Finding Aid for the

James F. Norton Papers,

1946-1994, bulk: 1961-1988
Control Number: 2007.42
5 cubic feet

Finding Aid Compiled by

Claire Robertson
February 2017

Museum of Innovation and Science

15 Nott Terrace Heights
Schenectady, NY 12308
(518) 382-7890, ext. 241
archives@misci.org

Biographical Note:
James F. Norton was a physicist employed by the General Electric Companys Advanced
Technology Laboratories. His career at General Electric Company began in 1951. His focus was
on developing projects in the areas of particle optics, information storage, vacuum mass
spectrometry and meteorology. More specifically, he specialized in electron microscopy. Norton
received a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from Yale University in 1946. During his time at
Yale, he took part in the Navy V-12 Program, where he was commissioned as an ensign. In 1951,
he obtained a Masters of Science in physics from the University of Rochester. While at
Rochester, he studied high-energy particles and their measurement as well as operating the
cyclotron. As his work was an innovation in the field, he had presented his research before the
Electron Microscope Society, the Annual Conference on Industrial Applications of X-Ray
Analysis, and GOSAM. At the time of writing, Norton is still alive. Other notable family
members included Thomas Norton (his brother) and Francis J. Norton (his father). Both of the
aforementioned individuals have made a name for themselves in the field of science.

Provenance/ Acquisition
This collection was obtained by the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady, NY in
2008 by archivist Chris Hunter. The papers had been previously rehoused, preserving as much of
the original order as possible. I was told that the original arrangement to the papers, kept at
Nortons residence, was not that intuitive, so an order to the papers had been induced to create a
more fluid collection.

Scope and Content

Within the collection, there are primarily three groupings of records. Nortons research papers
and notes, reports and publications, and electron microscope photographs and slides comprise the
collection. Among the research papers, one can see notes from various physics classes he was
involved with at Stanford University, Cornell University, and others. The publications involve
reports from events such as the 1966 Electron Microscopy Society of America and the 1986
Whitney Symposia on Science in Technology. Nortons patents for various scientific instruments
have been included in this collection, as well. Photographs taken by Norton are almost
exclusively related to his electron microscope research. The work of Howard Sams, Dr. Jeffrey
Shinn and various others are also included with Nortons records for their collaborative efforts.
Important topics that are covered in these papers include research on electron beams, information
storage (related to physics), integrated circuitry, optical engineering, thermoplastic recording,
and other such related topics. The records that are present range from the early 1950s to the early
1990s. Within this date range, the bulk of these records range from the 1960s to the 1980s. The
materials in this collection are entirely in English.

Separation Note
It should be noted that some of the papers involved in this collection have slight mold damage.

Related Collections at the Museum of Innovation and Science:

The first collection that is listed here is relevant to this collection because the papers are
comprised of patents developed by Hull, which is a topic that is relevant to this collection. Hulls
work at the Research Laboratory could be of some research value to those who are researching
James F. Norton, as well. The Remscheid papers are included because mass spectrometers are a
subject covered in these papers, which Norton had used as evidenced by the records available in
this collection. This collection could be useful to those who would like to know the history of the
processed utilized by Norton. Similar to Remscheid, the Francis J. Norton Papers are listed as
related collections due to this connection to the mass spectrometer, but they have not
collaborated on work present in the collection. Francis J. Norton is James F. Nortons father.

Albert W. Hull Papers, 1920-1964:

http://www.misci.org/archives/finding_aids/Hull.htm

Emil Remscheid Papers, 1907-1909, 1932-1935, 1952, 1965:

http://www.misci.org/archives/finding_aids/Remscheid.htm

Francis J. Norton Papers, 1930-1986:

http://www.misci.org/archives/finding_aids/FNorton.htm

Subject Headings:
Personal: (LCSH)
Norton, James F. - - Physicist- - United States - - Intellectual Life - - 20th Century

Corporate Bodies: (LCSH)

General Electric Company Advanced Technology Laboratory
General Electric Company Research and Development Center
General Electric Company Schenectady Works

Subjects: (LCSH)
Conference on Industrial Applications of X-ray Analysis (6th: Denver, Colo.)
Electron Beams
Electron Microscope Society of America
Information Storage and Retrieval Systems -- Physics
Integrated Circuits
 Optical Engineering
Scanning Electron Microscopes
Thermoplastic Recording
Vidicon

Places: (LCSH)
Schenectady (N.Y.)

