Finding Aid for James W Beauchamp Harmonic Tone Generator and Papers, 1963-1966 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Scott Schwartz, Swarnikaa Kiran, and Finnegan Upchurch

Service Location	Boxes
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	2015.1205069.001 - Harmonic Tone Generator Module
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	2015.1205069.002 - Time Delay Network Module
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	2015.1205069.003 - Time Envelope Network Module
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 01
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 02
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 03
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 04
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 05
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 06
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 07
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 08
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 09
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 10
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 11
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 12
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 13
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 14
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 15
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 16
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 17
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 18
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 19
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 20
Archives Research Center, 1707 S. Orchard Street	Box 21

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Collection Overview

Title: James W Beauchamp Harmonic Tone Generator and Papers, 1963-1966

ID: 12/5/69

Primary Creator: Beauchamp, James W. (1937-2022)

Extent: 5.25 cubic feet

Arrangement: Organized in six series - Series 1: Instruction, Series 2: Research and Publications, Series 3: Professional Service, Series 4: Administrative Records, Series 5, Personal Papers, and Series 6: Harmonic Tone Generator Components and Papers.

Date Acquired: 01/14/2015. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Acoustical Society of America, Acoustics, Alumni, Class Notes, Classroom Instruction, Computer Music, Computer Science, Dissertations, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Department, Electronic Music, Faculty, Faculty Papers, Illiac Computers, Music, School of

Formats/Genres: Experimental Music, Papers

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of published articles, class records (such as syllabi, class rosters, and homework assignments), research files, conference programs, essays, and photos documenting James Beauchamp's acoustic research and role as a Professor in the School of Music and College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Of note in this collection are the Harmonic Tone Generator, supporting Magnavox grant, correspondence with Robert Moog, programs and correspondence related to a Barry Truax concert held at the University of Illinois, a bound copy of his dissertation, and research and publications completed at the Institut de recherche et coordination in acoustique musique (IRCAM) in Paris, France.

Biographical Note

James Warren Beauchamp (1937-2022) was Professor Emeritus in both the School of Music and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois. Dr. Beauchamp received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan, in 1960 and 1961 respectively. In 1965, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a PhD in electrical engineering. His dissertation was entitled Electronic Instrumentation for the Synthesis, Control, and Analysis of Harmonic Musical Tones. He worked closely with his mentor, chemist and composer Lejaren Hiller, during his PhD studies to create the Harmonic Tone Generator (HTG), funded by a Magnavox Corporation grant. The device was among the first voltage-controlled electronic music synthesizers. The HTG was used in a number of electronic music projects staged at the University of Illinois, including Salvatore Martirano's Underworld.

He joined the electrical and computer engineering faculty as an associate professor in 1965. Shortly after, he took a leave of absence which he spent working in Stanford's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. He returned in 1969 to his joint appointment in electrical and computer engineering and music. He served as director of the School of Music's Experimental Music Studios from 1984 to 1993, during which time he headed the Hybrid Computer Project and the Computer Music Project. It was during this time that he programmed a number of concerts for the Computer Music Project, the most notable being Dexter Morrill in 1982 and Barry Truax in 1996.

He retired from the University of Illinois faculty in 1997, but remained an active researcher in his field and continued to write papers with former Ph.D. students, Andrew Horner and Rob Maher. Dr. Beauchamp was a fellow of both the Audio Engineering Society and the Acoustical Society of America. He was also a visiting scholar at Stanford's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics and a visiting researcher at the Institut de recherche et coordination in acoustique musique (IRCAM) in Paris.

Dr. Beauchamp passed away in 2022. In 2024, his former student Rob Maher established the James W. Beauchamp Award for Interdisciplinary Research. The award is granted to an Electrical and Computer Engineering doctoral student who pursues "interdisciplinary creative work that transcends traditional department boundaries".

Subject/Index Terms

Acoustical Society of America
Acoustics
Alumni
Class Notes
Classroom Instruction
Computer Music
Computer Science
Dissertations
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department
Electronic Music
Faculty
Faculty Papers
Illiac Computers
Music, School of

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: Folder of news-clippings donated on 11/16/2017. Twenty-one additional boxes donated on 06/10/2025 by Mrs. Beauchamp.

