This collection is composed of 2,454 videotapes dating from 1970-1997. No numerical control system had been previously applied to these miscellaneous tapes as a group. Each project office had its own numbering system that identified and tracked their videotapes as they were produced and disseminated. As a result, the collection is arranged by project, using sequential numbers within a project if shown on the tape's label. If there was no number, then the arrangement is by ascending date of creation. Undated tapes were placed at the end of a project sequence. Many tapes show a great deal of identifying information such as the date of creation, the title of the project, a brief content description, and running times in hours/minutes. Also, there are several series of videotapes that were numbered as groups. For example, the DSN Documentation and Training Modular Computer Hardware Training tapes were numbered 1-107. In contrast to well-identified tapes, a miscellaneous section of the collection contains videotapes whose labels included incomplete descriptions or no description at all. These were separately filed. There are four videotape formats found in this collection: VHS, U-matic, Betacam, Betacam SP. These formats may be described as follows: VHS: Video Home System, a standard consumer cassette-recording format introduced in 1976. Its quality was not of concern if the original image was recorded by a professional machine with a different format and then duplicated onto VHS; U-matic: a three-quarter inch wide tape in a videocassette. This format was popular in the late 1970's through the 1990's because of good quality video; Betacam: introduced in 1982, is used primarily for broadcast use. Three channels are used thereby bringing out the vividness of color because of superior optics; Betacam SP: a half-inch wide tape introduced in 1986. It uses a metal tape and is considered an improvement over Betacam. The varied information content of the collection reflects the varied development of the various projects at JPL. For example, in the 1970's, tapes featured the Mariner Venus-Mercury 1973 Project with Dr. T.A. Dunne, Project Scientist, discussing "Scientific Objectives," August 16, 1973; "Block IV SDA Maintenance and Operation," June 18, 1974; and "MODCOMP II Hardware Training," July 25, 1974, as part of the Deep Space Network Documentation and Training. For example, in the 1980's, videotapes recorded "Future Space Communications Technology Assessment Workshop," January 30, 1980; "Second Telecommunications and Tracking and Data Acquisition Future Space Communications Technology Workshop," June 8, 1982; Wide Field Planetary Camera featuring discussions about "Science Overview," "Engineering Overview," "Optics Overview and Design," "Optical Sub-Assemblies," "Camera Head Assembly and Handling," and "Electronic Packaging," April 23, 1984 - August 13, 1985. In the 1990's, tapes covered "The Space Telescope Science Institute," April 22, 1991; "Managing JPL Projects," October 1991; "Deep Space Station 24," September 8, 1992 - November 15, 1995; "Multi-Angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer" videotapes, (no month), 1995 - October 4, 1996; and "Keck Telescope I, II, Twin Keck Aerials," March 1997. In addition to scientific videotapes, the Archives contains tapes having to do with life at JPL, such as "Improving Software Capability," October 24, 1986; "The W. M. Keck Dedication and Dinner," Parts 1, 2, 3, December 17, 1991; "JPL: The New Leadership Training Program," September 29, 1994; and the videotape "Leadership Edge Satellite Seminar," with speaker Peter Drucker, October 30, 1996.
