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Finding Aid for the Martin Thrope Papers LSC.2329

Finding aid prepared by Kelly Besser, 2021. Processing was supported by UCLA University Archives and Kleinrock History Center. UCLA Library Special Collections Online finding aid last updated 2021 January 11. Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library Box 951575 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575 [email protected] URL: https://www.library.ucla.edu/special-collections

Finding Aid for the Martin Thrope LSC.2329 1 Papers LSC.2329 Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections Title: Martin Thrope papers Identifier/Call Number: LSC.2329 Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet(1 carton) Date (inclusive): 1968-2000, bulk 1969-1973 Date (bulk): 1969-1973 Abstract: From 1969 to 1974, Martin Thrope was a member of the of the team at Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN), that implemented the ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet. His papers detail the BBN company of that time, and his work developing procedures for reports of network outages, installing Interface Message Processor (IMP) systems at various sites around the country, and designing specialized interfaces to connect a variety of host computers to the IMPs for connection to the ARPANET. Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information. General Physical Description note: The majority of the original materials are in good condition. Language of Material: English . Conditions Governing Access note COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT Southern Regional Library Facility: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special Collections reference desk for paging information. Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note Selected items have been digitized for the KIHC Digital Collections: http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/internethistory/. Conditions Governing Use note Property rights to the physical object belong to the UC Regents. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright. Preferred Citation note [Identification of item], Martin Thrope papers (Collection 2329). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles. Immediate Source of Acquisition note The collection was donated by Martin Thrope to UCLA Kleinrock Internet History Center Donated by Martin Thrope in a deed of gift dated 31 Dec 2011. Custodial History note UCLA Kleinrock Internet History Center (KIHC) obtained the set of BBN materials directly from Martin Thrope. The files were donated to UCLA by Martin Thrope. Processing Information note Processed by May Chua with additional material processed by Sonia Collazo in 2013. Former collection number and title Originally brought in by Charlotte Brown, University Archivist for a proposed Kleinrock Center for Internet Studies at UCLA. Formerly KCIS 4; formerly titled Martin Thrope BNN papers UCLA Catalog Record ID UCLA Catalog Record ID: 8134824 Biographical/Historical note From 1969 to 1974, after completing undergraduate studies at Harvard, Martin Thrope was a member of the team at Bolt Beranek & Newman (BBN) that implemented the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) for the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense. The BBN team led by Frank Heart developed the Interface Message Processors (IMPs) which connected host systems to the ARPANET. Thrope connected host systems to the ARPANET, and made key contributions to the ARPANET architecture. Thrope developed a set of diagnostic procedures for producing specific information on line failures for reports of network outages of both IMPs and the phone lines that connected them, to be relayed to the phone company offices responsible for each line. BBN established a Network Control Center (NCC) run by Thrope which used a minicomputer, the NCC host, to analyze IMP status reports, print out alerts, and display the status of each IMP on a set of light panels mounted in wood grain box. For the NCC, Thrope compiled and maintained a comprehensive set of useful reference information on each IMP site and each phone line. In addition to his

Finding Aid for the Martin Thrope LSC.2329 2 Papers LSC.2329 role in network operations, Thrope also designed and installed specialized interfaces sold by BBN to connect a variety of mainframe host computers to the IMPs at their sites. Toward the end of his time at BBN, he was a member of the team that designed a multiprocessor version of the IMP and its specialized hardware interfaces. After leaving BBN in 1974, Thrope earned his MBA degree from Harvard, followed by various management roles in organizations providing computer based products and services for the retail and financial industries. Scope and Contents note The papers of Martin Thrope, a member of the team at Bolt Beranek & Newman (BBN) that implemented the ARPANET, consisting of materials detailing his tenure at BBN from 1969 to 1974 and including: reports, brochures, correspondence, memorandum, manuals, photographs, slides, CDROM, and a VHS tape. Arrangement note The files within each series and subseries are arranged in chronological order. The series arrangement of the records is as follows: Series 1: Correspondence, Documents, and Media from BBN Series 2: Technical Memorandum and Problem Reports Series 3: IMP manuals, 1971-1973 Subjects and Indexing Terms Computer science. Computer architecture and design -- Archives. Computer networks -- United States -- Archives. ARPANET (). Internet -- History -- United States -- Archives. Internet (Computer network) -- United States -- Archives. Interface Message Processor. United States. Advanced Research Projects Agency Bolt, Beranek, and Newman Heart, Frank Thrope, Martin

