Fred Terman: Father of Silicon Valley

In the early 1930s, the talents of four Stanford undergraduates — Bill Hewlett, Dave Packard, Barney Oliver and Noel “Ed” Porter — caught the eye of legendary engineering professor Fred Terman. Terman, a strong advocate of the collaboration between commercial R&D and university research, took the young men under his wing, providing them with essential support and connections both before and after their graduation. His help was crucial to the creation and success of Hewlett-Packard Company. Terman would go on to become a director of Hewlett-Packard and a key figure in establishing Stanford Research Park, where Hewlett-Packard would eventually construct its headquarters. Terman’s efforts would earn him the moniker “The Father of Silicon Valley.” Bill and Dave remained grateful for Terman’s mentorship for the rest of their lives. Here, they greet him at the door of the Hewlett-Packard wing of the Electronics Research Laboratory on the Stanford Campus in 1952.