Fairchild Semiconductor.

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.

From the guide to the Guide to the Collection of Fairchild Semiconductor employee papers, 1959-1988, 1959-1977, (Computer History Museum)