Series 1: Correspondence, Documents, and Media from BBN 1968-2000 Scope and Contents note Series 1 consists of BBN administrative documents and includes: correspondence, a personnel handbook, annual statements, a business plan, and a copy of personnel address list from 1971 and 1973. The series also includes: a videotape and brochure documenting BBN history , and photographs and slides of IMP equipment and BBN staff. The correspondence from Martin Thrope to Frank Heart in 1974 consists of Martin Thrope's plan to resign on 1974 September 6, and a list of responsibilities (HSMIMP documentation, host interface design, consultation services, and special host interfaces) to be passed on after the latter's resignation.

box 1, folder 1 Photographs 1968, 1972, 2000 Physical Description: 1 folders Scope and Contents note The series include photographs of BBN staff and a Univac 418 to IMP special host interface. There are six glossy finish black and white photographs of BBN staff members taken at BBN, Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1968. The BBN staff members were Frank Heart, , Dave Francis, Dave Katsuki, Ben Barket, Tony Michel, Mike Kraley, Dick Garber, Martin Thrope, Steve Jeske, Will Crowther, and Bob Bressler. There are 14 slides and a CDROM of images of the Univac 418 to IMP special host interface.

box 1, folder 2 Correspondence and Memos 1974-1975 Physical Description: 1 folders

Finding Aid for the Martin Thrope LSC.2329 3 Papers LSC.2329 Series 1: Correspondence, Documents, and Media from BBN 1968-2000 Administrative Documents 1969, 1971, 1973

box 1, folder 3 Administrative Documents 1969, 1971, 1973 Physical Description: 1 folders

box 1, folder 4 BBN History 1976, 1994 Physical Description: 2 folders Scope and Contents note The series include a brochure and VHS tape that documents BBN history and milestones in 1976 and 1994 respectively. The VHS tape titled "the History of the Future:Arpanet, Internet... and Beyond,Arpanet Celebration Dinner" was produced by BBN in 1994. Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note Limitation on access due to physical characteristics of the materials; VHS tape must be digitized prior to use.

Series 2: Technical Memorandum and Problem Reports 1972-1973 Scope and Contents note Series 2 includes: a memorandum entitled "Guide to the Good stuff" providing a comprehensive set of useful reference information on each IMP site and each phone line, a memorandum detailing the NCC program used to display the status of each IMP on a set of light panels mounted in wood grain box, IMP downtime and line outage reports, and fixes to UCLA ready line notes. Processing Information note This subseries includes materials from the 2013 addition which were processed in 2013 by Sonia Collazo.

box 1, folder 5 Memorandum Guide to the Good Stuff Apr 1972 box 1, folder 6 NCC program Memo Feb 1973 box 1, folder 7 Problem Reports undated Series 3: Interface Message Processors (IMP) manuals 1971-1973 Physical Description: 3 folders Scope and Contents note Series 3 includes: three manuals produced by BBN Computer Systems Division from 1971 and 1973. The manuals are: (Report No. 2061) dated January 1971 that describes the design, installation, and operation of a special interface that BBN built to connect the IMP to an IBM 360 computer; a manual dated 1973 April that describes the design, installation, and operation of a special interface that BBN built to connect the IMP to a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) PDP-10 host computer; and a manual that describes the design, installation, and operation of a special interface that BBN built to connect the IMP to a DEC PDP-15 host computer. Subjects and Indexing Terms Interface Message Processor. Computer science. Computer architecture and design -- Archives. Computer network resources. Computer engineering -- Data processing. ARPANET (Computer network).

box 1, folder 8 Manual for the 360/IMP Special Interface 1971 box 1, folder 9 Manual for the IMP-10 Special Interface 1973 box 1, folder 10 Manual for the IMP-15 Special Interface 1973

Finding Aid for the Martin Thrope LSC.2329 4 Papers LSC.2329