Finding Aid to the Varian Associates Records, 1948-1998
Processed by Elia Van Lith; additions by Alison E. Bridger
The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu
© 2007
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid to the Varian Associates Records, 1948-1998
Collection number: BANC MSS 73/65 c
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Contact Information:
- Collection Processed By:
- Elia Van Lith; additions by Alison E. Bridger
- Date Completed:
- July 2003; additions January 2007
- Finding Aid written by:
- Elia Van Lith; edited by Alison E. Bridger
© 2007 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Varian Associates Records,
Date: 1948-1998
Collection Number: BANC MSS 73/65 c
Creator:
Varian Associates
Extent:
Number of containers: 5 cartons and 2 oversize folders
Linear feet: 6.35
Repository: The
Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Abstract: The Varian Associates Records, 1948-1998, document the history of this innovative and successful Silicon Valley pioneer from
its inception in 1948 until just prior to its division into three separate companies in 1999. The bulk of the collection consists
of minutes from the meetings of the board of directors. Also included are reports to the board, acquisition and joint venture
studies, writings by Russell Varian related to the company, presentations by the board, files on subsidiary companies, company
publications, and promotional and marketing materials.
Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Languages Represented:
English
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must
be submitted in writing to the appropriate curator or the Head of Public Services for forwarding. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Varian Associates Records, BANC MSS 73/65 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Related Collections
Varian Associates group portrait from the Varian Associates records, BANC PIC 1988.072-PIC
Eitel-McCullough records, BANC MSS 77/110 c
Separated Material
Photographs have been transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library.
Audiovisual materials have been transferred to the Microforms Collection of The Bancroft Library.
Printed materials have been transferred to the book collection of The Bancroft Library.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Varian, Russell Harrison, 1898-1959.
Varian Associates--Archives.
Electronics--Research--California.
Radar transmitters.
Medical instruments and apparatus--Design and construction.
Linear accelerators.
Microwave tubes.
Medical instruments and apparatus industry--California--San Francisco Bay Area.
Klystrons.
Vacuum-tubes. 0 Electronic industries--California--Palo Alto.
Electronic industries--California--San Francisco Bay Area.
Santa Clara Valley (Santa Clara County, Calif.).
Varian, Russell Harrison, 1898-1959.
History of science and technology collection.
Administrative Information
Provenance
The Varian Associates Records were given to The Bancroft Library by Francis P. Farquhar on October 25, 1972. Additions were
made between 1998 and 2006.
Corporate History
Varian Associates was formed in San Carlos, California in 1948 by Edward L. Ginzton, William W. Hansen, Richard M. Leonard,
Leonard I. Shiff, H. Myrl Stearns, Dorothy Varian, Russell H. Varian, Sigurd F. Varian, and Paul B. Hunter, with $22,000 of
capital and six full-time employees. In founding Varian Associates, the directors wanted to create a science-based company,
managed by scientists, where the decisions would be made by the scientists and engineers who carried out the work. The founding
members had worked together for years, first on the klystron at Stanford University and later at the Sperry Gyroscope Company
laboratory in Garden City, NY. during WWII. They chose the name "Varian" as Russell Varian was well known in the scientific
community as the inventor of the klystron, a specialized vacuum tube, in 1937. The klystron, with its extremely focused electron
beam, was a key element in the development of airborne radar.
Even though the articles of incorporation stated that the directors wanted to "conduct research in the fields of physical
science of every kind and nature," it would be several years before Varian branched out from its original role as a microwave
tube plant. One of the company's first departures from tubes came about when they obtained patent rights for NMR (Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance), capitalizing on William Hansen's pioneering work in the subject at Stanford. Eventually, this venture
into NMR became one of Varian's most profitable ventures, leading to the development of its successful spectrometer and medical
instruments divisions.
In 1953 Varian moved from its original leased facility in San Carlos to a new building on Stanford land, becoming the first
corporation in what was to become the Stanford Industrial Park. Soon after the move, Varian began expanding, opening a plant
in Canada, launching S-F-D Laboratories in New Jersey, and making its first acquisition, Bomac Laboratories in Massachusetts.
Acquisitions continued through the 1960s and 1970s, first under the leadership of Ed Ginzton, then Norman Parker. These acquisitions,
together with continued innovative research, helped to further broaden and diversify Varian's product line.
Varian's profitable klystron contracts with the military were severely cut back in 1964, causing the company to finish out
the fiscal year with its largest net losses up until that date. By 1966, however, Varian had restructured its finances and
fully recovered, ending the year with record profits. Financial problems sprang up again in 1971, forcing Varian to put an
end to acquisitions and begin selling some of its costlier operations, including Varian Data Machines, Syva, and its CT scanning
business. The sale of these subsidiaries enabled the company to focus its resources on the core product lines of vacuum technologies,
medical equipment, and spectrometers.
