Russell and Sigurd Varian papers, 1836-1988

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Summary

Creators:
Varian, Sigurd Fergus and Varian, Russell Harrison
Extent:
39 Linear Feet
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Russell and Sigurd Varian papers (SC0345). Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

The Varian papers span almost a hundred years of creative and independent thinking, from early manuscripts of poetry by John O. Varian, to the creation and growth of Varian Associates. In addition to original research notebooks and correspondence regarding the klystron, the papers of Russell and Sigurd Varian include materials on numerous other inventions and ideas from Russell's work for Philo Farnsworth and Humble Oil as well as the brothers' years at Stanford and at Varian Associates. Unpublished short stories by Sigurd reveal his sense of humor as well as the adventure and danger of his career as a pilot in Mexico and Central America.

The Varian Papers also contain correspondence, diaries, and writings of other family members including Dorothy Varian, Agnes Dickson Varian, Aileen Dickson Harrison, and Eric Varian. The letters and diaries of Agnes Dickson Varian pertain to family and community life in Palo Alto and Halcyon, California; Dorothy Varian's papers include her research files used to prepare her biography of Russell and Sigurd Varian as well as correspondence, talks, and other papers pertaining to environmental issues. There is also a series containing photographs documenting the family, Varian Associates, and the history of the klystron.

Biographical / historical:

Russsell and Sigurd Varian were co-inventors, with William W. Hansen, of the klystron and rhumbatron and co-founders of Varian Associates. Educated at Stanford University, physicist and inventor Russell Varian began his career with Philo Farnsworth on early television technology and with Humble Oil on instrumentation for oil exploration. In 1935, he returned to Stanford. Joined by his brother, Sigurd, a pilot with Pan American Airlines, he began work on microwave technology as a research assistant with Professor William Hansen. The klystron patent brought both financial gain to the University and the attention of federal research agencies, while leading to the formation of Varian Associates, one of California's first Silicon Valley companies.

Custodial history:

Gift of Dorothy Varian, 1987, 1988, and 1989.

Physical location:
Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 48 hours in advance. For more information on paging collections, see the department's website: http://library.stanford.edu/spc.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The materials are open for research use.

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Russell and Sigurd Varian papers (SC0345). Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Location of this collection:
Stanford University Archives, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6064, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Website