Guide to the Collection of Fairchild Semiconductor employee papers

Sara Chabino Lott
Computer History Museum
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, California 94043
Phone: (650) 810-1010
Email: research@computerhistory.org
URL: http://www.computerhistory.org
© 2008
Computer History Museum. All rights reserved.

Guide to the Collection of Fairchild Semiconductor employee papers

Collection number: X4348.2008; X4172.2008; X4359.2008; X4380.2008; X4324.2008

Computer History Museum
Processed by:
Sara Chabino Lott
Date Completed:
2008
Encoded by:
Sara Chabino Lott
© 2008 Computer History Museum. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Guide to the Collection of Fairchild Semiconductor employee papers
Dates: 1959-1988
Bulk Dates: 1959-1977
Collection number: X4348.2008; X4172.2008; X4359.2008; X4380.2008; X4324.2008
Creator: Fairchild Semiconductor
Collection Size: 1.8 linear feet 2 record cartons
Repository: Computer History Museum
Mountain View, CA 94043
Abstract: The Collection of Fairchild Semiconductor employee papers contains professional papers of early Fairchild Semiconductor employees Geri Hadley, Hazel White, Robert K. Waits and Lars Lunn. The collection does not contain any official corporate records of the company. The collection spans 1958 through 1988 with approximately half the collection comprised of newsletters and another quarter of the collection marketing brochures. The remainder of the collection consists of annual reports, advertisements, memoranda, articles, graphs, and a very small number of photographs.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

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], Collection of Fairchild Semiconductor employee papers, Lot [#], Box[#], Folder[#], Computer History Museum, Mountain View, California.

Provenance

The papers that make up the Collection of Fairchild Semiconductor employee papers were donated to the Computer History Museum by Geri Hadley in May of 2007, Hazel White in July of 2007, Robert K. Waits in October of 2007 and Lars Lunn in October of 2007. The papers were collected individually during each person's time as an employee of Fairchild Semiconductor and maintained by each person until their donation.

Processing Information

The decision was made to combine these separate donations into one collection to facilitate researcher's access to Fairchild Semiconductor material. It was also decided that the series arrangement would be by donor, rather than function, so that the provenance of the donations would remain distinct. Duplicates of printed material across donations have been weeded.

Biography / Administrative History

Fairchild Semiconductor was founded in 1957 by Julius Blank, Victor Grinich, Jean Hoerni, Eugene Kleiner, Jay Last, Gordon Moore, Robert Noyce, and Sheldon Roberts with funding from New York based Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation (FCIC). These young scientists and engineers involved in solid-state electronics had developed a method of mass-producing silicon transistors using a double diffusion technique and a chemical etching system called the "mesa" process. FCIC provided the necessary backing for the group's project and the development and production of silicon diffused transistors and other semiconductor devices began.
Fairchild Semiconductor became a wholly-owned subsidiary of FCIC in 1959 and in 1961 became the Semiconductor Division. In 1959, Fairchild Semiconductor announced the development of the patented Planar process for semiconductor device manufacturing. The Planar process paved the way for such technological advances as the integrated circuit. In 1961 Fairchild introduced the world's first monolithic integrated circuit and in 1971 the isoplanar process for semiconductor manufacturing.
In 1979 Schlumberger Limited purchased Fairchild Semiconductor as a diversification move, but sold the assets to National Semiconductor Corporation (NSC) in 1987. In 1997 NSC divested a number of mature products to executives at Fairchild Semiconductor's former South Portland, Maine facility and the "new" Fairchild Semiconductor became a publicly traded company once again.
For a more detailed account of the history of Fairchild Semiconductor see the recommended readings in the bibliography.
Geri Hadley began working as a secretary at Fairchild Semiconductor in 1965. She soon moved into Marketing and Marketing Services/Communications, where she became Marketing Communications Manager. Hadley left Fairchild in 1981.
Hazel White began working at Fairchild Semiconductor in 1959. White worked in the Gate Array Division as an Assistant Engineer until 1987.
Robert K. Waits worked in the Exploratory Devices Section of the Device Physics and Development Department in Research and Development at Fairchild Semiconductor from 1960 to 1973
Lars Lunn was employee #29 at Fairchild Semiconductor where he worked from 1958 until 1961. Lunn was an engineer in the crystal growing section of Research and Development and grew some of the first silicon ingots used by the company.

