North Carolina State University, College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Records 1889-2023

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Size
9.25 linear feet (6 boxes, 2 cartons, 1 half box); 9 gigabytes; 3 files
Call number
UA 105.012

Includes correspondence, reports, minutes, and proposals relating to National Science Foundation regarding undergraduate instructional scientific equipment, course and curricula, teaching schedules, committees, the engineering experiment station, and Sigma Xi. Additional materials include course packets and affirmative action files.

Biographical/historical note

The first electrical engineering class at the college that became North Carolina State University was taught in 1893. Electrical Engineering became an independent department when it split off from Physics in 1917. The origins of the computer science program date to 1957. The department became Electrical and Computer Engineering in 1981.

Lieutenant Richard Henderson of the United States Navy, professor of Military Tactics and Physics, taught the first electrical course in 1893 at North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, now North Carolina State University. In 1894, the chair of Physics and Electrical Engineering was established and filled by Lieutenant Henderson. A four-year course leading to a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree was first offered in 1900.

In 1908, Professor William Hand Browne, Jr. was appointed head of Physics and Electrical Engineering. When Physics and Electrical Engineering separated in 1917 and became independent departments, Professor Browne remained head of the Electrical Engineering Department. During Professor Browne's tenure, the Engineer's Council for Professional Development (ECPD) accredited the department in 1937. The engineering programs at North Carolina State University received a huge boost when all engineering programs taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University were consolidated in Raleigh on July 1, 1938. After Professor Browne stepped down as department head in 1944, Professor Raymond S. Fouraker served as acting head for one year.

Several significant events occurred during Dr. Cornelius Godfrey Brennecke's tenure as department head from 1945 to 1954: (1) the Engineer's Council for Professional Development (ECPD) renewed the department's accreditation in 1949; (2) Dr. Brennecke added several faculty members holding doctorates; (3) in 1953, Robert Lee Clemons, a black student and honor graduate, from North Carolina A & T College (later University), in Greensboro, was admitted as a graduate student in electrical engineering; and (4) the first engineering doctoral degree given by the university (in electrical engineering) in 1953 to Ralph Marshall McGehee.

From 1954 to 1979 department heads and acting department head were: Dr. George Burnham Hoadley, department head (1954-1974); Dr. Larry K. Monteith, department head (1974-1978); and Dr. James F. Kauffman, acting head (1978-1979).

The origins of computer science at NC State University can be said to extend back to the basement of Patterson Hall when, in 1957, the Department of Experimental Statistics installed computers there. Five years later, this facility formally became known as the NC State University Computing Center. The role of computers at the university received a tremendous boost in August 1965 when NC State University joined Duke and UNC and, with the help of a National Science Foundation grant, formed The Triangle Universities Computation Center or TUCC. In less than two years, the system became fully operational. With Professor Dave Mason, from the Department of Statistics, spearheading TUCC for NC State University, the university soon had one high-speed access terminal and several medium and low-speed terminals to interface with the mainframe.

During Dr. Nino A. Masnari's tenure as department head from 1979-1988, numerous events took place. In 1981, the departmental designation was changed to Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. John Hauser, Michael Littlejohn, and Nino Masnari started the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina (MCNC) in the early 1980s. The Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Computer Engineering were approved in 1983. Research programs made significant advances during this time when several research centers were founded. The Center for Communications and Signal Processing (CCSP) was founded in 1982, the Electric Power Research Center (EPRC) in 1985, and the Center for Advanced Electronic Materials Processing in 1988.

Additional information and resources on the history of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering can be found through the NC State University Historical State website.

List of Department Heads
1894 - 1908
Richard Henderson
1908 - 1944
William Hand Browne, Jr.
1944 - 1945
Raymond S. Fouraker, acting head
1945 - 1954
Cornelius Godfrey Brennecke
1954 - 1974
George Burnham Hoadley
1974 - 1978
Larry K. Monteith
1978 - 1979
James F. Kauffman, acting head
1979 - 1988
Nino A. Masneri
1988 - 1989
Tildon H. Glisson, acting head
1989 - 1994
Ralph K. Cavin III
1994 - 1995
John R. Hauser, acting head
1995 - 2000
Robert M. Kolbas
2000 - 2001
John Grainger, acting head
2001 - 2003
John R. Hauser, acting head
2003 -
Robert J. Trew

Scope/content

The records of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering cover the years 1889 to 1996. They contain booklets, brochures, correspondence, flyers, lists of graduates, minutes of staff meetings, pamphlets, photographs, programs, proposals, promotional brochures, and reports relating to the department. The records also include files pertaining to the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Education and the Engineer's Council for Professional Development (ECPD), the National Science Foundation and Sigma Xi. The ECPD records contain material relating to the accreditation of the department. Additional materials are unprocessed and include course packets and affirmative action files.

Arrangement

This subgroup is comprised of three series: General Records, Unprocessed Materials, and Web Content. The contents of General Records are arranged alphabetically by topic. Unprocessed Materials and Web Content are arranged in the way they were received.

Use of these materials

North Carolina State University owns copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center are responsible for using the works in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], North Carolina State University, College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Records, UA 105.012, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Related material

Source of acquisition

Transferred from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Processing information

Processed by: Russell S. Koonts; machine-readable finding aid created by: Katherine M. Wisser; Finding aid updated by Cate Putirskis, 2010 November; finding aid updated by Gevorg Vardanyan, 2023 June.; Digital materials processed by Alexander Daniels, August 2023

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

The collection is organized into three principal series:

General Records 1889-1988 (Series 1:)
Size: 1.75 linear feet

Contained here are booklets, brochures, correspondence, flyers, lists of graduates, minutes of staff meetings, pamphlets, photographs, programs, proposals, promotional brochures, and reports relating to departmental activities and functions.

