University of
Minnesota Libraries. Charles Babbage Institute. [cbi]
Norris, William C., 1911-
William C. Norris
papers
1946-1988
7 boxes (4.75
cubic feet)
The collection documents William Norris' professional
activities and interests, primarily in the years after his tenure as president
of the Control Data Corporation (1986-1995). Materials consist of articles
about and interviews with Norris, correspondence, Norris' talks and writings,
and subject files.
CBI 164
English
Administrative Information
Acquisition:
The records were given to the Charles Babbage Institute by William C.
Norris in 2001.
Access to materials:
Access to the collection is unrestricted.
Copyright:
The Charles Babbage Institute holds the copyright to all materials in
the collection, except for items covered by a prior copyright (such as
published materials). Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair
use provisions of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).
Preferred Citation:
William C. Norris Papers, (CBI 164), Charles Babbage Institute,
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Arrangement of Collection
The materials in this collection are arranged into the following
groups:
- Articles and Interviews
- Correspondence
- Talks and Writings
- Subject Files
Biographical Note
William C. Norris was born in 1911. He graduated from the University
of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1932. He
assumed management of the family farm upon the death of his father a few months
later. From 1935 to 1941 he served as a sales engineer with the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company and worked in Omaha and Chicago. During
World War II, Norris was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and was
assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, where he was involved
in the research and development of communications and computing equipment.
Following military service, Norris helped found Engineering Research
Associates (ERA) in St. Paul, Minnesota. He served as a vice president and
general manager for the firm from 1946-1955. In 1952, ERA became a subsidiary
of the Remington Rand Corporation. Remington Rand merged with the Sperry
Corporation to form the Sperry Rand Corporation in 1955. Norris served as vice
president and general manager of the Univac division of Sperry Rand Corporation
from 1956-1957.
In 1957, Norris helped establish Control Data Corporation (CDC) with
several other former Sperry Rand Univac employees. He served as President and
CEO of the company from 1957 until his retirement in 1986. Norris retained a
position on the Board of Directors of CDC until 1991.
Scope and Content Note
The William C. Norris papers document Norris' professional activities
and interests, primarily in the years after his tenure as president of the
Control Data Corporation (1986-1995). There are some materials in the papers
dating before the formation of CDC (1946-1957), as well as a small amount of
material of a personal nature, most notably personal correspondence. Materials
consist of articles about and interviews with Norris, correspondence, Norris'
talks and writings, and subject files. Subject files make up the bulk of the
material and cover many topics of interest to Norris throughout his career,
including corporate social responsibility, computer-based education, economic
development and job creation, and U.S. trade and technology transfer with the
Soviet Union and Japan.
Norris' professional activities were closely related to his work at
CDC; researchers should use the Norris Papers in conjunction with the William
C. Norris Executive Papers series (Series 9) in the Control Data Corporation
Records (CBI 80). More information about Norris and his post-retirement
activities and writings can be found in Albert Eisele’s papers as part of the
Executive Papers series (Series 8) of the Control Data Corporation Records (CBI
80).
Acronyms used in this finding
aid:
- AIMSC = Advanced Integrated Manufacturing Service Center
- CBE = Computer-Based Education
- CDC = Control Data Corporation
- ERA = Engineering Research Associates, Inc.
- GMC = Greater Minnesota Corporation
- MCC = Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation
- MFFI = Minnesota Family Farm Institute
- MTDI = Midwest Technology Development Institute
Related Materials
CBI 80, Series 9, William C. Norris Executive Papers
CBI 80, Series 8, Executive Papers, (Albert Eisele)
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog
of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about
related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these
headings.
Norris, William C., 1911-
Control Data Corporation.
Engineering Research Associates.
Sperry Rand Corporation, Univac Division.
Chief executive officers --
United States -- Biography.
Computer-Assisted
Instruction.
Consolidation and merger of
corporations -- United States -- Prevention.
East-West trade.
Technology transfer --
Government policy -- United States.
United States -- Foreign
economic relations -- Japan.
