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Nelson (Ted) collection of technology ephemera
M2324  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Scope and Contents
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition

  • Language of Material: English
    Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives
    Title: Ted Nelson collection of technology ephemera
    creator: Nelson, Theodor H.
    Identifier/Call Number: M2324
    Physical Description: 20 Linear Feet (41 boxes)
    Date (inclusive): 1960s-1990s
    Abstract: Catalogs and other promotional material, mostly concerning electronics, mostly from the 1960s and 70s.

    Scope and Contents

    Ted Nelson, often referred to as the "father of hypertext," has a long history in the field of computing. This collection primarily contains mailed promotional material in the form of catalogs and advertisements, much of which was requested by Nelson via reader service cards in trade magazines from the 1960s through the early 1990s. Brochures and fact sheets were also collected at trade shows and conferences and there are many programs and fliers from seminars, workshops, and conferences. Much of the collection consists of direct mail advertising. Light correspondence accompanies many catalogs; there is also a folder of more substantial communication. The majority of files involve electronics, information technology, office management, science, industrial manufacturing, and related fields. The material was broadly sorted according to subject, although there is considerable overlap.
    Please note that the collection had been stored under less than ideal circumstances and there is ample evidence of water damage. Moldy items have been disposed of, but the collection is still quite musty overall. Prior to receipt at Stanford, most or all of the collection has been scanned by the Internet Archive and is available for viewing here: https://archive.org/details/tednelsonjunkmail

    Conditions Governing Access

    Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.

    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], Ted Nelson collection of technology ephemera (M2324). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Ted Nelson, 2018. Accession MSS 2018-116.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Sales catalogs.
    Manufacturers' catalogs
    Information technology -- History -- 20th century.
    Mail-order business
    Advertising, Direct-mail
    Nelson, Theodor H.