Acquisition Source: James Beauchamp

Acquisition Method: Gift

Related Materials: For further information about other Lejaren Hiller sound recordings and personal papers please visit the University at Buffalo's Lejaren Hiller Papers. For more information please see https://research.lib.buffalo.edu/hiller.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Instruction, c. 1960s - 2010s],
[Series 2: Research and Publications, c. 1950s - 2020s],
[Series 3: Professional Service, c. 1970s - 2020s],
[Series 4: Administrative Records, c. 1960s - 2020s],
[Series 5: Personal Papers, 1951 - 2021],
[Series 6: Harmonic Tone Generator Components and Papers, 1963-1966],
[All]

Series 3: Professional Service, c. 1970s - 2020s

Consists of contracts, meeting minutes, conference programs, grant proposals, and travel itineraries documenting professional and academic services. Organized into two subseries: Subseries 1, Acoustical Society of America Committee Files and Conference Programs, and Subseries 2, PRofessional Organization Conferences and Travel Itineraries.

Sub-Series 1: Acoustical Society of America committee files and conference programs

Consists of Acoustical Society of America conference programs, talks, and committee meeting minutes. Arranged chronologically.

Box 11

Folder 6: 180th Acoustical Society of America Meeting (Virtual), 2021 June 8-10
Folder 7: Acoustical Society of America Membership and Donations [Folder 1 of 2], 2017 - 2020
Folder 8: Acoustical Society of America Membership and Donations [Folder 2 of 2], 2018 - 2020
Folder 9: 179th Acoustical Society of America Meeting (Virtual), 2020 December 7 - 11
Folder 10: Louisville Acoustical Society of America, 2019 May 13 - 17
Folder 11: Minneapolis Acoustical Society of America Meeting, 2018 May 7 - 11
Folder 12: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - New Orleans, 2017 December 4 - 8
Folder 13: Honolulu Acoustical Society of America Meeting, 2016 November 28 - December 2: Held in conjunction with the Acousical Society of Japan
Folder 14: Salt Lake City Acoustical Society of America, 2016 May 23 - 27
Folder 15: Jacksonville Acoustical Society of America Meeting, 2015 November 2 - 6
Folder 16: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Pittsburgh, 2015 May 18 - 22
Folder 17: 168th Acoutical Society of America Meeting - Indianapolis, 2014 October 27 - 31
Folder 18: Providence Acoustical Society of America Meeting, 2014 May 5 - 9
Folder 19: San Fransisco Acoustical Society of America Meeting, 2013 December 2 - 6
Folder 20: Montreal Acoustical Society of America/International Congress on Acoustics Meeting, 2013 June 2 - 7
Folder 21: Acoustical Society of America Membership Committee, 2012 - 2013
Folder 22: Kansas City Acoustical Society of America Meeting, 2012 October 22 - 26
Folder 23: Acoustical Society of America 163 - Acoustics 2012 - Hong Kong, 2012 May 13 - 18
Folder 24: San Diego Acoustical Society of America Meeting, 2011 October 31 - November 4
Folder 25: Acoustical Society of America - Seattle, 2011 May 23 - 27
Folder 26: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Cancun, 2010 November 15 - 19
Folder 27: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Baltimore, 2010 April 19 - 23
Folder 28: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - San Antonio, 2009 October 26 - 30
Folder 29: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Portland, 2009 May 18 - 22
Folder 30: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Miami, 2008 November 10 - 14
Folder 31: Acoustical Society of America/European Acoustics Society - Paris, 2008 June 29 - July 4
Folder 32: Acoustical Society of America - New Orleans Meeting, 2007 November 27 - December 1
Folder 33: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Salt Lake City, 2007 June 4 - 8
Folder 34: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Honolulu, 2006 November 28 - December 2
Folder 35: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Providence, 2006 June 5 - 9
Folder 36: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Minneapolis, 2005 October 17 - 21
Folder 37: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Vancouver, 2005 May 16 - 20
Folder 38: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - San Diego, 2004 November 15 - 19
Folder 39: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - New York City, 2004 May 24 - 28
Folder 40: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Austin, Texas
Folder 41: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Nashville, 2003 April 28 - May 2
Folder 42: Acoustical Society of America - Fellow Applicants, 2003 - 2011
Folder 43: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Cancun, 2002 December 2 - 6
Folder 44: Acoustical Society of America Membership [Folder 1 of 2], 1966 - 2009
Folder 45: Acoustical Society of America Membership [Folder 2 of 2], 1967 - 2009
Folder 46: Technical Committee on Musical Acoustics - Acoustical Society of America [Folder 1 of 2], 1969 - 2008
Folder 47: Technical Committee on Musical Acoustics - Acoustical Society of America [Folder 2 of 2], 2005 - 2008

