Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Hoerni, Jean A., 1924-1997 and Jay T. Last Revocable Trust
- Abstract:
- Correspondence, writings, and assorted materials of Swiss-American engineer Jean A. Hoerni, one of the founders of Fairchild Semiconductor.
- Extent:
- 2 Linear Feet (3 manuscript boxes, 1 small flat-box)
- Language:
- English and English; French; German
- Preferred citation:
-
[identification of item], Jean Hoerni papers (M2847). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection contains materials from Jean A. Hoerni, one of the "traitorous eight" that quit Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory in 1957 to establish Fairchild Semiconductor. The collection includes correspondence between Hoerni and various semiconductor laboratories, including Shockley, as he searched for a position during the mid-1950s; handwritten notes from his time at Shockley and Fairchild; and copies of Hoerni's publications throughout his education and career. Also included are guides about mountain climbing; photographs; and newspaper clippings. Some items of interest have been highlighted throughout the finding aid.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Jean A. Hoerni (1924-1997) was a Swiss-American engineer active in the early days of Silicon Valley. He completed a BS in mathematics from the University of Geneva before completing two physics PhDs. at Geneva and Cambridge. He moved to the United States in 1952 as a postdoctoral fellow in chemistry at California Institute of Technology with Linus Pauling. In 1956, Hoerni joined Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory. One year later, he left to establish the Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation as part of the "traitorous eight" along with Julius Blank, Victor Grinich, Eugene Kleiner, Jay Last, Gordon Moore, Robert Noyce, and C. Sheldon Roberts. While at Fairchild, Hoerni developed the planar process of building transistors, which later became a critical part of the invention of the Silicon integrated circuit. Hoerni left Fairchild in 1961 to found Amelco, and later established Union Carbide Electronics and Intersil. Throughout his life, Hoerni was an avid mountain climber, both abroad and in California's High Sierras.
- Acquisition information:
- This collection was given by the Jay T. Last Revocable Trust to Stanford University, Special Collections in May 2022.
- Custodial history:
-
The papers were assembled after Hoerni's death by his former colleague, Jay Last, and his widow, Jennifer Wilson. The collection was donated along with the papers of Jay Last (M2846).
- Physical location:
- Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36 hours in advance.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
- 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], Jean Hoerni papers (M2847). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
- Location of this collection:
-
Department of Special Collections, Green Library557 Escondido MallStanford, CA 94305-6004, US
- Contact:
- (650) 725-1022