Scope and Content of Collection

Scope and Content of the Collection The Collection of Fairchild Semiconductor employee papers contains material from employees of Fairchild Semiconductor's Mountain View, California facility. The collection spans 1959 through 1988 with the bulk of the collection being from 1959 to 1977. Approximately half of the collection is comprised of Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation (FCIC) and Fairchild Semiconductor employee newsletters Leadwire, Microwire, Horizons and Views as well as some smaller division specific newsletters. The collection also contains technical product and process brochures and a small amount of annual reports. Items of interest include a nearly complete run of Don C. Hoefler's Microelectronics News from January 1979 to May 1981, Fairchild Semiconductor National Sales Conference souvenir yearbooks and proofs of "Made in Fairchild" advertisements.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in 4 series:
  • Series 1: Geri Hadley papers
  • Series 2: Hazel White newsletters
  • Series 3: Robert K. Waits papers
  • Series 4: Lars Lunn papers
Unless otherwise noted dates are inclusive. Unless otherwise noted the original order of the papers has been maintained.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Fairchild (Firm)
Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation
Integrated circuits
Semiconductor industry
Hadley, Geri
White, Hazel
Waits, Robert K.
Lunn, Lars

Bibliography

Berlin, Leslie. The man behind the microchip: Robert Noyce and the invention of Silicon Valley: Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Lécuyer, Christophe. Making Silicon Valley: innovation and the growth of high tech, 1930-1970. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 2006. Lojek, Bo. History of semiconductor engineering. New York: Springer, 2006.
Reid, T. R. The Chip: How Two Americans Invented the Microchip and Launched a Revolution. New York: Random House, 2001.
Riordan, Michael, and Lillian Hoddeson. Crystal Fire: The Birth of the Information Age. New York: Norton, 1997.

Related Material

Lot X4017.2007 Gift of Henry Mahler Lot X4360.2008 Steve Allen photographs of Fairchild Semiconductor

Separated Material

Monographs that were moved to the library from the Geri Hadley papers: Kvamme, E. Floyd, and L. H. Bieler. Fairchild Semiconductor Integrated Circuits. Mountain View, Calif: Fairchild Semiconductor, 1966.

box 1

Geri Hadley papers 1959-1986 1965-1977

Collector: Hadley, Geri
Physical Description: 29 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains FCIC and Fairchild Semiconductor employee newsletters, annual reports, advertisements, technical brochures, sales conference yearbooks, and memoranda that Hadley deemed interesting.

Arrangement

This series is arranged in 3 subseries:
  • Newsletters
  • Other printed
  • Memoranda
box 1

Newsletters 1966-1986

Physical Description: 8 folders

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains the FCIC employee newsletters Horizons and Views and the Fairchild Semiconductor employee newsletters Leadwire and Microwire, as well as some individual division's newsletters. Also included is an incomplete run of Don C. Hoefler's Microelectronics News with Managers Casebook from 1979 through 1981.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged in 6 subseries:
  • Microwire
  • Leadwire
  • Views
  • Horizons
  • Other
  • Microelectronics News
box 1

Microwire 1968-1975

Physical Description: 8 folders

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains an incomplete run of Microwire. Microwire was published by and for the employees of Fairchild Semiconductor in Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale, California. Microwire was published twice a month until late 1974 when it switched to a monthly publication schedule. It was previously called Leadwire News Supplement, included in this subseries. Microwire contains short articles and announcements about featured employees, promotions, awards, parties, picnics, company sponsored sports teams, open houses and classifieds. Microwire is similar in content to Leadwire, but had a smaller distribution.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged chronologically.
 

102710143 Microwire 1968

 

102710144 Microwire 1969

 

102710145 Microwire 1970

 

102710146 Microwire 1971

 

102710147 Microwire 1972

 

102710148 Microwire 1973

 

102710149 Microwire 1974

 

102710150 Microwire 1975

 

Leadwire 1966-1970

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains an incomplete run of Leadwire. Leadwire was published by and for the employees of Fairchild Semiconductor around the world. Leadwire started as a single bi-fold sheet of paper and evolved into a glossy magazine style newsletter. Leadwire was published monthly until 1970 when it moved to a bi-monthly publication schedule. It contains short articles and announcements about promotions, awards, anniversaries, company sponsored sports teams, open houses and other human interest topics. See also Series 2 Hazel White papers for additional issues.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged chronologically.
 