Genres and Forms: (AAT)

Annual Reports
Correspondence
Design Patents
Diagrams
Lecture Notes
Manuals (Instruction Materials)
Photographs
Reports
Slides (Photographs)

Restriction: Access to this record group is unrestricted.

Series List
Series 1: Research and Notes (1957-1987)
Organized Alphabetically by Subject

This series contains research papers, coursework notes and other notes relating to electron
microscope research and other related topics.

Series 2: Photographs and Slides (1950-1990, bulk: 1980-88)

Organized Alphabetically by Subject

This series contains chiefly photographs dedicated to Nortons research on the spanning of
electron microscopes. There are various other groupings of photographs that do not contain any
description. Some of the folders containing photographs also contain related notes. As these
folders contain many more photographs than notes, it seemed reasonable to keep them in the
same series rather than break them up.

Series 3: Reports and Publications (1953-1990, bulk: 1961-1980)

Organized Alphabetically by Subject

This series contains scientific reports conducted by Norton, publications relating to his work, and
presentations at important scientific conferences. Other miscellaneous publications that are
present in this series are manuals to various General Electric products. Some of the publications
present in this collection were written by James F. Nortons father, Francis.
Box and Folder List

Series 1: Research and Course Notes (1946-1987)

Box# 1
Folder:
1. Advanced Wideband Information System Research 1966
2. Amorphous Metals Research with sample, 1980
3. Course Notes for EE 316 1987
4. Course Notes on VLSI Devices and Technology [1 of 2] 1987
5. Course Notes on VLSI Devices and Technology [2 of 2] 1987
6. Course Notes on Atomic Theory, 1946
7. Course on Fabrication of Integrated Circuits [1 of 2] 1986
8. Course on Fabrication of Integrated Circuits [2 of 2] 1986
9. Effective Presentation Course 1954
10. Electron Beam Equipment Drawings 1954, 1960-63
11. Flys Eye Electron Lens Research and Correspondence, 1969
12. Fundamentals of Modern Surface Analysis, Cornell University [1 of 2] 1985
13. Fundamentals of Modern Surface Analysis, Cornell University [2 of 2] 1985
14. Lecture Notes on Surface and Film Analysis, Cornell University 1986
15. Miscellaneous Service Notes for General Electric Electronics 1968-71, 1974, undated
16. Mohawk Valley Soaring Club, Notes and Correspondence, 1955-1959
17. Nanometric Wafer Scanners research [1 of 2], 1983-86
18. Nanometric Wafer Scanners research [2 of 2], 1983-86
19. Notes on General Electric Creative Engineering Program 1957
20. Physical Constants Tables and Charts, Notes and Reports 1954, undated
21. Secondary Emissions from Talaria Fluid Notes 1972, undated
22. Silicon Processing Short Course 1977
23. Thermoplastic Recording Notes and Panchromatic Photoplastic Recording Film Report
Number 65-C-094, 1960-1961, 1965
24. Ultra Miniature 1200V Pierce Guns Notes [1 of 3], 1962-1964
25. Ultra Miniature 1200V Pierce Guns Notes [2 of 3], 1962-1963
26. Ultra Miniature 1200V Pierce Guns Notes [3 of 3], 1962-1963
27. Video Processor Information, 1981, 1983-1985

Series 2: Photographs and Slides (1950-1990, bulk: 1980-88)

Box# 1
Folder:
 28. Adhesion Problem of Pt Film Photographs, 1982
29. Birds Beak Phenomena in Etching, 1985

Box# 2

Folder:

1. Color Modulation Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs and Reports, 1980-82

2. Color Scanning Electron Microscope Images, 1981
3. Correspondence and Photographs, 1984-86
4. Electron Beam Cutting of Metals Photographs, 1980
5. Electron Beam Images and Research, 1963
6. Electron Beam Microscope Photograph, undated
7. Electron Beam Resists Images with Publication, 1954, undated
8. Electron Microscope Images with Negatives, 1984-1985
9. Electron Microscope Photographs, 1971, 1977
10. High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs, 1981
11. Mass Spectrometer Circuit Diagrams, 1950-54
12. Miscellaneous Scanning Electron Microscope Images and Reports, 1985
13. Miscellaneous Scanning Electron Microscope Images, 1987
14. Miscellaneous Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs, 1981-88
15. Miscellaneous Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs, 1983-84
16. Miscellaneous Subject Photographs, undated
17. Reflow Photograph Resist, 1983
18. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs, with Negatives, 1980-1990
19. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs and Planarization Etching, 1982, 1989
20. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs and Reports, 1985
21. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs and Slides, 1987-88
22. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs- Etched Polysilicon, 1981, 1983-84
23. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs- Mesa and Obelus, 1981-88
24. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs- Reflow Resist, 1983
25. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs Showing Oxide-Fill Technique, 1982, 1984
26. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs, 1980
27. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs, 1980-1990
28. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs, 1980-82, 1985, undated
29. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs, 1980-83, 1985
30. Scanning Electron Microscope Photographs, 1982-83, undated
31. Stereo-Digital Pictures with Publications, 1974-1975

Series 3: Reports and Publications (1953-1990, bulk, 1961-1980)

Box# 2
Folder:
32. A Graphical Approach to Vacuum Engineering and Scanning Electron Microscope
Photographs, 1953-58, 1986
33. A Graphical Approach to Vacuum Engineering, 1954-56, 1961, 1963
Box# 3
Folder:
1. An Interim Report on Light Value Process [1 of 2], 1959-65
2. An Interim Report on Light Value Process [2 of 2], 1959-65
3. Audio Magazine, February 1960
4. Auger Electron Analysis Reports, 1969-70
5. Avalanche Type Radiation Detector Report, 1967
6. Closed Circuit Field Sequential Television Camera Chain, 1960
7. Closed Circuit Video Camera Equipment Manual, undated
8. Closed Circuit Video Equipment Manual, 1978-79
9. Color Camera Instructions, Volume 3, 1967
10. Color Displays Publications, 1977, 1982-83, 1988, 1990
11. Color Television Camera Manuals, 1970-77
12. Corporate Research and Development Reports, 1964, 1969, 1971, 1974-75, 1980
13. Desorption of Molecules by Ion Bombardment Report Number 61GL268 by F.F. Carini,
1961
14. Electricity from Magneto Hydro Dynamics, 1966
15. Electron Beam Imaging Application Reports, 1969-73, 1975-78
16. Electron Beam Memory Systems Report, 1978
17. Electron Beam Related Publications and Scanning Electron Microscope Images, 1968,
1970-1975, 1985
18. Electron Beam Storage Techniques Reports, 1968
19. Electron Gun Analysis Program, 1971
20. Electron Image Thermoplastic Recording Report, 1968
21. Electron Microscope Presentation and Trip Reports, 1968, 1970
22. Electron Microscopy Society of America 24th Meeting, August 1966
23. Electron Tube Manual, 5 Star Type, 1955-1958
24. Electronic Components Data: Interstil, 1970
25. Electronic Components Data: Junction FET, 1970

