Special Collections and University Archives
403 Parks Library | 701 Morrill Road
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2102
RS 11/1/14
George R. Town
Papers, 1929-1981, undated
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Town, George R. |
| title: | George R. Town papers |
| dates: | 1929-1981, undated |
| extent: | 7.56 linear feet (18 document boxes) |
| collection number: | RS 11/1/14 |
| repository: | University Archives, Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives. |
| language: | English |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Special Collections and University Archives |
| preferred citation: | George R. Town papers, RS 11/1/14, Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives. |
Access points
| people, families, and corporate bodies: | Town, George R. |
| places: | |
| subjects: | Television frequency allocation – United States Radio frequency allocation – United States |
| genres: | Administrative records Slides (photographs) |
Abstract
George R. Town was Professor of Electrical Engineering (1949-1970) and Dean of the College of Engineering (1959-1970) at Iowa State University. Town attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, where he received an Electrical Engineering Degree (1926) and a Doctor of Engineering Degree (1929). This collection includes biographical information, general correspondence, committee files, writings, letters commemorating his retirement, and slides of the Iowa State campus. The bulk of the collection documents Town's work as Executive Director of the Television Allocation Study Organization where he led research on the engineering factors underlying the allocation of television broadcast frequencies. |
Biographical note
George R. Town was born in Poultney, Vermont, on May 26, 1905. Town graduated from Troy Conference Academy, Poultney, Vermont in 1922. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1922-1929), Troy, New York, where he received an Electrical Engineering Degree (1926) and a Doctor of Engineering Degree (1929). Town started his career as a research engineer (1929-1933) with Leeds & Northrup Company, Philadelphia. He took a similar position at Arma Engineering Company (1933) and then became an instructor (1933-1936) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Town returned to industry when he accepted the position of research engineer (1936-1939) at the Stromberg-Carlson Company, where he later held the titles of engineer-in-charge of the television lab (1940-1941), assistant director of research (1941-1944), and manager of engineering and research (1944-1949),. In September 1949, Town moved to Iowa to hold the position of Associate Director of the Engineering Experiment Station and Professor of Electrical Engineering at Iowa State College (University). Town pursued his interests in wave propagation and electrical communications, particularly engineering standards for TV, FM, and AM broadcasting. Town took leave to serve as Executive Director (1957-1958) of the Television Allocation Study Organization (TASO), an industry-wide organization created to analyze the engineering factors underlying the allocation of channels for television broadcasting. He became Dean (1959-1970) of the College of Engineering and, following his retirement from administrative duties, received the title Dean Emeritus (1970). Town was a member of numerous professional societies including American Society for Engineering Education, Iowa Engineering Society, National Society of Professional Engineers, Tau Beta Pi (engineering honorary society), Beta Kappa Pi (electrical engineering honorary society), Sigma Xi (research honorary society), and Phi Kappa Phi (scholastic honorary society). He served as Chairman of Engineering Dean’s Group, and Mid-America State University Association (MASUA). Town received the John Dunlap Memorial Award of the Iowa Engineering Society (1952), the Engineering Achievement Award, National Association of Broadcasters (1962), and Iowa State University named the Town Engineering Building in his honor (1973). Town married Charlotte C. Schoonover of Troy, New York, and they had a daughter, Anne. George Town died on September 13, 1978, and was buried in the Iowa State University Cemetery. |
