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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Biography/Administrative History
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Indexing Terms
  • Additional collection guides

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Perham Foundation Records
    Dates: 1968-2003
    Collection Number: 2003-39
    Creator/Collector: Perham Foundation Foothill Electronics Museum
    Extent: Approximately 25 linear feet (36 boxes)
    Online items available
    Repository: History San Jose Research Library
    San Jose, California 95112
    Abstract: 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.
    Language of Material: English

    Access

    The records are available to the public for research by appointment with the Curator of Library & Archives.

    Publication Rights

    Property rights reside with History San Jose. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact History San Jose Research Library.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item]. Perham Foundation Records. Collection Number: 2003-39. History San Jose Research Library

    Acquisition Information

    Received in 2003 by History San Jose as part of the Perham Collection of Early Electronics

    Biography/Administrative History

    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.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    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.

    Indexing Terms

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

    Additional collection guides