Tom Loughry papers

Collection — Box: 1-7

Identifier: 123.4023

Collection Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of the papers of Tom Loughry, co-founder of Cheshire Engineering and video game designer. The materials are dated from 1978 to 1993, with the bulk of the materials between 1980 and 1985. The papers are comprised of marketing materials, source code, game reviews, administrative documents and more.

The majority of the materials are sell sheets from games designed by Loughry while working with Intellivision, Cheshire Engineering, Activision, and Accolade. The collection also includes source code, administrative documents, proposals, unused designs, press kits, and more.

The Tom Loughry papers have been arranged into four series, with one series further divided into three subseries. The physical materials are housed in seven boxes. Additional scope and content information can be found in the Series and Subseries Scope and Content Notes.

Dates

Creation: 1978-1993
Creation: Majority of material found within 1980-1985

Creator

Loughry, Tom (Programmer) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use by staff of The Strong and users of its library and achives. Source code is available to on-site researchers only.

Conditions Governing Use

Though the donor has not transferred intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to any copyright, trademark, and associated rights therein) to The Strong, they have given permission for The Strong to make copies in all media for museum, educational, and research purposes.

Biographical Note

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Tom Loughry is a video game programmer and designer. Loughry graduated from the California Institute of Technology [Caltech] and started designing games at APh Technological Consulting around 1980. APh was contracted by Mattel Electronics to create cartridge games for the Intellivision home video game console. The first video game Loughry worked on is Boxing (1980). He also assisted withSub Hunt (1981) and the Mattel Children’s Discovery System [Mattel CDS].

In 1982 Loughry left APh Technology to start Cheshire Engineering, an engineering consulting firm, with Dave Rolfe, Shal Farley, Chris Lee, Will McCown, Kevin Miller, and Larry Zwick. Cheshire Engineering designed games for Intellivision and ColecoVision including Beamrider (1983), Worm Whomper (1983), andDreadnaught Factor (1983). After 1984, Cheshire Engineering broadened its scope of work outside of video games and is still in business as of 2025.

Loughry designed Alcazar: The Forgotten Fortress for Activision in 1985. From Activision, Loughry moved to game company Accolade where he focused mainly on computer games. He developed the first-person tank gameSteel Thunder (1988). While with Accolade, he designedGun Boat (1990), Grand Prix Unlimited (1992), Test Drive III, (1990) andSpeed Racer in the Challenge of Racer X (1993).

In the late nineties, Loughry worked at EA and helped develop Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit (1998) andPGA Tour 96.

Extent

4.65 Linear Feet (4 document boxes, 3 flat boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

System of Arrangement

Series I: Intellivision, 1978-1986

Subseries A: Administrative documents, 1978-1986

Subseries B: Source code, 1980-1982

Subseries C: Mattel Children's Discovery System, 1980

Series II: Cheshire Engineering, 1982-1984

Series III: Activision, 1982-1989

Series IV: Accolade, 1984, 1988-1993

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers were donated to The Strong in April 2024 as a gift of Tom Loughry. The papers were accessioned by The Strong under object ID 123.4023 and were received from Tom Loughry in two bankers boxes.

Separated Materials

Loughry's donation also includes three-dimensional objects. The objects have been separated from the archival collection for proper storage. The three-dimensional objects include video games for the Intellivision, Sony PlayStation, Atari 5200, IBM/Tandy, and the Commodore 64. Other objects consist of pins, clothing, posters, and product packaging [Activity ID 15671].