Collection description
This collection (1929-1981, undated) includes biographical information, general correspondence, committee files, writings, letters commemorating Town's retirement, photographs, and slides of the Iowa State campus. The bulk of the collection documents Town's work in the television broadcasting field, specifically research into the engineering factors underlying the allocation of channels for television broadcasting. Town completed the majority of this work while serving as Executive Director of the Television Allocation Study Organization (TASO), an industry-wide organization created at the request of the Federal Communications Commission. |
Organization
The collection is organized into two series: |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Biographical information and Iowa State University career | 1917-1981, undated |
| extent: | 1.26 linear feet (approximately 3 document boxes) | |
| description: | This series contains biographical information, correspondence, honors and awards information, slides of the Iowa State campus, materials related to the dedication of Town Engineering Building, and some writings by Town. This series is listed alphabetically. | |
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
1 |
Biographical: General information and transcripts |
1958-1977 |
1 |
2 |
Biographical: Iowa Engineer interview |
1969 |
1 |
3 |
Biographical: News clippings |
1950-1981, undated |
1 |
4 |
Biographical: Press releases and articles |
1949-1977, undated |
17 |
7 |
Comments made by President Hilton |
1958 |
1 |
5 |
Correspondence |
1969-1976 |
17 |
5 |
Correspondence: Employment |
1929-1949 |
17 |
3 |
Dedication of the George Town Engineering Building (23 photographs) |
1973 |
17 |
6 |
Graduation programs |
1917-1929 |
17 |
4 |
Honors and awards |
1963-1964 |
17 |
1 |
Retirement: Commemorative letters (20 photographs) |
1969-1970, undated |
17 |
2 |
Retirement: Photographs (12) |
1970 circa |
18 |
5 |
Slides: 4-H Camp (20) | 1968 |
18 |
9 |
Slides: Airstream/WBCCI (20) | 1978 |
18 |
6 |
Slides: Bicentennial Parade (29) | 1976 |
18 |
8 |
Slides: Family and Friends (160) | 1953-1977 |
18 |
7 |
Slides: Horticulture Garden (35) | 1977 |
18 |
1 |
Slides: ISU Campus (96) | 1949-1973 |
18 |
2 |
Slides: ISU Sports (40) | 1953-1975 |
18 |
4 |
Slides: Opening of Town Engineering Building (20) | 1973 |
18 |
10 |
Slides: Pershing Coal Company (11) | 1955 |
18 |
3 |
Slides: Vacation (58) |
1947-1974 |
16 |
4 |
Writings: "An Investigation of Automatic Train Control" (Ph.D. thesis) |
1929 |
16 |
6 |
Writings: “From the Dean’s Pen” in Iowa Engineer |
1959-1970 |
16 |
5 |
Writings: Dean Town’s reports on College of Engineering needs |
1962 |
Description of series
| Series 2 | Committee work related to the television industry | 1944-1969, undated |
| extent: | 6.3 linear feet (approximately 15 document boxes) | |
| description: | This series contains files related to Town's contributions to the television industry, specifically his research on the allocation of channels for broadcast television. Town was the Executive Director of the Television Allocation Study Organization, an industry-wide organization created at the request of the Federal Communications Commission, and there are extensive files documenting the work of this organization. The following list of acronyms defines the many committees and organizations Town was associated with.
AHAC - AD HOC Advisory Committee This series is organized alphabetically by organization name. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
6 |
AHAC: Report on Allocation of TV Channels |
1958 |
1 |
7 |
AMST: Reports (2) |
1960-1961 |
1 |
8 |
BBC: Television Field Trials |
1957-1958 |
1 |
9 |
CCIR: VIIIth Plenary Assembly |
1957 |
1 |
10 |
CCIR: Tropospheric Wave Transmission Loss Prediction |
1960-1962 |
2 |
1 |
FCC: Allocation Standards |
1948 |
2 |
2-3 |
FCC: Matters Relating to TV Allocation |
1945 |
2 |
4-7 |
FCC: Matters Relating to TV Allocation |
1952 |
3 |
1-2 |