Box 12

Folder 1: Acoustical Society of America Medals and Awards Committee [Folder 1 of 3], 2004 - 2005
Folder 2: Acoustical Society of America Medals and Awards Committee [Folder 2 of 3], 2003
Folder 3: Acoustical Society of America Medals and Awards Committee [Folder 3 of 3], 2001 - 2003
Folder 4: Acoustical Society of America Silver Award, 2003; 2013: Presented to William Strong
Folder 5: Acoustical Society of America - Silver Candidates [Folder 1 of 2], 2003
Folder 6: Acoustical Society of America - Silver Candidates [Folder 2 of 2], 2003
Folder 7: Acoustical Society of America - Medals Committee, 2003 June 1

Box 19

Folder 1: "Teaching Musical Acoustics", 1991 November 8 - 9: Sponsored by the Acoustical Society of America. Diagram included.
Item 1: Metal bar (unknown length), 1991 November 8 - 9: Accession number: 2015.1205069.004
Item 2: Tuning Fork, 1991 November 8 - 9: Accession number: 2015.1205069.005
Item 3: Eye screw with nut, 1991 November 8 - 9: Accession Number: 2015.1205069.006
Item 4: Tuning Fork (880 Hz), 1991 November 8 - 9: Accession Number: 2015.1205069.007
Item 5: Metal wire (unknown length), 1991 November 8 - 9: Accession number: 2015.1205069.008
Item 6: L Bracket [1 of 2], 1991 November 8 - 9: Approximately 2 inches wide. Accession number: 2015.1205069.009
Item 7: L Bracket [2 of 2], 1991 November 8 - 9: Approximately 2 inches wide. Accession number: 2015.1205069.010
Item 8: L Bracket, 1991 November 8 - 9: Approximately one and half inch wide. Accession number: 2015.1205069.011
Item 9: L Bracket (with holes) and small magnet, 1991 November 8 - 9: Accession Number: 2015.1205069.012
Item 10: U Bracket [1 of 2], 1991 November 8 - 9: Accession number: 2015.1205069.0013
Item 11: U Bracket [2 of 2], 1991 November 8 - 9: Accession number: 2015.1205069.014
Item 12: One-inch plastic tube, red [1 of 2], 1991 November 8 - 9: Has unknown metal inside. Accesssion number: 2015.1205069.015
Item 13: One-inch plastic tube, red [2 of 2], 1991 November 8 - 9: Accession number: 2015.1205069.016

Sub-Series 2: Professional Organization Conferences and Travel Itineraries

Consists of Audio Engineering Society membership records for Beauchamp, programs and posters for talks given by Beauchamp, and programs for acoustic workshops and conferences attended. Arranged chronologically.

Box 12

Folder 8: Audio Engineering Society Membership [Folder 1 of 4], 1990 - 2004
Folder 9: Audio Engineering Society Membership [Folder 2 of 4], 1990 - 2004
Folder 10: Audio Engineering Society Membership [Folder 3 of 4], 1963 - 1982
Folder 11: Audio Engineering Society Membership [Folder 4 of 4], 1964 - 1989
Folder 12: Joint Computer Conference - Fall, 1966 November 8
Folder 13: Consulting Activities [Folder 1 of 2], 1989 - 2001
Folder 14: Consulting Activities [Folder 2 of 2], 1979 - 1984
Folder 15: Iowa Acoustics Conference [Folder 1 of 2], 1974 April 5-6; 1985 August 25
Folder 16: Iowa Acoustics Conference [Folder 2 of 2], 1983 April - May
Folder 17: Miscellaneous Acoustics Conferences, 1975 - 2001
Folder 18: Audio Engineering Society Meeting - Los Angeles, 1980 May 6 - 9
Folder 19: Computer Music Journal, 1980 - 1984
Folder 20: The Computer Music Association Membership Records [Folder 1 of 3], 1987 - 2010: Contains receipts, correspondence, and newsletters regarding Beauchamp's involvement with the Computer Music Association
Folder 21: The Computer Music Association Membership Records [Folder 2 of 3], 1983 - 1990
Folder 22: The Computer Music Association Membership Records [Folder 3 of 3], 1981 - 1983
Folder 23: Society for Electro-Acoustic Music Conferences [Folder 1 of 2], 1991 - 1997
Folder 24: Society for Electro-Acoustic Music Conferences [Folder 2 of 2], 1983 - 2004
Folder 25: International Computer Music Association Journals [Folder 1 of 4], 1980 - 1983
Folder 26: International Computer Music Association Journals [Folder 2 of 4], 1984 - 1988
Folder 27: International Computer Music Association Journals [Folder 3 of 4], 1988 - 1991
Folder 28: International Computer Music Association Journals [Folder 4 of 4], 1991 - 1998
Folder 29: Miscellaneous Talks [Folder 1 of 2], 1983 - 1993
Folder 30: Miscellaneous Talks [Folder 2 of 2], 1974 - 1983
Folder 31: Iowa/Reycor Talk, 1985 April 26
Folder 32: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing Conference, 1986 September 14 - 17
Folder 33: Iowa Talk, 1987 April 30 - May 2: Presented at Iowa Acoustics Colloquium

