Howard Vollum was known for his love of good music and had a studio built at his home for his pipe organ. Howard's organ was built around the former San Francisco Granada (Paramount) 4/33 style 285 Wurlitzer. After Howard's death the organ was sold to the Regent Theater in Melbourne, Australia.
The document "A Gift Of Music" is a 16 page article that describes the construction of Howard's studio and the acquisition and assembly of his pipe organ. Click on the image to view the PDF.
Additional photos of the organ can be seen at the Puget Sound Theater Organ Society website.
The February 1973 issue of Theatre Organ had a short article on Howard's studio and organ. The photo and article are used by permission of American Theatre Organ Society. Click on the image to view the PDF.
The October 1966 issue of Theatre Organ Bombarde had an article on Howard's studio and organ. The photo and article are used by permission of American Theatre Organ Society. Click on the image to view the PDF.
The museum has a recording from Howard's pipe organ. This selection is one from the recording. Jonas Nordwall of Rodgers Organ is the organist and Howard Vollum and Dennis Hedberg of Rodgers Organ made the recording.
Linda Brody of the Oregon Historical Society interviewed Howard on March 26, 1980. This "Oral History Interview with Howard Vollum, Chairman of the Board, Tektronix" transcript is courtesy of the Oregon Historical Society. The audio file for this interview and another on April 14, 1980 are available on our Audio Gallery. Click on the image to view the PDF.
This March 23, 1984 TekWeek features an interview with Howard. Click on the image to view the PDF.
Howard Vollum loved to play tennis. This photo shows him playing at his court at his Skyline home.
Howard started playing tennis at age 12. This July 11, 1926 Sunday Oregonian article features Howard playing up to the finals a year later. Click on the image to view the PDF.
This March 7, 1986 TekWeek features the Celebration of Life for Howard. Click on the image to view the PDF.
There is a nice obituary for Howard published in the Spring 1986 Reed magazine. It is also on the Reed magazine website. External site
This August 1987 program describes the construction and dedication of the Howard Vollum park and memorial garden. Click on the image to view the PDF.
An anthology book on Howard Vollum was published in 1987. This book contained testimonials to Howard from different employees. We have a video of the dedication of the Howard Vollum Memorial which mentions this document on our Video Gallery page. In it, at 3:16, Julie Stark from the Area Rep Panel tells this story.
"Employee number 32, engineer Frank Hood, told an equally humorous story. In the 1950s Tektronix was hiring people at an astonishing rate. One day a man in a slightly rumpled jacket sans necktie came into the personnel office. He looked around, then proceeded to walk down the hallway. A woman stopped him and explained that everyone was busy but if he would take a seat she would give him a job application. The man obliged writing name - Howard Vollum, position desired - assembly worker or engineer."
This document is an extract of those testimonials along with photos we have of Howard. Click on the image to view the PDF.
These two articles appeared in the September 25, 1989 Columbia-Willamette Business Journal on Howard Vollum.
Click on the images to open them full size.
This March 24, 1989 TekWeek features an article about Howard written by his wife Jean.
Jean died on June 5, 2007. Click on the image to view her memorial card (front and back have been combined).
This May 2013 Oregonian article features Howard's legacy on the 100th anniversary of his birthday. Click on the image to view the PDF.
Aziz Inan, professor and chair of electrical engineering at the Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering at the University of Portland, authored these two documents in honor of Howard's 100th and 105th birthday. Both contain some interesting math puzzles. Click on the image to view the PDFs.
