.
By Scott Schwartz, Swarnikaa Kiran, and Finnegan Upchurch
Collection Overview
Title: James W Beauchamp Harmonic Tone Generator and Papers, 1862-2022
ID: 12/5/69
Primary Creator: Beauchamp, James W. (1937-2022)
Extent: 23.0 cubic feet
Arrangement:
Organized in six series:
Series 1) Instruction, 1963-2010, which is organized into two sub-series: Sub-series 1) College of Engineering and Sub-series 2) School of Music. Both sub-series are arranged by course number and then chronologically by semester.
Series 2) Research and Publications, 1862-2018, which is organized into two sub-series: Sub-series 1) Research and Publications, which is organized alphabetically by topic; and Sub-series 2) Presentations at conferences, which is organized alphabetically by organization and then chronologically.
Series 3) Professional Service, ca. 1970-2020, which is organized into two sub-series: Sub-series 1) Acoustical Society of America Committee Files and Conference Programs, and Sub-series 2) Profesional Organization Conferences and Travel Itineraries. Both sub-series are arranged chronologically.
Series 4) Administrative Records, 1963-2021, which is arranged in three sub-series: Sub-series 1) Computer Music Project and Experimental Studio Records, which is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically by year; Sub-series 2) Faculty Records and Reports, which is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically by year; and Sub-series 3) Correspondence, which is arranged alphabetically by surname.
Series 5) Personal Papers, 1954-2022, which is arranged chronologically.
and Series 6) Harmonic Tone Generator Components and Research, 1963-1966, which arranged by material type and chronologically therein.
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, Hiller, Lejaren (1924-1994), Illiac Computers, Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM), 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
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, 1963-2010],
[
Series 2: Research and Publications, 1862-2018],
[Series 3: Professional Service, 1963-2021],
[
Series 4: Administrative Records, 1954-2022],
[
Series 5: Personal Papers, 1951-2021],
[
Series 6: Harmonic Tone Generator Components and Research, 1963-1966],
[
All]
- Series 3: Professional Service, 1963-2021
- 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, 1966-2021
- 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), June 8-10, 2021
- 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), December 7-11, 2020
- Folder 10: Louisville Acoustical Society of America, May 13-17, 2019
- Folder 11: Minneapolis Acoustical Society of America Meeting, May 7-11, 2018
- Folder 12: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - New Orleans, December 4-8, 2017
- Folder 13: Honolulu Acoustical Society of America Meeting, November 28-December 2, 2016
- Held in conjunction with the Acousical Society of Japan
- Folder 14: Salt Lake City Acoustical Society of America, May 23-27, 2016
- Folder 15: Jacksonville Acoustical Society of America Meeting, November 2-6, 2015
- Folder 16: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Pittsburgh, May 18-22, 2015
- Folder 17: 168th Acoutical Society of America Meeting - Indianapolis, October 27-31, 2014
- Folder 18: Providence Acoustical Society of America Meeting, May 5-9, 2014
- Folder 19: San Fransisco Acoustical Society of America Meeting, December 2-6, 2013
- Folder 20: Montreal Acoustical Society of America/International Congress on Acoustics Meeting, June 2-7, 2013
- Folder 21: Acoustical Society of America Membership Committee, 2012-2013
- Folder 22: Kansas City Acoustical Society of America Meeting, October 22-26, 2012
- Folder 23: Acoustical Society of America 163 - Acoustics 2012 - Hong Kong, May 13-18, 2012
- Folder 24: San Diego Acoustical Society of America Meeting, October 31-November 4, 2011
- Folder 25: Acoustical Society of America - Seattle, May 23-27, 2011
- Folder 26: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Cancun, November 15-19, 2010
- Folder 27: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Baltimore, April 19-23, 2010
- Folder 28: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - San Antonio, October 26-30, 2009
- Folder 29: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Portland, May 18-22, 2009
- Folder 30: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Miami, November 10-14, 2008
- Folder 31: Acoustical Society of America/European Acoustics Society - Paris, June 29-July 4, 2008
- Folder 32: Acoustical Society of America - New Orleans Meeting, November 27-December 1, 2007
- Folder 33: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Salt Lake City, June 4-8, 2007
- Folder 34: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Honolulu, November 28-December 2, 2006
- Folder 35: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Providence, June 5-9, 2006
- Folder 36: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Minneapolis, October 17-21, 2005
- Folder 37: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Vancouver, May 16-20, 2005
- Folder 38: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - San Diego, November 15-19, 2004
- Folder 39: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - New York City, May 24-28, 2004
- Folder 40: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Austin, Texas, November 10-14, 2003
- Folder 41: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Nashville, April 28-May 2, 2003
- Folder 42: Acoustical Society of America - Fellow Applicants, 2003-2011
- Folder 43: Acoustical Society of America Meeting - Cancun, December 2-6, 2002
- 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, June 1, 2003
- Box 19
- Folder 1: "Teaching Musical Acoustics", November 8-9, 1991
- Sponsored by the Acoustical Society of America. Diagram included.
