Collection Guide
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Kompfner (Rudolf) Papers
SC0194
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Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Rudolf Kompfner papers
Identifier/Call Number: SC0194
Physical Description:
10 Linear Feet
(21 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1937-1981
Summary: The Kompfner papers
span the years 1937 to 1977 and concentrate primarily on his research interests while at
Bell Laboratories, Stanford University and Oxford University. The collection includes
general correspondence files, diaries (1937-41), notebooks and notes (1937-77), articles and
reports (1937-80), awards and drawings. Additional material received 1985 and 1987 includes
correspondence, research files, notebooks, patent records, and publications.
Language of Material: The material is in
English.
The Rudolf Kompfner papers, with the exception of his Bell Lab notebooks, were the gift of
his wife, Peggy Kompfner to Stanford University in 1978; the materials were transferred from
the Kompfner's Stanford University residence to the University Archives in that year with an
addition later in the year.
In 1979, Bell Laboratories, at the request of Professor Calvin Quate, transferred 26
research notebooks regarding Kompfner's research to the Stanford University Archlves. The
notebooks are on indefinite loan in accordance with the agreement dated 14 February 1979 and
title to the notebooks, including literary rlghts, are retained by Bell Laboratories. No
restrictions were placed on access to the notebooks, and they may be studied by researchers
as part of the Rudolf Kompfner papers in the reading room of the University Archives.
The arrangement and description of the Rudolf Kompfner papers, including the following
series description and inventory, was carried out as a special project funded by the Friends
of Rudolf Kompfner in his honor. In addition to supporting the processing of the papers,
this generous gift allowed the Univiversity Archives to experiment with several online data
processing systems provided by Stanford University 's computer center and to produce our
first online collection guide.
Preliminary processing was carried out by Kym Sommerville. Final arrangement, description
and computer analysis was carried out by Barbara J. Begley.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Gift of Peggy Kompfner 1978, 1980-85; loan from Bell Laboratories, 1979.
This collection is open for research.
Requests for permission to publish materials from this collection should be discussed with
the University Archivist. Legal ownership of Series IV (Bell Laboratory Notebooks) including
the right to publish is retained by Bell Laboratories, New Jersey.
Rudolf Kompfner Papers (SC0194). Department of Special Collections and University Archives,
Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Biographical/Historical Sketch
Professor of Applied Physics at Stanford University and world renowned communications
scientist, Rudolf Kompfner came to Stanford in 1973 after a distinguished career at Bell
Telephone Laboratories, Oxford University, and with British government research.
Professor Kompfner was born in Vienna in 1909 and received the degree of engineer from the
Technische Hochschule in 1933. He emigrated to England in 1934 where he worked as an
architect. Kompfner already had a strong interest in experimental physics, however, and
began a self-guided study of the field. He was already an accomplished research physicist
when he received his Ph. D. from Oxford University, having worked at Birmingham University
(1941-44) and Oxford's Clarendon Laboratory (1944-51). His invention of the traveling wave
tube during this time is credited with making future satellite communications practicable.
In 1950, he developed the backward wave oscillator which made microwave oscillators
electronically tunable.
Ultimately the holder of over 50 patents, Kompfner continued his research at the Bell
Laboratories from 1952 to 1973. His last years, 1973 to 1977, were spent in research and
teaching at both Stanford University and Oxford University, focusing prlmarily on integrated
optics.
Professor Kompfner received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Science in
1975 for his invention of the traveling wave tube and for major contributions to
communications satellites and optical communications. He was a member of the National
Academy of Science and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The Kompfner papers span the years 1937 to 1977 and concentrate primarily on his research
interests while at Bell Laboratories, Stanford University and Oxford University. The
collection includes general correspondence files, diaries (1937-41), notebooks and notes
(1937-77), articles and reports (1937-80), awards and drawings. Additional material received
1985 and 1987 includes correspondence, research files, notebooks, patent records, and
publications.
Of particular note are the 26 research notebooks compiled by Kompfner regarding his
research at Bell Laboratories, 1952 to 1973 (series IV) and his 1937 diary documenting his
selfdirected readings and experiments in physics while still a practicing architect (series
II).
The collection is arranged in seven series and two additions: 1. General Files, 1941-1978;
2. Diaries, 1937-1941; 3. Notebooks and Notes, 1937-1977; 4. Bell Laboratory Notebooks,
1952-1973; 5. Articles, Reports and Speeches, 1937-1980; 6. Awards, 7. Drawings.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Reports.
Notebooks.
Science -- History.
Physics -- Research.
Traveling-wave tubes.
Awards.
Articles.
Backward-wave tubes.
Drawings.
Diaries.