Description
Minimally processed administrative files of the Perham Foundation, received as part of the Perham Collection of Early Electronics
in 2003. The Perham Foundation operated the Foothill College Electronics Museum in Los Altos Hills, California, between 1973
and 1991.
Background
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.