FCC: Matters Relating to TV Allocation |
1958 |
3 |
3-5 |
FCC: Matters Relating to TV Allocation |
1960-1961 |
3 |
6 |
FCC: Reports Relating to TV Allocation |
1960-1966 |
3 |
7-8 |
FCC: Releases Relating to TV Allocation |
1945-1958, undated |
4 |
1-7 |
JTAC: Proceedings |
1948-1953 |
5 |
1 |
NBS: Report of Measurement for TV Broadcasting |
1956 |
5 |
2-3 |
NBS: Report of Radio Propagation Survey and Supplement |
1957 |
5 |
4 |
NBS: Report of Atmospheric Noise Summary |
1958 |
5 |
5 |
NBS: Report of Distribution Prediction |
1959 |
5 |
6 |
NBS: Report of VHF and UHF Power Generators |
1960 |
5 |
7 |
RTMA: UHF Television System |
1946 |
5 |
8 |
RTMA: Impact of TV Expansion |
1951 |
6 |
1 |
RTPB Panel 4, Standard Broadcasting |
1944 |
6 |
2 |
RTPB Panel 5, Report for Postwar FM Broadcasting |
1944 |
6 |
3 |
RTPB Panel 6, Committee 2, Synchronization Standards and Video Modulations |
1944 |
6 |
4 |
RTPB Panel 6, Committee 3, Review of Old Standards and Proposed New Standards |
1944 |
6 |
5 |
RTPB Panel 6, Committee 3, Second Report |
1944 |
6 |
6 |
RTPB Panel 6, Committee 4, Frequency Allocation of Service Limits |
1944 |
6 |
7 |
RTPB Panel 6, Committee 5, Standards for TV Transmitters |
1944 |
7 |
1 |
RTPB Panel 6, Relay Links |
1944 |
7 |
2 |
RTPB Panel 6, Second Report on Standards and Frequency |
1944 |
7 |
3 |
RTPB Panel 6, Interim Report UHF Color TV |
1946 |
7 |
4 |
RTPB Panel 6, Report for Postwar Television |
1944 |
7 |
5 |
RTPB Panel 8, Report on Standards and Frequency |
1944 |
7 |
6 |
TAC, Technical Sub: Committee Report |
1958-1959 |
8 |
1-2 |
TASO: Correspondence General |
1950-1969 |
8 |
3 |
TASO: Annual Report for 1957 |
1957 |
8 |
4-5 |
TASO: Board of Directors agendas |
1957-1960 |
8 |
6 |
TASO: Board of Directors financial statements |
1957-1959 |
8 |
7-8 |
TASO: Board of Directors minutes |
1956-1960 |
9 |
1 |
TASO: Checklists from Panel 1 to 4 |
1957 |
9 |
2 |
TASO: Detail of experimental program |
1957 |
9 |
3 |
TASO: Field Intensity Measurement Survey, Pennsylvania |
1957 |
9 |
4 |
TASO: Field Intensity Measurement Survey, Louisiana |
1957 |
9 |
5 |
TASO: Field Intensity Measurement Survey, Wisconsin |
1958 |
9 |
6 |
TASO: Field Intensity Measurement Survey, Columbia, South Carolina |
1958 |
9 |
7 |
TASO: Field Intensity Measurement Survey, California |
1958 |
10 |
1 |
TASO: Field Intensity Measurement Survey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
1958 |
10 |
2 |
TASO: Field Intensity Measurement Survey, New York |
1958 |
10 |
3 |
TASO: Field Intensity Measurement Survey, Massachusetts |
1959 |
10 |
4-5 |
TASO: Field Panel questionnaires and survey sheets |
1957 |
11 |
1-5 |
TASO: Field Panel questionnaires and survey sheets |
1957-1958, undated |
12 |
1-3 |
TASO: Field Panel questionnaires and survey sheets |
1957 |
12 |
4 |
TASO: Final Report TASO/UT contract |
1958 |
12 |
5 |
TASO: Measurement method |
undated |
12 |
6 |
TASO: Panel 1, Minutes of and Committee |
1957-1958 |
12 |
7 |
TASO: Panel 1, Transmitting Equipment |
1958 |
13 |
1 |
TASO: Panel 2, Minutes of and Committee |
1958 |
13 |
2 |
TASO: Panel 2, Subjective Analysis of Color Systems |
1951-1952 |
13 |
3 |
TASO: Panel 2, Receiving Equipment |
1958 |
13 |
4 |
TASO: Panel 3, Minutes of and Committee |
1958 |
13 |
5 |
TASO: Report on Allocations and Color TV |
1950-1951 |
14 |
1 |
TASO: Panel 3, Field Tests |
1958 |
14 |
2 |
TASO: Panel 4, Minutes of and Committee |
1957-1958 |
14 |
3 |
TASO: Panel 4, Final Reports |
1959 |
14 |
4 |
TASO: Panel 4, Propagation Data Sheets, Charts |
1958 |
14 |
5 |
TASO: Panel 5, Minutes of and Committee |
1957-1958 |
15 |
1 |
TASO: Panel 5, Interim Report of |
1957 |
15 |
2 |
TASO: Panel 6, Minutes of and Committee |
1957-1958 |
15 |
3 |
TASO: Panel 6, Report of |
1959 |
15 |
4 |
TASO: Panel Coordinating agenda |
1957 |
15 |
5 |
TASO: Panel Coordinating Committee |
1958-1960 |
15 |
6 |
TASO: Panel Coordinating minutes of |
1957-1959, undated |
15 |
7 |
TASO: Reports and surveys of TV reception conditions |
1957, undated |
16 |
1 |
TASO: Reports and statements |
1957-1958, undated |
16 |
2 |
TASO: Research data |
1958 |
16 |
3 |
ZRC: Comprehending on UHF TV reception |
1957 |