- Item 1: Metal bar (unknown length), November 8-9, 1991
- Accession number: 2015.1205069.004
- Item 2: Tuning Fork, November 8-9, 1991
- Accession number: 2015.1205069.005
- Item 3: Eye screw with nut, November 8-9, 1991
- Accession Number: 2015.1205069.006
- Item 4: Tuning Fork (880 Hz), November 8-9, 1991
- Accession Number: 2015.1205069.007
- Item 5: Metal wire (unknown length), November 8-9, 1991
- Accession number: 2015.1205069.008
- Item 6: L Bracket [1 of 2], November 8-9, 1991
- Approximately 2 inches wide. Accession number: 2015.1205069.009
- Item 7: L Bracket [2 of 2], November 8-9, 1991
- 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, November 8-9, 1991
- Accession Number: 2015.1205069.012
- Item 10: U Bracket [1 of 2], November 8-9, 1991
- Accession number: 2015.1205069.0013
- Item 11: U Bracket [2 of 2], November 8-9, 1991
- Accession number: 2015.1205069.014
- Item 12: One-inch plastic tube, red [1 of 2], November 8-9, 1991
- Has unknown metal inside. Accesssion number: 2015.1205069.015
- Item 13: One-inch plastic tube, red [2 of 2], November 8-9, 1991
- Accession number: 2015.1205069.016
- Sub-Series 2: Professional Organization Conferences and Travel Itineraries, 1963-2018
- 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, November 8, 1966
- 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], April 5-6, 1974; August 25, 1985
- Folder 16: Iowa Acoustics Conference [Folder 2 of 2], April 1983-May 1983
- Folder 17: Miscellaneous Acoustics Conferences, 1975-2001
- Folder 18: Audio Engineering Society Meeting - Los Angeles, May 6-9, 1980
- 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, April 26, 1985
- Folder 32: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing Conference, September 14-17, 1986
- Folder 33: Iowa Talk, April 30-May 2, 1987
- 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, October 27, 1989
- Folder 4: International Computer Music Association, 1991-1995
- Folder 5: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing Workshop, October 20-23, 1991
- Folder 6: International Symposium on Musical Acoustics - Tokyo, August 28-September 1, 1992
- Folder 7: Workshop on Applications of Signal Proessing to Audio and Acoustics, 1993-1999
- Folder 8: Audio Engineering Society Meeting - Berlin, March 16-19, 1993
- Folder 9: Paris Sabbatical, 1994-1995
- Folder 10: Hong Kong Trip, May 10-18, 1994
- Talk given: "Analysis and Synthesis of Sounds using the McAulay-Quatieri Method of Spectral Tracking
- Folder 11: International Computer Music Conference - Denmark, September 12-17, 1994
- Folder 12: Audio Engineering Society Talk - Paris, February 25-28, 1995
- Presented with Andrew Horner
- Folder 13: Society for Music Perception and Cognition - Berkeley, June 22-25, 1995
- Folder 14: Prauge Conference, September 23-26, 1995
- Folder 15: University of Michigan Talk, March 14, 1996
- Folder 16: American Society for Cybernetics Talk, March 8-12, 1997
- Folder 17: International Computer Music Conference - Greece, September 25-30, 1997
- Folder 18: Chicago Talk - Audio Engineering Society, March 24, 1998
- Folder 19: International Computer Music Conference - Ann Arbor, October 1-6, 1998
- Folder 20: Audio Engineering Society - Chicago Chapter, 1998-2001
- Folder 21: Society for Music Perception and Cognition - Northwestern University, August 14-17, 1999
- Folder 22: International Computer Music Conference - Beijing, October 22-28, 1999
- Folder 23: International Computer Music Conference - Berlin, August 27-September 1, 2000
- Folder 24: Institute of Electical and Electronics Engineers - Digital Audio Mohonk Workshop, October 21-24, 2001
- Folder 25: International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition - Sydney, Australia, July 17-21, 2002
- Folder 26: Society for Music Perception and Cognition - Las Vegas, June 16-19, 2003
- Folder 27: Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics, October 19-22, 2003
- Folder 28: International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition - Northwestern, August 3-7, 2004
- Folder 29: Independent Component Analysis Conference - Charleston, South Carolina, March 5-8, 2006
- Folder 30: International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition - Bologna Italy, August 22-26, 2006
- Folder 31: International Society for Music Information Retrieval - Vienna, September 2327, 2001
- Folder 32: Society of Musical Peception and Cognition - Indianapolis, August 3-7, 2009
- Folder 33: International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition - Seattle, August 23-27, 2010
- Folder 34: ViennaTalk, September 19-21, 2010
- Folder 35: Midwest Music Information Retrieval Gathering, June 14, 2014
- 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, June 23, 2017
- Folder 39: Timbre 2018 - McGill University, July 4-7, 2018
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Instruction, 1963-2010],
[
Series 2: Research and Publications, 1862-2018],
[Series 3: Professional Service, 1963-2021],
[
Series 4: Administrative Records, 1954-2022],
[
Series 5: Personal Papers, 1951-2021],
[
Series 6: Harmonic Tone Generator Components and Research, 1963-1966],
[
All]
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