Finding Aid for the Martin Thrope Papers LSC.2329
Finding aid prepared by Kelly Besser, 2021.
Processing was supported by UCLA University Archives and Kleinrock Internet History Center.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 2021 January 11.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Martin Thrope papers
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.2329
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
(1 carton)
Date (inclusive): 1968-2000, bulk 1969-1973
Date (bulk): 1969-1973
Abstract: From 1969 to 1974, Martin Thrope was a member of the of the team at Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN), that implemented the ARPANET,
the precursor to the Internet. His papers detail the BBN company of that time, and his work developing procedures for reports
of network outages, installing Interface Message Processor (IMP) systems at various sites around the country, and designing
specialized interfaces to connect a variety of host computers to the IMPs for connection to the ARPANET.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections for paging information.
General Physical Description note: The majority of the original materials are in good condition.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access note
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT Southern Regional Library Facility: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact
the UCLA Library Special Collections reference desk for paging information.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
Selected items have been digitized for the KIHC Digital Collections: http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/internethistory/.
Conditions Governing Use note
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UC Regents. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the
creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright
owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation note
[Identification of item], Martin Thrope papers (Collection 2329). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The collection was donated by Martin Thrope to UCLA Kleinrock Internet History Center Donated by Martin Thrope in a deed of
gift dated 31 Dec 2011.
Custodial History note
UCLA Kleinrock Internet History Center (KIHC) obtained the set of BBN materials directly from Martin Thrope. The files were
donated to UCLA by Martin Thrope.
Processing Information note
Processed by May Chua with additional material processed by Sonia Collazo in 2013.
Former collection number and title
Originally brought in by Charlotte Brown, University Archivist for a proposed Kleinrock Center for Internet Studies at UCLA.
Formerly KCIS 4; formerly titled Martin Thrope BNN papers
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biographical/Historical note
From 1969 to 1974, after completing undergraduate studies at Harvard, Martin Thrope was a member of the team at Bolt Beranek
& Newman (BBN) that implemented the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) for the Advanced Research Projects
Agency (ARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense. The BBN team led by Frank Heart developed the Interface Message Processors
(IMPs) which connected host systems to the ARPANET. Thrope connected host systems to the ARPANET, and made key contributions
to the ARPANET architecture. Thrope developed a set of diagnostic procedures for producing specific information on line failures
for reports of network outages of both IMPs and the phone lines that connected them, to be relayed to the phone company offices
responsible for each line. BBN established a Network Control Center (NCC) run by Thrope which used a minicomputer, the NCC
host, to analyze IMP status reports, print out alerts, and display the status of each IMP on a set of light panels mounted
in wood grain box. For the NCC, Thrope compiled and maintained a comprehensive set of useful reference information on each
IMP site and each phone line. In addition to his role in network operations, Thrope also designed and installed specialized
interfaces sold by BBN to connect a variety of mainframe host computers to the IMPs at their sites. Toward the end of his
time at BBN, he was a member of the team that designed a multiprocessor version of the IMP and its specialized hardware interfaces.
After leaving BBN in 1974, Thrope earned his MBA degree from Harvard, followed by various management roles in organizations
providing computer based products and services for the retail and financial industries.
Scope and Contents note
The papers of Martin Thrope, a member of the team at Bolt Beranek & Newman (BBN) that implemented the ARPANET, consisting
of materials detailing his tenure at BBN from 1969 to 1974 and including: reports, brochures, correspondence, memorandum,
manuals, photographs, slides, CDROM, and a VHS tape.
Arrangement note
The files within each series and subseries are arranged in chronological order. The series arrangement of the records is as
follows:
Series 1: Correspondence, Documents, and Media from BBN
Series 2: Technical Memorandum and Problem Reports
Series 3: IMP manuals, 1971-1973
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Computer science. Computer architecture and design -- Archives.
Computer networks -- United States -- Archives.
ARPANET (Computer network).
Internet -- History -- United States -- Archives.
Internet (Computer network) -- United States -- Archives.
Interface Message Processor.
United States. Advanced Research Projects Agency
Bolt, Beranek, and Newman
Heart, Frank
Thrope, Martin
Series 1: Correspondence, Documents, and Media from BBN
1968-2000
Scope and Contents note
Series 1 consists of BBN administrative documents and includes: correspondence, a personnel handbook, annual statements, a
business plan, and a copy of personnel address list from 1971 and 1973. The series also includes: a videotape and brochure
documenting BBN history , and photographs and slides of IMP equipment and BBN staff. The correspondence from Martin Thrope
to Frank Heart in 1974 consists of Martin Thrope's plan to resign on 1974 September 6, and a list of responsibilities (HSMIMP
documentation, host interface design, consultation services, and special host interfaces) to be passed on after the latter's
resignation.
box 1, folder 1
Photographs
1968, 1972, 2000
Physical Description: 1 folders
Scope and Contents note
The series include photographs of BBN staff and a Univac 418 to IMP special host interface. There are six glossy finish black
and white photographs of BBN staff members taken at BBN, Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1968. The BBN staff members were Frank
Heart, Severo Ornstein, Dave Francis, Dave Katsuki, Ben Barket, Tony Michel, Mike Kraley, Dick Garber, Martin Thrope, Steve
Jeske, Will Crowther, and Bob Bressler. There are 14 slides and a CDROM of images of the Univac 418 to IMP special host interface.
box 1, folder 2
Correspondence and Memos
1974-1975
Physical Description: 1 folders
box 1, folder 3
Administrative Documents
1969, 1971, 1973
Physical Description: 1 folders
box 1, folder 4
BBN History
1976, 1994
Physical Description: 2 folders
Scope and Contents note
The series include a brochure and VHS tape that documents BBN history and milestones in 1976 and 1994 respectively. The VHS
tape titled "the History of the Future:Arpanet, Internet... and Beyond,Arpanet Celebration Dinner" was produced by BBN in
1994.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
Limitation on access due to physical characteristics of the materials; VHS tape must be digitized prior to use.
Series 2: Technical Memorandum and Problem Reports
1972-1973
Scope and Contents note
Series 2 includes: a memorandum entitled "Guide to the Good stuff" providing a comprehensive set of useful reference information
on each IMP site and each phone line, a memorandum detailing the NCC program used to display the status of each IMP on a set
of light panels mounted in wood grain box, IMP downtime and line outage reports, and fixes to UCLA ready line notes.
Processing Information note
This subseries includes materials from the 2013 addition which were processed in 2013 by Sonia Collazo.
box 1, folder 5
Memorandum Guide to the Good Stuff
Apr 1972
box 1, folder 6
NCC program Memo
Feb 1973
Series 3: Interface Message Processors (IMP) manuals
1971-1973
Physical Description: 3 folders
Scope and Contents note
Series 3 includes: three manuals produced by BBN Computer Systems Division from 1971 and 1973. The manuals are: (Report No.
2061) dated January 1971 that describes the design, installation, and operation of a special interface that BBN built to connect
the IMP to an IBM 360 computer; a manual dated 1973 April that describes the design, installation, and operation of a special
interface that BBN built to connect the IMP to a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) PDP-10 host computer; and a manual that
describes the design, installation, and operation of a special interface that BBN built to connect the IMP to a DEC PDP-15
host computer.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Interface Message Processor.
Computer science. Computer architecture and design -- Archives.
Computer network resources.
Computer engineering -- Data processing.
ARPANET (Computer network).
box 1, folder 8
Manual for the 360/IMP Special Interface
1971
box 1, folder 9
Manual for the IMP-10 Special Interface
1973
box 1, folder 10
Manual for the IMP-15 Special Interface
1973