In the 1980s Varian had a succession of four presidents. Then in 1990, J. Tracy O'Rourke came on board as chairman and CEO,
the first Varian outsider to hold those posts, and quickly started the company on its long-awaited turnaround, reducing the
corporate staff by more than 20% and creating 3 divisions based upon marketing similarities instead of technological similarities.
Within five years, earnings rose and profits were at an all-time high. With this reorganization came a shift in priorities,
from number of patents obtained and papers published, to marketing and customer service.
Varian Associates formally divided into three companies in 1999, turning each of its divisions into a separate public enterprise.
The three resulting corporations were Varian Medical Systems, Varian, Inc., and Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates,
Inc.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Varian Associates Records, 1948-1998, document the corporate history of this innovative and successful Silicon Valley
pioneer from its inception in 1948 until just prior to its division into three separate companies in 1999. The bulk of the
collection consists of minutes from the meetings of the board of directors. Also included are reports to the board, acquisition
and joint venture studies, writings by Russell Varian related to the company, presentations by the board, files on subsidiary
companies, company publications, and promotional and marketing materials.
The board of director's minutes date primarily from Varian's first 23 years (1948-1971). They also include minutes from meetings
of shareholders and committees as well as monthly progress reports from subdivisions, strategic planning documents, and some
budget reports. Photographs of the board of directors have been removed from these files and transferred to the Pictorial
Collections of The Bancroft Library.
Management materials also include legal papers, acquisition and joint venture studies, reports to the board, presentations
by the board, as well as materials relating to Russell Varian, stockholders, and employees. Reports to the board include budget
reports, financial performance reports, a corporate long-range plan, a management compensation plan, marketing outlooks, and
a study of prospective expansion sites in the Bay Area. The joint venture studies document Varian's rapid growth and expansion
in the 1960s. Of note among them are studies of Decision Control, Inc., the Syntex/Varian joint venture Syva, and Wilkins
Instrument and Research, Inc. The presentations primarily address Varian's restructuring efforts of the 1980s and 1990s. Russell
Varian's writings consist mainly of editorials he wrote for
Varian Associates Magazine and other publications near the end of his life. Prospecti, semi-annual and quarterly reports covering the years 1955-1990
constitute the documents related to stockholders. Minutes of the meetings of stockholders have been integrated into the minutes
of the board of directors. Material related to Varian employees includes guidebooks dealing with corporate identity and employee
behavior, as well as group insurance and stock purchasing and numerous employee newsletters.
Information on Varian's subsidiary companies consists primarily of catalogs, promotional material and information booklets.
Most of the significant companies formed by acquisitions and mergers are included here, notable among them are Bomac Laboratories,
Semicon Associates, Varian Aerograph, Eitel-McCullough and Cary Instruments. Some material relating to research and development
is included in the collection, namely research reports and pamphlets on NMR-EPR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Electron Paramagnetic
Resonance) and rare earth cobalt magnets.
The collection does not include Russell and Sigurd Varian's personal papers or their laboratory materials.
Cartons 1-4, Oversize folder 1
SERIES 1,
MANAGEMENT, 1948-1998
Arrangement
Divided into 3 sub-series: Board of Directors, Stockholders and Employees.
Scope and Content Note
Board of Directors is divided into 6 sub-series: Minutes, Reports, Acquisition and Joint Venture Studies, Legal Papers, Russell
Varian, and Presentations. Minutes include correspondence, strategic planning documents, and minutes from meetings of the
board of directors. Minutes of meetings of shareholders and committees have been integrated into the board of director's minutes.
Reports consist of financial statements and reports, a corporate long-range plan, a site selection study for possible expansion,
and product activity studies. The Acquisition and Joint Venture Studies document Varian's rapid expansion between 1959 and
1970 when over a dozen firms were acquired by Varian. Legal Papers pertain to
White & Co. vs. Varian Associates, a court case regarding contract dispute over the building of a vacuum tube production facility in Palo Alto and materials
relating to Varian's position on Public Law 87-653, which regulated government contractors. Materials pertaining to Russell
Varian consist mainly of articles and editorials. Presentations are primarily made up of presentations by the board of directors
to the New York Society of Security Analysts and to Varian's investors. Stockholders includes company prospecti and semi-annual
and quarterly reports. Employees includes employee guidelines, corporate identity guides, group insurance plans, and newsletters.
Cartons 1-3, Oversize folder 1
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 1948-1996
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically then chronologically.
