Collection Guide
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Hoerni (Jean) papers
M2847
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Jean Hoerni papers
Creator:
Hoerni, Jean A., 1924-1997
source:
Jay T. Last Revocable Trust
Identifier/Call Number: M2847
Physical Description:
2 Linear Feet
(3 manuscript boxes, 1 small flat-box)
Date (inclusive): 1950-2000
Abstract: Correspondence, writings, and assorted materials of Swiss-American engineer Jean A. Hoerni, one of the founders of Fairchild
Semiconductor.
Language of Material: English; French; German
Physical Location: Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36 hours in advance.
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was given by the Jay T. Last Revocable Trust to Stanford University, Special Collections in May 2022.
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.
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).
[identification of item], Jean Hoerni papers (M2847). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
Additional collections relating to the "traitorous eight" include:
- Robert Noyce papers (M1490) at Stanford University
- Gordon Moore papers (M1965) at Stanford University
- Jay Last papers (M2846) at Stanford University
- Fairchild Semiconductor Employee papers at the Computer History Museum: https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt696nf06d/
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.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Planar transistors
Mountaineering
Semiconductor industry -- History -- California
Jay T. Last Revocable Trust
Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory
Fairchild (Firm)