing information:

Collection surveyed by Sydney Gulbronson Olson, 2018.

An inventory of collection contents was created by the donor. To view the CHM catalog record and inventory for the Hitachi Global Storage Technologies collection on IBM hard disk storage, please search the CHM catalog at http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/search/.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The Computer History Museum (CHM) can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claims of the copyright holder. Requests for copying and permission to publish, quote, or reproduce any portion of the Computer History Museum's collection must be obtained jointly from both the copyright holder (if applicable) and the Computer History Museum.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], [Date], Hitachi Global Storage Technologies collection on IBM hard disk storage, Lot X5736.2010, Box [#], Computer History Museum.

Location of this collection:
1401 Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA 94043, US
Contact:
(650) 810-1010
research@computerhistory.org
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