Cartons 1-2, Oversize folder 1
Minutes, n.d.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Oversize folder 1B
San Carlos and Palo Alto Facility Expansion Plans, 1955
Physical Description:
[Removed from folder 7, board meeting on 03/31/55]
Oversize folder 1B
Building Program, 1959
Physical Description:
[Removed from folder 17, board meeting on 09/30/59]
Oversize folder 1B
SFD/ Bomac Organizational Chart, n.d.
Cartons 2-3
Reports, 1949-1970
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 2, folder 28-33
Financial Statements, 1949-1955
carton 2, folder 34
Economic Study of Use of Magnetometers, 1954
carton 2, folder 35
Survey of Eastern Electronics Organizations, 1954
carton 2, folder 36
Organization Report, 1957
carton 2, folder 37
Marketing Outlook for Eastern Industries, Inc., 1959
carton 2, folder 38
Boston Analyst report, 1960
carton 2, folder 39-41
Budget Reports, 1961-1966
carton 3, folder 1-7
Budget Reports, 1967-1970
carton 3, folder 8
Site Selection Study, 1961
carton 3, folder 9
Proposition for Establishment of a Manufacturing Operation in Italy, 1963
carton 3, folder 10
Varian Product Activity in Educational Field, 1964
carton 3, folder 13
Corporate Long-range Plan, 1966
carton 3, folder 14
Management Compensation Plan, 1966
carton 3, folder 15-23
Financial Performance Reports, 1967
Carton 3
Acquisition and Joint Venture Studies, 1961-1970
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 3, folder 24
Sociéte de Fabrications Communes, 1961
carton 3, folder 27
Denmark Radiation Processing, 1965
carton 3, folder 28
Microwave Facility of Company Z, 1965
carton 3, folder 29-30
Wilkins Instrument and Research, Inc., 1965
carton 3, folder 31
Spectromagnetic Industries, ca. 1966
carton 3, folder 32
Syntex/ Varian joint venture, 1966
carton 3, folder 34-36
Decision Control, Inc., 1967
carton 3, folder 37
MAT (Freidrich Krupp Mess und Analysentechnik), 1967
carton 3, folder 38
Techtron Party, Ltd., 1967
carton 3, folder 39
Micrographic Technology Corp., 1970
carton 3, folder 40
Vacuum Equipment Division of Norton Company, 1970
Carton 3
Legal Papers, 1959-1963
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 3, folder 41
Appellant's opening brief:
White & Co. vs. Varian Associates, 1959
carton 3, folder 42
Materials regarding PL 87-653, 1963
Carton 3
Russell Varian, 1950-1959
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 3, folder 43
Franklin Institute Award, 1950
carton 3, folder 44
Speeches and articles, ca. 1954-1959
carton 3, folder 45
Articles published in
Varian Associates Magazine, ca. 1956-1959
carton 3, folder 46
Biographical sketch, 1959
Carton 3
Presentations, 1969-1998
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 3, folder 47
New York Society of Security Analysts, 1969-1992
carton 3, folder 48
Address by Thomas Sedge at Varian Solid State seminar, 1974
carton 3, folder 49
Deloitte and Touche Health Care summit, 1993
carton 3, folder 50
Varian Projected Growth, 1994
carton 3, folder 52
Profiles in Success, 1998
Carton 4
STOCKHOLDERS, 1955-1990
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 4, folder 2
Semi-annual reports, 1957-1973
carton 4, folder 3
Quarterly reports, 1960-1990
Carton 4
EMPLOYEES, 1950-1998
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 4, folder 12
Group Insurance Plan, ca. 1954
carton 4, folder 13
Profit Sharing and Stock Purchasing Plans, ca. 1955-1966
carton 4, folder 14
Concepts in General Management, ca. 1960
carton 4, folder 15
Corporate Objectives, 1986
carton 4, folder 16
Code of Business Ethics, 1989
carton 4, folder 17
Corporate Identity Guide, ca. 1990
Carton 4
SERIES 2,
SUBSIDIARIES, ca. 1959-1971
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by acquisition or formation date into 11 sub-series: Varian A.G., Bomac Laboratories, Semicon Associates,
Thomson-Varian, Solid State Products, Varian SpA, Aerograph, Eitel-McCullough, Cary Instruments, Varian Data Machines, and
NEVA. Includes company information packets, catalogs, promotional material, annual reports, newsletters, and research and
development materials for Varian's subsidiary companies. Some material dates from prior to Varian's acquisitions of these
companies.
