Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the West Coast Computer Faire Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1118
Creators:
Jones, Ernie
Dates:
1980
1977
Languages:
Collection is in
English
. Some materials in
Japanese
.
Physical Description:
1 Cubic foot
1 box
Repository:
Collection contains product literature, newsletters, and other hand-outs collected from exhibitors by Ernie Jones, a faire attendee. The First West Coast Computer Faire was held in San Francisco, California on April 15-17, 1977, and the Fifth West Coast Computer Faire was held on March 14-16, 1980.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Collection is divided into two series: 1977 Faire Materials and 1980 Faire Materials. In some instances, the dates associated with the materials are recorded. Otherwise, all materials are dated 1977 or 1980. The 1977 and 1980 Faires were held at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium and Brooks Hall. The programs for the faires include the schedule at a glance, list of sessions, advertisements, lists of exhibitors and booth, and the conference proceedings from previous fairs. The materials contain product literature for computer hardware and software, publications, newsletters, journals, advertisements, and other computer-related information. The fairs included papers, talks, demonstrations, and exhibits.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection organized into two series.
Series 1: 1977 Faire Materials
Series 2: 1980 Faire Materials

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The West Coast Computer Faire was an annual computer industry conference and exposition that was often held in San Francisco. The first faire was held in 1977 at the San Francisco Auditorium and Brooks Hall. It was organized by Jim Warren and Bob Reiling. At the time it was the biggest computer show in the world, intended to popularize the personal computer in the home. However, Apple stopped exhibiting at the West Coast Computer Faire, refusing to exhibit at any show other than COMDEX that also had PC based exhibits. In 1983, Warren sold the rights to the Faire for US$3 million to Prentice Hall, who later sold it to Sheldon Adelson, the owner of Interface Group and COMDEX. In total, sixteen shows were held, with the last in 1992. The Fifth West Coast Computer Faire was held from March 14-16, 1980 in San Francisco and its focus was intelligent machines for home, business and industry.

Administration

Author
Robert Ageton.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by Ernie Jones on October 20, 2007.
Processing Information
Processed by Robert Ageton (volunteer), November, 2007; supervised by Alison Oswald, archivist.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation
West Coast Computer Faire Collection, 1977, 1980, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning intellectual property rights. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Advertisements -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Computers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Exhibitions -- 1960-1990 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Handbills Genre Form 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