Guide to the Pulsa Records M2540
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2020
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Pulsa records
source:
Clancy, Patrick.
source:
Cain, Michael Peter
Identifier/Call Number: M2540
Physical Description:
7.5 Linear Feet
(7 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Physical Description:
62.8 gigabyte(s)
Date (inclusive): 1966-2019
Date (bulk): 1968-1972
Abstract: The papers of 1960s-70s expeirmental multimedia collective Pulsa consist of project files, photographs, slides & negatives,
and printed material about the group.
Content Description
Pulsa was an experimental multimedia arts collective founded in 1966 and active through 1973. The group consisted of artists
and faculty at Yale University in Connecticut including Michael Cain, Patrick Clancy, William Crosby, William Duesing, Paul
Fuge, Peter Kindimann, and David Rumsey, collaborating across various disciplines including electronic engineering, computer
science, architecture, psychology, mathematics, and art. Focusing on systems research, interactive environments, and the integration
of technology in the arts, Pulsa was one of several groups exploring these fields in the 1960s and 70s, but are perhaps not
as well-known as E.A.T., ONCE or even USCO.
The collection contains original documents, notes, photographs, slides & negatives, promotional material, and some correspondence.
There are a few later computer printouts, typescripts, and color copies. There is also some damage to photographs and other
items, including dirt, dust, spills, and general wear.
Many items in the collection have also been uploaded the Internet Archive at https://archive.org/search.php?query=%22pulsa%20group%22.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Born-digital material
is closed until processed.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Pulsa records (M2540). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, 2019. Accession 2019-422.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Multimedia (Art)
American art -- 20th century.
Installations (Art) -- United States.
Clancy, Patrick.
Cain, Michael Peter
Pulsa (Group of artists)
Box 1, folder 1
Proposals for Sheep Meadow/Great Lawn Central Park NYC – not built
circa 1969
Box 1, folder 2
Yale Golf Course
Winter 1968-1969
Box 1, folder 3
Automation House exhibits 49 East 68th Street NYC
1971
Box 1, folder 4
Newsletter for "Temple for Understanding" event with Alan Watts, Huston Smith etc. Time/Life Building NYC
April 1968
Box 1, folder 5
Pulsa Project Planning
1969-1970
Box 1, folder 8
Michael Moore notes from auditing Buckminster Fuller "World Game Seminar" Lecture 1969 Yale School of Art & Architecture.(with
email to David Rumsey 6/26/2019 & Globe Sculpture files 1996)
1969-2019
Box 1, folder 9
Correspondence with Michael Moore in San Francisco - Clancy, Cain, Fuge, Rumsey
1966-1972
Box 1, folder 10
Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, Lectures + Installations
1971
Box 1, folder 11
Yale Art & Architecture Video Walls – 4 Walls With Time Delay – 2 photos
circa 1969
Box 1, folder 12
Lucy Lippard Article Arts Canada
1968
Box 1, folder 13
University of Rhode Island Installations + Lectures
December 1968, May 1970
Box 1, folder 14
Yale Art & Architecture Project Argus Installation
April – May 1968
Box 1, folder 15
NY MOMA Spaces Exhibit
January 1970
Box 7, folder 1
NY MOMA Spaces Exhibit contact sheet
January 1970
Box 1, folder 16
Proposal for US Pavilion At Osaka World Fair 1970 – Not Built
1970
Box 1, folder 17
Boston Public Garden Show
October 1968
Box 1, folder 18
Teaching + Lectures
1967-1973
Box 1, folder 19
Harmony Ranch, Oxford Connecticut Life + Installations
1968-1972
Box 7, folder 2
Harmony Ranch contact sheet
1968-1972
Box 1, folder 20
Diagrams for Programs on Digital Analog Synthesizer, probably made by B. Duesing
Box 1, folder 21
Michael Oren Writings + Interviews
Box 1, folder 22
Fax Art Projects - letter from Mac to Mike mentioning phone freaking, with photo of phone booth
Summer 1972
Scope and Contents
Facsimile was used to transmit images to Europe, Russia, etc.
Box 1, folder 24
Guggenheim Museum Proposal – Not Built (one photo of floorplan)
circa 1970
Box 2, folder 1
Teaching + Installations at California Institute of the Arts
1971, 1972, 1973
Scope and Contents
Includes letter from Allan Kaprow to David Rumsey 9/23/1971
Box 2, folder 2
Sao Paulo Project Notes etc. Not Built
circa 1970 – 1971
Box 2, folder 3
Notebook of Misc. Ideas, Contacts, Drawings. Duesing, Rumsey, Fuge?
circa 1968-1972
Box 2, folder 4
Miscellaneous documents, correspondence, notes etc.
Box 2, folder 5
Ephemera from other artists, etc.
Box 6
Pulsa address file, missing "A-B" (unfoldered)
1968-1972
Box 8
Two strobe lights as used in installations (non-functional)
map-folder 9
Douglas Davis "Electronic Hokkadim I" poster
1971
Scope and Contents
Sent to Pulsa Group from Corcoran Gallery of Art
Series 2. Pulsa in articles & books
Box 2
[unfoldered magazine issues, bookmarked]
Box 7, folder 3
[unfoldered magazine issues, bookmarked]
Box 3
[unfoldered books, bookmarked]
Box 4
[unfoldered books, bookmarked]
Box 5
[unfoldered books, bookmarked]
Series 3. Photographs, slides & negatives
Box 7, folder 4
Mounted labeled photographs