102710151 Leadwire 1966-1968

 

102710152 Leadwire 1968-1970

 

Views 1969-1970

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains an incomplete run of Views. Views was published for the employees of FCIC and its divisions and subsidiaries. Views began as a monthly newspaper and evolved into a bi-monthly newsletter by 1970. Views’ focus was keeping employees informed of management’s thinking and the company’s direction. It contains interviews with executives, profiles of managers, somewhat in-depth articles about important events shaping the company, whether internal or external, and announcements about service awards and personnel changes. It had fewer locally specific news items than Microwire or Leadwire.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged chronologically.
 

102710153 Views 1969

 

102710154 Views 1969-1970

 

Horizons 1972-1986

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains an incomplete run of Horizons. Horizons was published for the employees of FCIC. Horizons began as a bi-monthly newsletter and evolved into a quarterly glossy magazine. Horizons is similar in content to Views, but was intended to supplement other corporate employee communications by giving a broader view of the company as well as a digest of the events affecting employees. In addition to articles about the direction of FCIC it sponsored photo contests and showcased employee hobbies. See also Series 2 Hazel White papers for additional issues.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged chronologically.
 

102710155 Horizons 1972-1986

 

Other 1969-1976 1970

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains miscellaneous newsletters from FCIC divisions around the United States. Included are three issues of Progress: Fairchild Journal of Semiconductor.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged alphabetically by newsletter title.
 

102710156 Miscellaneous newsletters 1969-1976

 

Microelectronics News 1979-01-1981-05

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains an incomplete run of the weekly newsletter Don C. Hoefler's Microelectronic News about developments in the field of corporate microelectronics. Most issues include "Manager's Case Book," an editorial on various business and economic topics. Hoefler is sometimes credited with coining the term "Silicon Valley."

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged chronologically.
 

102710157 Microelectronics News 1979

 

102710158 Microelectronics News 1980

 

102710159 Microelectronics News 1981

box 1

Other printed 1958-1988 1966-1970

Physical Description: 8 folders

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains FCIC and Schlumberger annual reports. Reports for the years 1963, 1966-1967, 1969-1976, and 1978-1979 are missing. See Series 2 Hazel White papers for 1976, 1978 and 1984 annual reports. Also in this series are souvenir yearbooks from Fairchild Semiconductor's national salesman's conferences held in tropical vacation spots. The yearbooks contain black and white captioned photographs and are valuable for their candid photographs of salesman at work and at play. Also in this subseries are proofs from the "Made in Fairchild" advertising campaign from about 1970 and technical product and process brochures published by Fairchild Instrumentation and Fairchild Semiconductor and an invitation to the 1988 "Thank you Fairchild" gala.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged alphabetically by function and chronologically within function.
 

102710160 Annual reports 1958-1961

 

102710165 Brochures 1961-1988

 

102710161 Annual reports 1962-1968

 

102710163 Yearbooks from national sales conferences 1964-1974

 

102710162 Annual reports 1977-1980

 

102710164 Advertisements from the Made in Fairchild campaign circa 1970

box 1

Memoranda 1959-1987 1968-1980

Physical Description: 1 folder

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains memoranda that were originally housed in a folder labeled "memorable memos." The memoranda are incoming, primarily copies, to all employees, operational vice presidents/executive staff, and some individuals. Topics include the organizational structure of Fairchild Semiconductor and personnel announcements. Included is one memo from Robert Noyce and a photocopy of a handwritten memo from Les Hogan. It is unclear how Hadley came to possess memoranda that were not addressed to her.

Arrangement

This subseries is unarranged.
 

102710166 Memoranda 1959-1987

box 2

Hazel White newsletters 1959-circa 1988

Collector: White, Hazel
Physical Description: 16 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains Fairchild Semiconductor and FCIC newsletters and some other printed material such as annual reports and brochures.

Arrangement

This series is arranged in 4 subseries:
  • Leadwire
  • Horizons
  • Other
  • Other printed
box 2

Leadwire 1959-1970

Physical Description: 4 folders

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains an incomplete run of Leadwire. Leadwire was published by and for the employees of Fairchild Semiconductor around the world. Leadwire started as a single bi-fold sheet of paper and evolved into a glossy magazine style newsletter. Leadwire was published monthly until 1970 when it moved to a bi-monthly publication schedule. It contains short articles and announcements about promotions, awards, anniversaries, company sponsored sports teams, open houses and other human interest topics. See also Series 1 Geri Hadley papers for additional issues. This subseries is arranged chronologically.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged chronologically.
 