Carton 4
VARIAN A.G., 1959
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
carton 4, folder 20
Information packet, ca. 1960
Carton 4
BOMAC LABORATORIES, 1959
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
carton 4, folder 22
Promotional material, ca. 1960
Carton 4
SEMICON ASSOCIATES, INC, 1960
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
carton 4, folder 23
Research and Development, ca. 1964
carton 4, folder 24
Information booklet, ca. 1960
carton 4, folder 25
Promotional material, 1964
Carton 4
THOMSON-VARIAN, 1962
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
carton 4, folder 26
Annual reports, 1962-1966
carton 4, folder 27
Promotional material, 1967
Carton 4
SOLID STATE PRODUCTS, 1963
carton 4, folder 28
Information booklet, ca. 1964
carton 4, folder 29
Board of director's visit, 1967
Carton 4
AEROGRAPH, 1965
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
carton 4, folder 30
Information booklet, ca. 1966
carton 4, folder 33-34
Promotional material, 1961-1966
Carton 4
EITEL-MCCULLOGH, 1965
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
carton 4, folder 36
National Electronics, Inc., ca. 1960
Carton 4
CARY INSTRUMENTS, 1966
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
carton 4, folder 40
Promotional material, ca. 1960
Carton 4
VARIAN DATA MACHINES, 1966
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically
carton 4, folder 42
Promotional material, ca. 1960-1970
carton 4, folder 43
Promotional material, ca. 1967
Carton 4
SERIES 3,
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, 1953-1972
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Includes booklets from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (NMR-EPR) workshops, central research reports,
and a booklet on rare earth cobalt magnets.
carton 4, folder 44
WCMA Product List and Membership Roster, 1953
carton 4, folder 45
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (NMR-EPR) workshops, ca. 1957
carton 4, folder 46
Central Research Reports, 1963
carton 4, folder 47
Rare Earth Cobalt Magnets, 1972
Cartons 4-5, Oversize folders 1-2
SERIES 4,
SALES AND MARKETING, 1948-1998
Arrangement
Divided into 3 sub-series: Catalogs, Product Promotional Materials, and Company Publicity. Includes catalogs for various company
divisions including klystrons, microwave equipment, tubes, and instruments. Product Promotional Material is made up primarily
of advertisements from industry magazines and promotional mailings for distributors. Company Publicity includes newspaper
clippings, product and facility information, invitations, various promotional pamphlets, publications, indexes, company history,
press releases, and newsletters.
Carton 4
CATALOGS, 1950-1965
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 4, folder 48
Microwave Equipment, ca. 1950-1954
carton 4, folder 53
Instrument Group, ca. 1960
carton 4, folder 54
Recorder Division, ca. 1960
carton 4, folder 55
Varian Associates, 1960-1961
carton 4, folder 57
Microwave Tube Group, 1963-1964
Carton 5, Oversize folder 1
PRODUCT PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, ca. 1950-1996
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 5, folder 1-4
Instrument Division, ca. 1950-1990
carton 5, folder 6-8
Vacuum Products Division, ca. 1950-1996
carton 5, folder 9
Varian Associates, ca. 1950-1960
carton 5, folder 10
Varian Canada, Ltd., ca. 1954
carton 5, folder 11
Analytical Instruments Division, ca. 1960
carton 5, folder 12
Microwave Tube Group, ca. 1960
carton 5, folder 13
Radiation Division, ca. 1960
carton 5, folder 14
Special Products, ca. 1960
carton 5, folder 17-24
Medical Equipment, 1990-1992
carton 5, folder 25
Semiconductor Equipment, ca. 1990
carton 5, folder 26
Varian Oncology Systems, ca. 1996
Carton 5, Oversize folders 1-2
COMPANY PUBLICITY, ca. 1948-1998
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 5, folder 28
Product and facility information, ca. 1955-1960
carton 5, folder 29
Invitations and open house, ca. 1957-1964
carton 5, folder 30-32
Promotional pamphlets, ca. 1957-1990
carton 5, folder 33
Publications Indexes, ca. 1957-1964
carton 5, folder 34
Instrument Division information packet, 1958
carton 5, folder 35
Company history, ca. 1960
Oversize folder 2A
First "home" of Varian Associates - photograph
circa 1948
carton 5, folder 36-37
Journal articles, ca. 1956-1998
Oversize folder 1B
Western Electronic News, 1956
carton 5, folder 38
NMR and EPR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) at Work, ca. 1960
carton 5, folder 39-43
Press releases, ca. 1960-1980
carton 5, folder 44
Product Applications, ca. 1960
carton 5, folder 45
Special award: Highest Reader Recall in Microwaves, 1962
carton 5, folder 46
Proceedings: Tenth Annual Users Meeting, 1984
carton 5, folder 47
Outline: Customer Presentation, 1985
carton 5, folder 48
Spectroscopist's newsletter (
Spectral News), ca. 1990
carton 5, folder 49
Application Summary, 1994