Box 13

Folder 1: Miscellaneous Computer Conferences, 1989 - 1992
Folder 2: Scholar's Travel Applications and Notice of Awards, 1989 - 2004
Folder 3: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing Workshop, 1989 October 27
Folder 4: International Computer Music Association, 1991 - 1995
Folder 5: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing Workshop, 1991 October 20 -23
Folder 6: International Symposium on Musical Acoustics - Tokyo, 1992 - August 28 - September 1
Folder 7: Workshop on Applications of Signal Proessing to Audio and Acoustics, 1993 - 1999
Folder 8: Audio Engineering Society Meeting - Berlin, 1993 March 16 - 19
Folder 9: Paris Sabbatical, 1994 - 1995
Folder 10: Hong Kong Trip, 1994 May 10 - 18: Talk given: "Analysis and Synthesis of Sounds using the McAulay-Quatieri Method of Spectral Tracking
Folder 11: International Computer Music Conference - Denmark, 1994 September 12 - 17
Folder 12: Audio Engineering Society Talk - Paris, 1995 February 25 - 28: Presented with Andrew Horner
Folder 13: Society for Music Perception and Cognition - Berkeley, 1995 June 22 - 25
Folder 14: Prauge Conference, 1995 September 23 - 26
Folder 15: University of Michigan Talk, 1996 March 14
Folder 16: American Society for Cybernetics Talk, 1997 March 8 - 12
Folder 17: International Computer Music Conference - Greece, 1997 September 25 - 30
Folder 18: Chicago Talk - Audio Engineering Society, 1998 March 24
Folder 19: International Computer Music Conference - Ann Arbor, 1998 October 1 - 6
Folder 20: Audio Engineering Society - Chicago Chapter, 1998 - 2001
Folder 21: Society for Music Perception and Cognition - Northwestern University, 1999 August 14 - 17
Folder 22: International Computer Music Conference - Beijing, 1999 October 22 - 28
Folder 23: International Computer Music Conference - Berlin, 2000 August 27 - September 1
Folder 24: Institute of Electical and Electronics Engineers - Digital Audio Mohonk Workshop, 2001 October 21 - 24
Folder 25: International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition - Sydney, Australia, 2002 July 17 - 21
Folder 26: Society for Music Perception and Cognition - Las Vegas, 2003 June 16 - 19
Folder 27: Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics, 2003 October 19 - 22
Folder 28: International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition - Northwestern, 2004 August 3 - 7
Folder 29: Independent Component Analysis Conference - Charleston, South Carolina, 2006 March 5 - 8
Folder 30: International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition - Bologna Italy, 2006 August 22 - 26
Folder 31: International Society for Music Information Retrieval - Vienna, 2001 September 23 - 27
Folder 32: Society of Musical Peception and Cognition - Indianapolis, 2009 August 3 - 7
Folder 33: International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition - Seattle, 2010 August 23 - 27
Folder 34: ViennaTalk, 2010 September 19 - 21
Folder 35: Midwest Music Information Retrieval Gathering, 2014 June 14
Folder 36: Rochester - Speaker at Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2014
Folder 37: Music Technology Major Proposal, 2014
Folder 38: Midwest Music and Audio Day at Northwestern University, 2017 June 23
Folder 39: Timbre 2018 - McGill University, 2018 July 4 - 7