Perham Foundation Records, 1968-2003

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Title:: Perham Foundation Records
Dates:: 1968-2003
Creators:: Perham Foundation Foothill Electronics Museum
Abstract:
Extent:: Approximately 25 linear feet (36 boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:: Perham Foundation Records. History San Jose Research Library

Scope and content:: The administrative files of the Perham Foundation include personnel, membership, and acquisition records; correspondence, public relations material, exhibit history, and documentation on the relationship between the Perham Foundation and Foothill College, and subsequent travels of the collection after leaving Foothill.
Biographical / historical:: The Perham Collection of Early Electronics is the legacy of radio pioneer Douglas McDonald Perham (1887-1967), an early wireless experimenter, radio broadcaster, and life-long collector. Perham’s collection was acquired in 1963 by the Perham Foundation, a non-profit group made up of local electronics pioneers. In 1969, the Foundation raised funds to construct the Foothill Electronics Museum at Foothill College in Los Altos, California. The Museum, opened in 1973, was operated by the College until 1979 and by the Foundation and its many volunteers until its closing in 1991. During that time, the Perham Foundation continued to collect objects, photographs, publications, and archival collections. After twelve years in temporary storage, the Perham Collection, including the Foundation's records, was transferred by the Foundation to History San José in 2003.
Acquisition information:: Received in 2003 by History San Jose as part of the Perham Collection of Early Electronics

Subjects:: Museum archives
Electronics--History
Nonprofit organizations
Names:: Foothill College
Places:: Los Altos Hills (Calif.)
Santa Clara County (Calif.)
Los Altos (Calif.)

Collection Guide Author:: Finding aid created by History San Jose Research Library staff.
Date Prepared:: 1968-2003
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Restrictions:: The records are available to the public for research by appointment with the Curator of Library & Archives.
Terms of access:: Property rights reside with History San Jose. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact History San Jose Research Library.

Preferred citation:: Perham Foundation Records. History San Jose Research Library

Location of this collection:: History San Jose Research Library

1661 Senter Road

San Jose, CA 95112, US