United States -- Foreign
economic relations -- Soviet Union.
Box and Folder List
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
Articles and Interviews
Articles about Norris
5
1986-1988.
5
1989-1995.
5
Portrait of a Maverick,
1987.
Interviews
5
1986-1995.
5
CDC Video,
1992.
5
DPMA Information Executive,
1989.
5
Ethical Leadership,
1979, 1986-1987.
5
Inc. Magazine,
1988.
5
Minneapolis Star Tribune,
1998.
Correspondence
1
Business,
1986-1994.
1
Personal,
1959-1992.
1
Al Eisele,
1986-1988.
1
James C. Worthy,
1987-1988.
Talks and Writings
Speeches
6
1986-1988.
6
1989-1996.
6
"Private Business and Social Responsibility," Carroll
College Conference,
4 April 1991.
6
Handicapped,
1988.
6
Outlines/Notes,
1986-1989.
Writings (Opinion/Editorial Articles)
6
Hostile Takeovers,
1987.
6
Restructuring,
1987.
6
Supercomputing,
1989-1990.
6
"A Fifth-Year View of Technology,"
1986.
6
Writings,
1986-1993.
Subject Files
A.T. International
1
1982.
2 folders
1
1983-1984.
1
About,
1981-1984.
1
Board of Trustees Meetings,
1982.
1
Project Review and Advisory Committee (PRAC),
1984.
1
"Achievements",
1985, 1988-1990.
Advanced Integrated Manufacturing Service Center
(AIMSC)
1
1986-1989.
1
1987.
1
1988-1990.
1
Advanced Manufacturing,
1986-1987.
1
Advanced Manufacturing, The Pymatuning Group,
1986.
1
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI),
1989-1991.
1
Agriculture,
1987-1989.
1
Alpha Center for Public/Private Initiatives,
1986-1987.
5
Awards,
1980-1983, 1985-1989, 1990.
1
Book Project, Deanna Nord,
1986-1989.
1
Business Ethics,
1987.
1
City Venture Corporation,
1987, 1990.
1
City Venture Corporation, Private Sector Initiatives,
1987.
1
Control Data Corporation,
1986-1991.
1
Control Data Corporation, Innovation Fund,
1986-1987.
1
CDC Stock Transactions, Norris and Family,
1957-1968.
1
Corporate Social Responsibility,
1987-1990.
1
Seymour Cray,
1985-1998.
Includes obituary from the New York
Times.
2
"Dr. Deming's Plan for Action for the Optimization of
Service Organizations,"
18-19 August 1992.
7
Earth Energy Systems, Inc. board meeting minutes,
30 September 1987.
2
Economic Development,
1987-1989.
2 folders
2
Education,
1988, 1990-1991.
2
Control Data Business and Technology Centers,
1985-1986, 1989.
2
Engineering Education,
1989.
2
Engineering Research Centers,
1985, 1987-1989.
2
National School Board Association,
1987-1988.
2
Education, Tutorial,
1988-1989.
2
Computer-Based Education (CBE),
1986-1991, 1996.
2
Computer-Based Education, Articles,
1988-1989, 1995-1996.
2
Head Start, Child Development Program,
1990.
2
National Information and Education Utilities
Corporation,
1987.
2
Technology-Based Engineering Education Consortium
(TBEEC),
1988.
7
Engineering Research Associates.
7
Engineering Research Associates, Reunion and Employee
Lists,
1974-1986.
7
Engineering Research Associates, Employment Contract,
16 July 1946.
2
Aaron J. Gellman,
1986, 1988-1989.
2
Richard Gephart, Meeting,
1990.
7
Glider Club,
1931.
2
Great Minnesota Corporation (GMS),
1988-1990.
Hostile Takeovers
2
1985-1986.
2
1986-1987.
2
1987.
2
1988-1990.
7
Hunting Ledger,
1953-1957.
2
"Inner City,"
1987-1988.
2
International Cooperation,
1984, 1987-1988.
