Frank A. Dubinskas papers
name: label: Creator
content: Dubinskas, Frank A. (Frank Anthony)
label: Names
content: Apple Computer, Inc.
place: label: Place
content: Sierra Leone
label: Place
content: Croatia
label: Place
content: Yugoslavia
topic: label: Topic
content: Folklore
label: Topic
content: Organizational behavior
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Received from Anna Hargreaves and Dorothy W. Dubinskas in 1998 and 2000.
creator: label: Creator
content: Dubinskas, Frank A. (Frank Anthony)
culture: label: Culture
content: Mende (African people)
setName: label: See more items in
content: Frank A. Dubinskas papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of Frank A. Dubinskas, a noted anthropologist of organizational culture, primarily documents his research into automated manufacturing at Apple Computer, Inc., but also includes material relating to his research in Sierra Leone and Yugoslavia. Also included is biographical material as well as manuscripts and publications.
bioghist: label: Biographical Note
content: Frank A. Dubinskas (1946-1993) was an anthropologist of organizational behavior best known for his pioneering work in the anthropology of science and technology. He enrolled at Yale Universtiy for undergraduate studies in 1964, and in 1967 he conducted research on the aesthetics of Mende woodcarving in Sierra Leone, receiving his B.A. in anthropology in 1972. He then went to Stanford University for graduate studies in anthropology, earning his M.A. in 1976 and Ph.D. in 1983, following  his doctoral research on village expressive culture in former Yugoslavia.

Dubinskas is most well known for his research into culture and technology in high-tech companies, particularly in manufacturing automation, knowledge management, and Chaos Theory in organizations. Among his various projects was his groundbreaking research into an automated manufacturing implementation (Erickson project) at Apple Computer in 1989-1990. 

Dubinskas joined the faculty of the Organizational Studies Department in the Carroll School of Management at Boston College in 1987. From 1991-1992 he was a visiting scholar at the School of American Research in Santa Fe, NM, and in 1992 became the Howard W. Alkire Chair in International Business and Economics at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. Dubinskas died on October 3, 1993.

1946 -- Born

1964-1972 -- Undergraduate studies at Yale University (BA 1972)

1967 -- Research in Sierra Leone

1970-1972 -- Research assistant, Biology/biochemistry, Yale University

1972-1974 -- Research associate, physiology, Anatomy and biochemistry departments, UC Berkeley

1975-1976 -- MA in anthropology, Stanford University

1977-1980 -- Doctoral research in Yugoslavia

1983 -- PhD in anthropology, Stanford University

1983-1984 -- Exxon Fellow, MIT Science, Technology, and Society program

1984-1985 -- Visiting scholar, MIT Science, Technology and Society program and program in anthropology and archaeology

1981-1986 -- Research into US biotechnology industry

1984, 1988 -- Follow up research in Yugoslavia

1985-1987 -- Associate for Case Development, Harvard Business School, Production and Operations Management Group 

1985-1993 -- Research into US computer industry and computer integrated manufacturing

1986-1988 -- Research into US and European automotive industry

1987-1992 -- Assistant professor, Organizational Studies Department, Carroll School of Management  Boston College

1989-1991 -- Research into automated manufacturing at Apple Computer

1991-1992 -- NEH resident scholar, School of American Research

1992-1993 -- Howard W. Alkire Chair in International Business and Economics, associate professor of Anthropology, and director of international studies, Hamline University

1993, October 25 -- Dies in St. Paul, MN
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3.25 Linear feet (7 document boxes)
label: Extent
content: 1.86 Megabytes (207 files)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1964-1996
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: National Anthropological Archives
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NAA.1998-07
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Megabytes
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged in three series: 1. Biographical; 2. Research; and 3. