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High Voltage Engineering Corporation records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MC-0153

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The High Voltage Engineering Corporation collection consists of records, technical notes, and drawings of the company, left by Robert J. Van de Graaff, chief scientist and one of the company's founders, at the time of his death in 1967. The records describe both Van de Graaff's work as a scientist at High Voltage Engineering Corporation between 1947 and 1967, and the development and marketing of research tools during the same period.

Dates

  • Creation: 1933 - 1969

Creator

Access note

This collection is open.

Conditions Governing Use

Access to collections in the Department of Distinctive Collections is not authorization to publish. Please see the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy for permission information. Copyright of some items in this collection may be held by respective creators, not by the donor of the collection or MIT.

Historical note

The High Voltage Engineering Corporation (HVEC) was founded by Robert J. Van de Graaff, Denis M. Robinson, and John G. Trump for the production of particle accelerators. The company develops and manufactures particle accelerator systems, electric power regulators, surface analysis instruments, vehicle monitoring equipment, and modular power connectors. It started manufacturing operations in April 1947 and soon began supplying electrostatic generators used in cancer therapy, radiography, and studies of nuclear structure. By 1967 the corporation included four subsidiaries, Electronized Chemicals Corporation, Glass Grinding Corporation, HVE Europa The Netherlands, and Ion Physics Corporation.

Extent

6.2 Cubic Feet (in 6 record cartons and 1 folder, oversize drawings)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection documents the High Voltage Engineering Corporation, a company founded in 1947 by Robert J. Van de Graaff, Denis M. Robinson, and John G. Trump, all members of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) faculty. Manufacturing operations began with the development and manufacture of particle accelerators, and then electromagnetic and neutron generators. The records consist of technical notes and drawings left by Robert J. Van de Graaff, chief scientist and one of the company's founders.

Arrangement note

The collection is arranged into the following series: 1. Administrative Records, 1947-1969; 2. Technical Reports and Proposals, 1933-1967; 3. Subject Files, 1951-1960.

Location

Materials are stored off-site. Advance notice is required for use.

Source of Acquisition

The High Voltage Engineering Corporation (HVEC) papers were given to Distinctive Collections (formerly the Institute Archives and Special Collections) in March 1980 by Denis M. Robinson.

Related Materials

Robert Jemison Van de Graaff papers, MC 45

Robert J. Van de Graaff papers, MC 45, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Distinctive Collections

John G. Trump papers, MC 223, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Distinctive Collections

Denis M. Robinson papers, MC 481, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Distinctive Collections.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Page Edwards in June 1982, and edited by Elizabeth Andrews and Ewa Basinska in August 2000.

Title
Guide to the Records of the High Voltage Engineering Corporation, 1933-1969
Status
Completed
Author
Page Edwards
Date
1982
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
This finding aid has been encoded by the Center for History of Physics, American Institute of Physics, as part of a collaborative project supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent federal agency. Collaboration members in 1999 consisted of: American Institute of Physics, California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Rice University, University of Alaska, University of Illinois, and University of Texas.

Repository Details

Part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Libraries. Department of Distinctive Collections Repository

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