2
Jacorgs Wind Electric Company,
1980-1982.
2
U.S.-Japan, Norris Speeches and Writings,
1986-1990.
Japan
3
The Second Japan-U.S. Conference on High Technology
and the International Environment,
9-11 November 1986.
2 folders
3
The Second Japan-U.S. Conference on High Technology
and the International Environment, Transcript,
9-11 November 1986
2 folders
3
Fifth U.S.-Japan Science Policy Seminar,
21-24 May 1989.
3
U.S.-Japan, Testimony,
1987-1989.
3
U.S.-Japan Trade, Papers and Reports,
1986, 1991.
3
U.S.-Japan, Small Business Technology Transfers to
Japan,
1988-1989.
3
U.S.-Japan,
1987-1989.
3
Japan, Technology Research/Education,
1986-1989.
3
Japan-U.S., Articles,
1987-1992.
3
Job Creation Networks,
1985-1987.
3
Manufacturing,
1986-1987.
Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation
(MCC)
3
1986-1988.
3
1988-1993.
3
1992-1994.
3
Issues Letter,
1986-1991.
3
Publications/Lit.,
1988-1992.
3
Midwest Technology Development Institute (MTDI),
1985-1989, 1991.
2 folders
3
MTDI, Advanced Ceramics and Composites Partnership,
1987.
3
Minnesota Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centers,
1989-1990.
3
Minnesota Family Farm Institute (MFFI),
1987.
7
Minnesota Innovation Fund,
1985-1987.
7
National Cyclopedia of American Biography,
1973.
3
National Prison Industries Task Force,
1991-1993.
3
William C. Norris Institute,
1985, 1987-1989, 1991-1991.
3
Norris Management Company,
1982-1984, 1986.
4
Norris Management Company, Citizens State Bank of
Shakopee,
1976-1980.
4
Organization Affiliations,
1975, 1977-1981, 1985.
4
Otter Tractor Corporation,
1982-1986.
Minnesota Governor Perpich, Meetings,
4
1987-1990.
4
1986-1988.
7
Postcard of Red Cloud, Nebraska.
4
Prison Programs,
1988-1989.
4
Prison Programs, Chief Justice Warren Burger,
1970-1989.
4
William Raspberry,
1983-1988.
4
Rosebud Sioux Tribe,
1986.
4
Rural Enterprise Partnership, Inc.,
1987.
4
Arnold J. Ryden,
1985, 1987-1988.
4
Science and Technology, Reports,
1987, 1990.
4
Small Farms,
1986-1988.
4
Social Justice/Economics, Catholic Bishops Position On,
1986-1987.
2 folders
4
Social Justice/Hostile Takeovers,
1987-1990.
Soviet Union
4
1987.
4
1988-1989.
4
1990-1992.
4
Cooperation with U.S., Science/Trade,
1986-1988, 1990.
4
Gorbachev Visit,
1990-1991.
4
Moscow Institute of Electronic Engineering,
1991.
4
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology,
1991.
4
Reports and Papers,
1986-1988.
4
Soviet Union and Education,
1973-1974, 1988-1990.
4
Control Data Corporation,
1987.
4
Trips,
1988-1991.
4
Soviet Union, U.S. Joint Ventures,
1987-1991.
4
Soviet Union Academy of Science,
1988-1989.
4
Soviet Union/Norris Institute Joint Venture (SAMAN),
1988-1989.
7
Sperry Rand Univac Division Research Laboratory
Groundbreaking,
circa 1956.
Photographs
4
Sperry-Univac History,
1978-1980.
7
Sperry Rand Univac memos,
1956-1957.
4
Technology Legislation,
1985-1986.
4
Technology Transfer,
1985-1986, 1990.
4
Technotec,
1987.
4
Travel,
1975.
4
Trip to London,
1988.
4
U.S. Presidential Inauguration Activities,
1985.
7
University-Industry Partnership,
1987.
4
Wellspring,
1986-1992.
7
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,
Recommendation Letters to U.S. Navy,
1941.