Guide to the John C. McDonald papers, 1959-1980, bulk 1960-1974

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Summary

Creators:
McDonald, John C., 1936-
Abstract:
The John C. McDonald papers contain published transistor and integrated circuit material from 1959 through 1980.
Extent:
1.25 linear feet 1 record carton
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], [Date], John C. McDonald papers, 4122.2007, Computer History Museum, Mountain View, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The John C. McDonald papers primarily contain published transistor and integrated circuit material from 1959 through 1980, with the bulk of the material from 1960 to 1974. The collection includes Harris Semiconductor data books, National Semiconductor Corporation catalogs, Fairchild Semiconductor and Signetics Corporation handbooks and manuals, Intel Corporation, National Semiconductor Corporation, and Fairchild Semiconductor product data files, as well as microprocessor and small computer system articles. The collection's only unpublished items are Stanford University solid-state electronics seminar syllabi from the mid-1960s.

Biographical / historical:

John C. McDonald was born in San Bernardino, California in 1936. He received three degrees from Stanford University in Electrical Engineering. These were Bachelor of Science with Distinction in 1957, Master of Science in 1959 and Degree of Engineer in 1964 with a thesis in solid state physics. He began working at GTE Sylvania in 1959 where he worked as a design engineer until 1962. In 1963 he began working for Vidar Corporation and eventually became Vice President of Research and Engineering. He left Vidar in 1980 and spent 1981 as a lecturer in continuing engineering education at the University of California, Los Angeles. From 1982 to 1990 McDonald worked for Contel Corporation as Chief Scientist. In 1991 McDonald founded MBX Inc. and is still the president.

Acquisition information:
The John C. McDonald papers were donated to the Computer History Museum in June of 2007 by John C. McDonald.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in 6 series:

  • Series 1: Articles
  • Series 2: Catalogs
  • Series 3: Data books
  • Series 4: Handbooks and manuals
  • Series 5: Product data files
  • Series 6: Syllabi

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The Computer History Museum can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claims of the copyright holder. Permission to copy or publish any portion of the Computer History Museum's collection must be given by the Computer History Museum.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], [Date], John C. McDonald papers, 4122.2007, Computer History Museum, Mountain View, California.

Location of this collection:
1401 Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA 94043, US
Contact:
(650) 810-1010
research@computerhistory.org
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