3.5 archival storage boxes

American Institute of Electrical Engineers
1919-1948
Box 1, Folder 1
American Society for Engineering Education
1947-1948
Box 1, Folder 2
Annual Reports
1948-1949
Box 1, Folder 3
Brochures
1969, [No date]
Box 1, Folder 4
Carolina Power & Light Company
Special Service Contract
1918, 1933
Box 1, Folder 5
Committees
Atomic Energy
1946-1949
Box 1, Folder 6
Course and Curricula
1946-1947
Box 1, Folder 7
Electrical Engineering Advirsory
1924
Box 1, Folder 8
Executive
1946-1947
Box 1, Folder 9
Humanistic - Social Studies Sequence
1945-1948
Box 1, Folder 10
Memorial Tower
1947
Box 1, Folder 11
Conferences
Electrical Equipment for the Textile Industry
1952-1960
Box 1, Folder 12
Courses and Curriculum
General note

See also Staff Meetings

1889-1980
Box 1, Folder 13
Departmental Procedures
1949
Box 1, Folder 14
Engineering Experiment Station
1940-1946
Box 2, Folder 1
Engineering Research Department
1946-1948
Box 2, Folder 2
Engineers' Council for Professional Development
1933-1963
Box 2, Folder 3
Engineers' Fair
1928-1938
Box 2, Folder 4
Enrollment
1964
Box 2, Folder 5
Equipment
1918-1945
Box 2, Folder 6
Faculty Publications and Research Activities
1935
Box 2, Folder 7
Fellowships
1947-1986
Box 2, Folder 8
General Correspondence
1916-1928
Box 2, Folder 9
1929-1952
Box 2, Folder 10
General Electric
Electrical Engineering Gift Account
1946-1948
Box 2, Folder 11
General Information
1933-1988
Box 2, Folder 12
Graduate Study and Research
1964-1989
Box 2, Folder 13
Industrial Research in College and Universities
1944-1945
Box 3, Folder 1
Laboratory Renovation
1945
Box 3, Folder 2
National Bureau of Standards
1965-1967
Box 3, Folder 3
1968-1969
Box 3, Folder 4
National Science Foundation
Electrical Engineering Junior Circuits Laboratory
1965-1967
Box 3, Folder 5
Possible Electives for Seniors in Electrical Engineering 1925
Half box 8, Folder 1
Seminars, Short Courses, and Lectures
1935-1965
Box 3, Folder 6
Sigma Xi
1942-1948
Box 3, Folder 7
Staff Meetings
1946-1947
Box 3, Folder 8
1948-1952
Box 3, Folder 9
1953-1958
Box 3, Folder 1
1959-1960
Box 4, Folder 2
Students
1920-1970
Box 4, Folder 3
Teaching Loads
1945-1948
Box 4, Folder 4
Unprocessed Materials 1979-2012 (Series 99:)
Size: 3.75 linear feet

These materials have not been archivally processed.

2 cartons, 1.5 archival storage boxes

Course Packets for ECE department classes 1991-1996
Box 4
Affirmative Action Files 1979-1991 (Accession no. 3856)
Carton 5
Course packs for ECE department classes 1989-1996 (Accession no. 2006-0029)
Carton 6
Course packets, reports, brochures, and other materials 1985-1991, undated (Accession no. 2007-0057)

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Study and Research promotional packet; Power Semiconductor Research Center brochure and technical report; Robotics and Intelligent Systems Laboratory research activity reports; Graduate Study and Research Electrical and Computer Engineering (1985).

Box 7
Possible electives for Seniors in Electrical Engineering 1925 (Accession no. 2010-0204)
Half box 8
Nino A. Masnari and John R. Hauser (photograph) undated (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 1
Department Booklets undated (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 2
Draft ECE Strategic Plan (Version 1.1) 2001 May 25 (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 3
Department Admissions Flyers undated (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 4
Faculty and Staff undated (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 5
ECE Beautification 2012 (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 6
"Nuggets from Electrical & C0mputer Engineering" undated (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 7
Syllabus - Microwave Circuits Design (ECE 619) - Dr. James W. Mink undated (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 8
Syllabus - Principles of Microwave Circuits (ECE 732) - Dr. James W. Mink 1998 (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 9
ECE Annual Report 1997-1998 (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 10
Department Pamphlets undated (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 11
Ph.D. Preliminary Examination - Electromagnetics 1985 (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 12
Department Photographs undated (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 13
ECE Design Day (VHS) undated (2023.0036)
Box 9, Folder 14
Web Content March 2000-2023
Size: 1 website; 9 gigabytes; 3 files

This series is comprised of web sites of North Carolina State University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, captured by the NC State University Libraries since July 2016 using the Internet Archive’s Archive-It web archiving service, with prior captures by the Internet Archive dating back to March 2000, which may be less complete and was performed at undetermined intervals. It also contains digital media published by ECE on Youtube.

File count of digital media may exclude system files; hidden, deleted, or excluded files; and duplicate files.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering website (https://www.ece.ncsu.edu/) March 2000-2023
Size: 1 website

This is the official website of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State University. The NC State University Libraries has scheduled this website to be captured quarterly since July 2016. Also included here are prior captures by the Internet Archive dating back to March 2000.

ECE Department Youtube videos 2016 September 02-2023 February 22 (2023.0025)
Size: 9 gigabytes; 3 files

Included are 2 MPEG-4 media files and 1 Quicktime video file.

Pending staff review and approval, access to digital copies will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

Access to the collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.

For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.

Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Phone: (919) 515-2273

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], North Carolina State University, College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Records, UA 105.012, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

North Carolina State University owns copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections Research Center are responsible for using the works in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.