Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to Chuck Hoberman Innovative Lives Presentation

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0604
Creators:
Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.
Hoberman, Chuck
Dates:
1996-05-08
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.25 Cubic feet
3 boxes
Repository:
This collection contains original videos documenting Chuck Hoberman, inventor the Hoberman Sphere.

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
Original videotapes documenting Chuck Hoberman, inventor of expandable geodesic domes and spheres. Hoberman invented the Hoberman Sphere, Iris Dome, and a collapsible frisbee, tent and briefcase.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into three series.
Series 1: Original Videos
Series 2: Reference Videos
Series 3: Photographs and Slides

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
Chuck Hoberman was born in 1956 and attended Brown University and holds a B.F.A. from Cooper Union and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University. He also holds four patents on ways to pleat sheets (of metal, plastic, or paper), and two patents on truss structures (structures that are based on series of triangles joined together). Hoberman has built expandable geodesic domes and spheres, including a motorized geodesic sphere that expands from 4.5 feet in diameter to 18 feet in diameter. Another dome, the "Iris Dome," could be used for emergency shelters and portable exhibition spaces. He named the dome after the iris of an eye, which also expands and contracts proportionally. Besides the Iris Sphere and a small toy called the Hoberman Sphere, Chuck Hoberman has invented a collapsible frisbee, a collapsible tent, and a collapsible briefcase. Hoberman combines aesthetics (the art of making things look pleasing to the eye) with engineering with problem-solving. His intriguing creations, based on both basic geometry and complex mathematics, solve problems or offer opportunities in the real world. In 1990, he founded his own company, called Hoberman Associates, Inc.

Administration

Author
Alison L. Oswald
Custodial History
The collection was transferred to the Archives Center on July 8, 1997.
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
This collection was created by the Innovative Lives Program of The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation on May 8, 1996. The Innovative Lives series brings young people and American inventors together to discuss inventions and the creative process and to experiment and play with hands-on activities related to each inventor's product.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Alison Oswald, July 16, 1997.

Using the Collection

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions. Signed copies of release on file.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research but the original videos are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Preferred Citation
Chuck Hoberman Innovative Lives Presentation, 1996, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Sphere Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oral history -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Inventors -- 1990-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Geometry -- Descriptive Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Geometry -- Modern Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews -- 1980-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Inventions -- 1990-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Domes Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Flying discs (Game) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Frisbees Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Geodesics (Mathematics) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Videotapes -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architectural design Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architecture Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Slides Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hoberman Associates, Inc. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu