Description
Papers regarding Ginzton's activities
at Stanford University, with Varian Associates, and on national committees and local
organizations. Includes correspondence, manuscripts, memoranda, journals, publications,
technical reports, manufacturing reports, oral history materials, and photographs. Also
includes correspondence, publications, biographical material and manuscripts of Russell,
Sigurd and Dorothy Varian.
Background
Co-founder of Varian Associates and a pioneer in microwave tube technology and linear
accelerator development. As a graduate student at Stanford during the 1930's, Ginzton joined
Russell and Sigurd Varian and physics professors William W. Hansen and David L. Webster to
develop the klystron tube, an integral part of radar and the linear accelerator concept.
After working on radar systems during World War II, Ginzton returned to Stanford in 1946 as
a professor of applied physics. He joined Hansen in the establishment of the Microwave
Laboratory at Stanford. Becoming director of the Laboratory in 1949, he worked with Henry
Kaplan in adapting the linear accelerator for the treatment of cancer. He directed Project
M, which led to the construction of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (a two-mile
linear accelerator). In 1948, Ginzton helped found Varian Associates, becoming chairman of
the board and chief executive officer in 1959. Ginzton was elected a member of the National
Academy of Science and the National Academy of Engineering; he has also served on the
Stanford University Board of Trustees.
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must
be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, California 94304-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special
Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s) or assigns. See:
http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/pubserv/permissions.html.
Availability
Partially restricted: for more information, contact the archivist.