February 6, 2014

Photo Exhibit Highlights SLAC History

As part of the opening of the new Research Support Building, SLAC's Archives and History Office is currently displaying a photo exhibition called "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now." These photos, taken from the new exhibit, give a glimpse of SLAC's construction and early years.

As part of the opening of the new Research Support Building, SLAC's Archives and History Office is currently displaying a photo exhibition called "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now." The photos below, taken from the new exhibit, give a glimpse of SLAC's construction and early years.

Photo - linac construction — A new photo exhibition, currently on display in SLAC's Research Support Building, highlights SLAC history. (All photos courtesy of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Archives & History Office)

SLAC construction contract signing in 1962 — Chairman of Stanford University Board of Trustees Morris Doyle, signing SLAC construction contract on April 30, 1962. Stanford V.P. for Business Dwight B. Adams and Project Director W.K.H. ''Pief'' Panofsky look on. Stanford University Counsel Robert Minge Brown shows contract to Stanford Board of Trustees Secretary Ira Lillick. Shot of excavation of SLAC linac taken September 4, 1964. Superimposed circle and arrow indicate the exact spot where the paleoparadoxia fossil was discovered on October 2, 1964.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

SLAC Site Dedication (1962) — Attendees at the SLAC Site Dedication on August 10, 1962, examine plans for the site.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

SLAC Linac Construction Trench (1963) — Construction of the linac beam housing on October 24, 1963. Construction workers are building a penetration shaft for materials handling access. When complete, the beam housing was covered by 25 feet of earth, which separated it from the Klystron Gallery.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

SLAC Dining Area (1963) — View of SLAC staff dining area outside of Building 042 (Cafeteria) and Building 043 (Auditorium). Taken April 17, 1963.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

Aerial of SLAC Construction (1963) — Aerial of SLAC Construction (1963) Photograph Aerial photo of SLAC construction taken April 17, 1963, looking from what will be the Beam Switch Yard end of the linac toward the injector end. Sand Hill Road appears in the lower left-hand corner of the photo; Jasper Ridge is along the right.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

SLAC Linac Excavation (1964) — Shot of excavation of SLAC linac taken September 4, 1964. Superimposed circle and arrow indicate the exact spot where the paleoparadoxia fossil was discovered on October 2, 1964.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

Linear Accelerator Schematics (1965) — Linear accelerator (linac) schematics for slides. Drawing done by William (Bill) Kinst, SLAC architect, April 21, 1965.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

Aerial View of SLAC (1966) — Aerial view of SLAC construction on February 8, 1966, with Building 40 (Central Lab) at center left, and Buildings 42 (Cafeteria), and 43 (Auditorium) to the right of center. Building 41 (A&E) can be seen at upper right.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

SLAC dedication day, September 9, 1967 — SLAC dedication day, September 9, 1967. From left, Atomic Energy Commission Director Glenn Seaborg, SLAC Director Pief Panofsky, Stanford University President J. E. Wallace Sterling, U.S. Presidential Science Advisor Don Horning and Edward L. Ginzton, former Professor of Applied Physics at Stanford University and the Director of Project M.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

View of SLAC Lawn (1967) — A view of Building 42 (Cafeteria) and Building 43 (Auditorium) from Building 41 (Administration and Engineering, A&E) on April 29, 1967.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

SLAC Glee Club (1970) — SLAC Glee Club members at piano in the SLAC Auditorium, April 21, 1970.
(Enhanced version of photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

The Homebrew Computer Club (1978) — Gordon French, an engineer, and Fred Moore, a Berkeley radical, decided to start a club of like-minded people interested in exploring the possibilities afforded by the exciting new developments in computing. They called their group the Homebrew Computer Club. The Interest was so great that it rapidly outgrew its initial informal meeting spaces, and the club found a new home in SLAC's Panofsky Auditorium. The Homebrew Computer Club gathered a host of talented and driven innovators including Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. This 1978 photo shows one of the regular Homebrew meetings in Panofsky Auditorium, where a member is addressing a near-capacity crowd of fellow enthusiasts.
(Computer History Museum photo. Photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

Casting Paleoparadoxia (1968) — In this 1968 photograph, Adele Panofsky shows Paleontologist/Zoologist Charles Repenning (at left) and University of California Vertebrate Paleontologist Donald Savage plaster casts of fossil bones of the paleoparadoxia found at the SLAC linac site. Panofsky worked with Repenning and Savage to recover the fossil, which was cast in plaster before being sent to the University of California Berkeley Museum of Paleontology. Repenning identified the SLAC Paleoparadoxia, which was eventually reclassified as a distinct species that was named in his honor. The plaster cast model of paleoparadoxia was assembled by Adele Panofsky, and exhibited in the SLAC Visitor Center for 17 years. It is now on loan to the San Mateo County History Museum.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

Paleoparadoxia Replica (1991) — Paleoparadoxia replica being assembled by Adele Panofsky. When completed, it went on display in the SLAC Visitors Center wing of the Auditorium-Cafeteria building.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

Paleoparadoxia Replica (2013) — SLAC's Paleoparadoxia fossil casting being dismantled and removed from the Visitor Center. The casting was loaned to the San Mateo County History Museum in 2013.
(An enhanced version of this photo used in 2013-2014 Building 052 exhibit "SLAC Perspectives: Then and Now.")

For more on SLAC's past, visit the SLAC History page or the Archives & History Office.

Contact

For questions or comments, contact the SLAC Office of Communications at communications@slac.stanford.edu.

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