View 3 more
In this photo taken Oct. 25, 2011, curator Henry Lowood is shown looking at an old photograph of Steve Jobs at Stanford's Green Library in Stanford, Calif. Jeff Chiu, Associated Press
View 3 more
In this photo taken Oct. 18, 2011, processor Dennis Sparhawk checks items on shelves at a Stanford University Silicon Valley Archives storage facility in an undisclosed location in California. Jeff Chiu, Associated Press
View 3 more
In this photo taken Oct. 25, 2011, curator Henry Lowood holds up an old Apple 1 operation manual at Stanford's Green Library in Stanford, Calif. Jeff Chiu, Associated Press
View 3 more
In this photo taken Oct. 25, 2011, a photo of an old keyboard is shown next to a letter written about Steve Jobs at Stanford's Green Library in Stanford, Calif. Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

By Associated Press

PALO ALTO, Calf. — Historians and entrepreneurs who want to understand the rise of Apple Inc. and its founder Steve Jobs will find a treasure trove of clues in Stanford University's Silicon Valley Archives.

Stanford is home to the world's largest collection of Apple-related historical artifacts, most of which the consumer electronics company donated to the university in 1997.

Stanford's Apple Collection takes up more than 600 feet (183 meters) of shelf space at the school's off-campus storage facility.

The archives include photos, computer blueprints, user manuals, software, hardware, magazine ads, TV commercials, company t-shirts and pins, and handwritten financial records.

View Comments

Interest in Apple and its legendary founder has grown dramatically since Jobs died in October at age 56, just weeks after he stepped down as CEO and handed the reins to Tim Cook.

Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.