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.