102710167 Leadwire 1959-1961

 

102710168 Leadwire 1962-1963

 

102710169 Leadwire 1964-1965

 

102710170 Leadwire 1966-1970

box 2

Horizons 1973-1986

Physical Description: 5 folders

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains an incomplete run of Horizons. Horizons was published for the employees of FCIC. Horizons began as a bi-monthly newsletter and evolved into a quarterly glossy magazine. Horizons is similar in content to Views, but was intended to supplement other corporate employee communications by giving a broader view of the company as well as a digest of the events affecting employees. In addition to articles about the direction of FCIC it sponsored photo contests and showcased employee hobbies. See also Series 1 Geri Hadley papers for additional issues.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged chronologically.
 

102710171 Horizons 1973-1976

 

102710172 Horizons 1976-1977

 

102710173 Horizons 1977-1979

 

102710174 Horizons 1980-1982

 

102710175 Horizons 1982-1986

box 2

Other 1978-1986

Physical Description: 5 folders

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains regional and division specific newsletters such as Pacific Circuit for West Coast employees of FCIC, Data Bits for the employees of Component Test Systems of San Jose, California and Bear Facts for bipolar employees. Most runs are short and do not cover more than two years. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by newsletter title.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged alphabetically by newsletter title.
 

102710176 Bear facts: a newsletter by and for bipolar employees 1981-1982

 

102710177 Circuit writer 1983

 

102710178 Data bits 1982-1983

 

102710179 Gatorator 1985-1986

 

102710180 Pacific circuit 1978-1980

box 2

Other printed circa 1975-1984

Physical Description: 2 folders

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains miscellaneous FCIC and Schlumberger annual reports and Fairchild Semiconductor and FCIC brochures.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged alphabetically by function.
 

102710181 Annual reports 1978-1984

 

102710182 Brochures circa 1975-circa 1982

box 2

Robert K. Waits papers circa 1965-circa 1973

Collector: Waits, Robert K.
Physical Description: 9 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains articles written by Waits, brochures, organizational charts, clippings, and a few photographs. One item of interest is a paper from a Fairchild Semiconductor micrologic familiarization program designed for sales personnel.

Arrangement

This series is arranged in 3 subseries:
  • Printed
  • Photographs
  • Miscellaneous unprinted
box 2

Printed 1959-1977

Physical Description: 5 folders

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains reprints of technical articles written by Waits, a preprint of a book chapter by Gordon Moore, technical process and product brochures and promotional brochures from FCIC and Fairchild Semiconductor, including a recruitment brochure and a Welcome to Fairchild brochure for new employees at the Mountain View, California plant. Found with the brochures are two memos from Gordon Moore. This subseries also includes clippings about the financial state of FCIC, two shareholder meeting reports and a few miscellaneous Fairchild Semiconductor newsletters.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged alphabetically by function.
 

102710183 Articles by Robert K. Waits 1966-1971

 

102710184 Brochures 1959-1977

 

102710185 Clippings 1969-1973

 

102710186 Preprint of Semiconductor integrated circuits to be published as chapter 5 of Principles of microelectronic engineering 1962

box 2

Photographs circa 1960-circa 1975

Physical Description: 1 folder

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains a photograph of a Fairchild hybrid circuit for a Medtronics heart pacer, a photograph of a poster illustrating "improved thin film resistors for radiation environments" and an unidentified photograph of a device.
 

102710187 Hybrid circuit circa 1960-circa 1975

box 2

Miscellaneous unprinted 1969-1971

Physical Description: 3 folders

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains handwritten research and development organizational charts with related memoranda and newsletters and a paper used in a micrologic familiarization program to help sales personnel by giving them a general understanding of digital computers and their terminology. There is also a set of graphs illustrating different relationships in silicon.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
 

102710188 Graphs circa 1965

 

102710189 Micrologic familiarization for sales personnel circa 1965

 

102710190 Organizational charts 1969-1971

box 2

Lars Lunn papers circa 1958-1959

Collector: Lunn, Lars
Physical Description: 3 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains graphs used in processing operations, early Fairchild Semiconductor brochures and a photograph of Lunn growing crystals at Fairchild Semiconductor.

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically by function.
 

102710191 Brochures 1958-1959

 

102710192 Graphs used in processing operations circa 1958

 

102710193 Photograph of Lars Lunn growing crystals 1958-02