This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice.
The T. C. Howard Papers on Synergetics, Inc. consist of architectural drawings and related documentation on some Synergetics, Inc. (as well as Charter Industries, Inc.) projects throughout the United States and abroad from 1952 to 1990. Among the drawings and records are plans for geodesic and other domes in North Carolina, New York, Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Afghanistan. The architectural drawings showcase dome engineering, such as geodesic domes, octetrusses, and Charter-Sphere Domes.
Thomas C. Howard (1931- ) was the designer, architect, and engineer for Synergetics, Inc. from 1955 until 2006. In 1958 Howard graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in nuclear engineering. He became a registered architect in North Carolina in 1958.
Thomas C. Howard (1931-2022) was the designer, architect, and engineer for Synergetics, Inc. from 1955 until 2006. In 1958 Howard graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in nuclear engineering. He became a registered architect in North Carolina in 1958.
Synergetics, Inc., was an architecture and engineering firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The company was originally established by R. Buckminster Fuller, James Fitzgibbon, and T. C. Howard in 1955. Fuller was honorary president from 1955-1958. Fitzgibbon managed the company until 1968, and was president from 1959-1968. T. C. Howard became President of the company in 1968. The company designed and constructed commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. Among the structures designed or constructed by Synergetics are the Climatron at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the Churchill Pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair (now the Queens Zoo Aviary), and the Tower of Light at the 1964 World's Fair. Synergetics closed in 2006.
Charter Industries, Inc. manufactured, leased, and sold Charter-Sphere Domes. T. C. Howard was the Vice President. Pete Barnwell was the President.
The T. C. Howard Papers on Synergetics, Inc. consist of architectural drawings and related documentation on some Synergetics, Inc. (as well as Charter Industries, Inc.) projects throughout the United States and abroad from 1952 to 1990. Among the drawings and records are plans for geodesic and other domes in North Carolina, New York, Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Afghanistan. The architectural drawings showcase dome engineering, such as geodesic domes, octetrusses, and Charter-Sphere Domes.
This collection has not yet received full archival processing. Materials are arranged in the order received.
The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
[Identification of item], T.C. Howard Papers on Synergetics, Inc., MC 00565, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Related Material
Gift of Thomas C. Howard, 2015 (Accession 2015.0166 and 2015.0276); Gift of Katrina Fairley, 2022 (Accession 2022.0106)
Processed by: Gwynn Thayer and Jessica Serrao, 2015 August; machine-readable finding aid by: Gwynn Thayer and Jessica Serrao, 2015 August; Collection guide updated by Hailey Mandel, 2022 September; Collection guide updated by William H. Boyer, 2024 August.
The collection is organized into six principal series:
Topics include Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe, Desert, Taliesin West, Biltmore Hotel, Civic Center in Phoenix, Solar House by FLW Foundation in Tempe, Solaries House, and Archrocinte[sp?],
Topics include Paris architecture, Paris Air Show, Le Halles Area
Assorted topics, including: diagrams, dome erections, N.C. State School of Design models
Index for "VALRA - Project Presentation (1-52)" housed in Box 42, Folder 12
Topics include: cynny looking out window, valra interior baffle, cynny+baffles, correst exposure cynny, blackout, blinds pulled, luminous grill, glee lights diffuse only, shot bowl, video day
Note: "lattice dome behind Fitz' House"
Note on back of photograph: "Fiberglass panel with 5 men standing on some-"
Note on envelope: "ALUM. FRAME, ACRYLIC PANELS, 175', 18 FREQ. TRICON."
Note on original envelope: 24' CHARTER-SPHERE (RED WOOD FRAME - PLEXIGLAS GLAZING)
Study for a gymnasium on rectangular lot at an existing school - Ford Foundation Project
Included are 19 Seattle FilmWorks SFW Image Format files and 1 Stuffit Archive File.
After review, access to the digital copies may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
Retrieved from a 3.5 inch Floppy Disk.
Charter spheres, N.Y. World's Fair, Climatron, Dulles Airport, The People's Trust and Savings Co., Union Tank Car Co., and more
All-wood packaged shelters
All-wood packaged shelters
Note on envelope: "Identical unit to Kabul, Afghanistan"
School gym - steel frame, poured in place, gypsom deck
school gym - steel frame, poured in place, gypsom deck
Note on back of photograph: "DOME ASSEMBLY (2) - The lifting of the progressively larger dome segment is accomplished by five men, each operating a winch mounted near the base of a ginpole. At one stage of assembly, the weigh divided among the five ginpoles is approximately 16,000 lbs.; the lift of 20 feet is accomplished in less than an hour. Thus, no heavy crane apparatus or scaffolding is required for dome field assembly."
Notes written on original envelope: First relocatable government agency dome, 35 days
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Included are 36 Seattle FilmWorks SFW Image Format files and 1 Stuffit Archive file.
After review, access to the digital copies may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
Retrieved from a 3.5 inch Floppy Disk.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
After review, access to the digital copies may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
The Special Collections Research Center, NC State University Libraries, has digital copies of some or all of these materials.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
William Ballenger, a Synergetics employee involved with the Tower of Light project, indicated to Special Collections in 2024 that this model is one of 62 segments that made up an 11 square foot working model. It was made of aluminum "excursions." The model was built by Ballenger. This model was the selected design from two options.
Materials: Woven wood and string
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance 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
[Identification of item], T.C. Howard Papers on Synergetics, Inc., MC 00565, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.