Box # 4
Folder:
1. Electronic Components Data: Memories, Shift Registers and Operational Amplifiers,
1980
2. Electronic Imaging Conference in Boston Publications, 1984-1985
3. Electrostatic Latent Image Presentation, 1957
4. Energy Sources, 1977-1978, 1991
5. Fluid Amplifiers Move Fast by Dr. Jeffrey N. Shinn, 1964
6. From Leonardo Da Vinci to Edward H. Land, Report Number 59GL237 by Hermann von
Schelling, 1959
7. Gas Permeation Through the Vacuum Envelope by Francis J. Norton, 1962
8. General Electric Receiving Tubes Manual [1 of 2], 1954-1959
9. General Electric Receiving Tubes Manual [2 of 2], 1955-1960
10. General Electric Receiving Tubes Manual (Second Copy), 1955-1960
11. General Electric Review, 1956, 1958
12. General Electric Taleria System, 1967
 13. General Electric Transmitting Tubes Reports, 1954-1960
14. Howard Sams Photofact Data Set 112, 1950
15. IBM Database System Publications and Images, 1983-1984
16. Impurity Conduction and Negative Resistance in Thin Oxide Film, Report Number 64-
RL-3549M by T.W. Hickmott, , 1956, 1958, 1964
17. Index of Reports- Vacuum Pumps, 1953, 1955-57, 1994
18. Information Storage in Microspace, 1954-56
19. Instruction Manual Techtronix Type 53/54, Time Base Generator, 1958
20. Instructions for Stereo Color Television System, 1957
21. Integrated Circuit Chips Data: Fairchild A, 1966-1967
22. Integrated Circuit Chips Data: Fairchild B, 1968
23. Integrated Circuit Chips Data: Signetics, RCA & Fairchild, 1965
24. Integrated Circuits Diagnostics Reports and Correspondence, 1957-58, 1961, 1963, 1965-
68, 1970
25. Integrated Circuits, 1967-70, 1972, 1987, undated
26. Linear Time-to-Pulse-Height Converter, Report Number 64GL86 by Stanley I. Friedman,
1964
27. Low Noise Preamplifier Investigation, Report Number R63ELS-74, 1963
28. Microspace Storage Reports, 1966-67, 1971
29. Miscellaneous Newsletters: Other Soaring Club, 1958-1962
30. Nanometrics Correspondence and Publications, 1985-86
31. Newsletters: Mohawk Soaring Club, 1959

Box# 5
Folder:
1. Nuclear Tract Detectors Reports and Correspondence, 1964-65
2. Observation Satellites for Arms Control, Inspection Report Number 62GL78 by R.S.
Rochlin, 1962
3. Patent Information and Ortec Workshop Report, 1965, 1969-70, 1974, undated
4. Patent Information with Notes and Photographs, 1977-1979
5. Patents Relative to Lexan: 2,901,466; 2,927,047; 3,148,059; 2,835,659; 3,250,173,
undated
6. PGT System 4, X-Ray Analyzer and IBAS Image Analyzer Publications, 1984, undated
7. Photoelectric Observatory Report 4 Report Number 62GL79 by J. F. Spalding, 1962
8. Photo-emissive Target Fabrication with Scanning Electron Microscope Report, 1973
9. Precision Resistance Network Analogue, 1960-61
10. Private Aircraft Radio Station License and Newsletter, 1954, 1964
11. Properties of Alathon (Hercules) & Epolene (Kodak) Resins, 1966
12. Properties of Lexan Polycarbonate Resin, 1967
13. Properties of Some Acquirable Binary Codes Technical Information Series Report
Number R63RG025, 1963
14. Reorganization of Research and Development Center by Dr. Arthur Bueche, 1967
15. Satellite Information: ERTS, Apollo & Russian, 1977
16. Scanning Electron Microscope Reports, 1967-68
17. Scanning Electron Microscope Evaluation of Isoplanar Silicon Process, 1980
18. Science and Technology Magazine, April 1964, June 1964, March 1967
19. Semiconductor and Junction Device Reports, 1959, 1961, 1967
20. Semiconductor Etching Reports [1 of 2], 1985-87
21. Semiconductor Etching Reports [2 of 2], 1984-85, 1987
22. SIC Devices Report with Images, 1993
23. Silicon Strain Gages and Data Storage, 1961
24. SIMTEC Nuclear Static Elimination Reports, 1983-88
25. The 3-D Hologram Process and Image Recognition by Spatial Filtering Report Number
64GL159 by J.M. Holeman, 1964
26. The Engineering Specialist and Radar Image of San Diego to Los Angeles, 1959-1960
27. The Geometry of Binocular Vision Report Number 60GL133 by H. Von Schelling, 1960
28. Vacuum Film Technique and Thin Film Deposition Reports, 1961-64
29. Vacuum Tube Data Reports (1 of 2), 1951-1957
30. Vacuum Tube Data Reports (2 of 2), 1957-1965
31. Variable Response Vidicon Target Reports, 1963
32. Vidicon Camera Channel Instructions, 1963
33. Voltage Contrast Reports, 1983-84
34. Whitney Symposia on Science and Technology, 1985-1986
35. Wideband Electron Beam Readout from Integrated Circuits Report, 1968
36. Work-out Workshop #2 Publication, 1990, undated
37. X-Ray Spectrographic Analysis Reports, 1957, 1966