Ralph H. Baer papers
The Ralph H. Baer papers have been arranged into seven series, five of which have been further divided into subseries. The physical materials are housed in eleven archival document boxes and one audiovisual storage box; there are also a series of digital-only files located on The Strong’s network. The labeling of folders or objects in this collection was often taken directly from Baer’s original folder or object names, where applicable.
Dates
- 1968 - 2010
- Majority of material found within 1975 - 1998
Creator
- Baer, Ralph H. (Designer, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Extent
11.5 Linear Feet (11 document boxes, 1 AV storage box)
525 Megabytes (Digital files) : Accessible on-site at The Strong.
Abstract
Biographical Note
Upon his return to the United States, Baer attended the American Television Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois. In 1949, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Television Engineering. For the next seven years, Baer worked as an engineer at several electronics firms on projects ranging from electro-medical equipment to television receivers. He joined Sanders Associates in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1956. At Sanders, Baer built airborne radar components, clandestine radio equipment, and high-density circuit boards, among other products. He also began work on the first home video game systems, known at Sanders as “TV Games,” culminating in 1972’s Magnavox Odyssey game console; this is commonly referred to as the first commercial video game console. Baer operated the research and development groups at Sanders, developing video-based training systems, advanced video game technology, and interactive video game systems.
Baer founded Ralph H. Baer Consultants in the mid-1970s, later collaborating with design firms like Marvin Glass & Associates, Smith Engineering, and Phil Orbanes Productions. He continued to provide independent research and development services to Sanders Associates for the next two decades. In 2006, Baer received the National Medal of Technology. Four years later, he was inducted into the National Inventors’ Hall of Fame for his pioneering work with television technologies and video games. Baer passed away at his home in Manchester, New Hampshire, on December 6, 2014.
System of Arrangement
Series I: Baer at Sanders Associates, 1971-2009
Subseries A: TV Games
Subseries B: Various electronic product development
Subseries C: Independent research and development reports
Series II: Baer partnership with Marvin Glass & Associates, 1968-2009
Subseries A: Simon
Subseries B: Maniac
Subseries C: Computer Perfection
Subseries D: Various electronic toy and game development
Series III: Baer partnership with Smith Engineering, 1978-1997
Subseries A: Slow Scan Television (SSTV)
Subseries B: Smarty Bear
Subseries C: Television Interface Modulator (TIM)
Subseries D: Various electronic toy and game development
Series IV: Baer partnership with Phil Orbanes Productions, 1987-2000
Subseries A: Sounds Like Fun recordable books
Subseries B: Various electronic toy and game development
Series V: Ralph H. Baer Consultants toy and game files, 1979-2006
Series VI: Baer autobiographical digital files, 2006-2010
Subseries A: Digital video archive
Subseries B: Autobiographical text documents
Series VII: Baer audiovisual materials, 1974-2004 and n.d.
Custodial History Note
Revision Note
Processed by
- Orbanes, Philip E.
- Computer Perfection (Electronic game)
- Electronic games -- History
- Electronic games industry -- United States
- Electronics -- Patents -- United States
- Game design and development
- Games -- Research
- Inventors
- Inventors -- Games
- Inventors -- Toys
- MANIAC (Electronic game)
- Marvin Glass & Associates
- Phil Orbanes Productions, Inc.
- Ralph H. Baer Consultants
- Sanders Associates
- Simon (Electronic game)
- Slow-scan television
- Smith Engineering, Inc.
- Video games -- History
Creator
- Baer, Ralph H. (Designer, Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Ralph H. Baer Papers, 1968-2010
- Status
- completed
- Author
- Julia Novakovic
- Date
- 30 April 2013
- Description rules
- dacs
Repository Details
Part of the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play at The Strong Repository
The Strong
One Manhattan Square
Rochester NY 14607 USA
585.263.2700
585.423.1886 (Fax)
library@museumofplay.org