Harry F. Olson papers, 1926-1977.

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Harry F. Olson papers, 1926-1977.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/774916503

The papers document Olson's professional life and career at RCA. They include notebooks, research & development records, publications, patents, correspondence and other materials spanning the length of Olson's career. The files were taken directly from Olson's file cabinets at the Sarnoff Laboratory and were in no discernable order. They were arranged in 11 series by the Sarnoff Library staff prior to their transfer to Hagley. Series I consists of many of Olson's professional papers and handwritten or typed notes for various lectures, and a series of Olson's technical papers printed by RCA in the 1960s. Series II contains Olson's notebooks from the first phases of his laborartory research, 1929-1942. Series III contains papers, but no laboratory notebooks, for Olson's later career at Princeton as well as work done as a consultant after his formal retirement, 1943-1971. It does not include his work on the music synthesizer. Series IV consists of letters patent, printed patents and RCA patent disclosure sheets, which are prepared when a researcher has an idea prelimnary to seeking a patent. Series V cosists of test reports of various designs for loudspeakers, including both those of RCA and its competitors. The files contain drawings, diagrams, calculations and notes. A file index is located in the first folder. Series VI consists of a small number of subject files that could not be placed in one of the other categories. Subjects include correspondence with journals, publishers and professional societies, and biographical information. Series VII consists of RCA product literature and technical papers written by others found among Olson's papers. Series VIII consists of two folders on Olson's financial affairs and his life insurance policies. Series IX consists of chronological desk files and files on sound absorbers and an acoustic stethoscope, Olson inventions not exploited by RCA. Series X, photographs, include portraits of Olson and his colleagues, of apparatus, and of RCA engineers posing with their inventions, including several of Olson and Herbert Belar with the music synthesizer. Series XI covers Olson's relations with professional organizations such as the Acoustical Society of America and the IEEE.

8 linear ft.

Hagley Museum & Library

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SNAC Resource ID: 8196632

Hagley Museum & Library

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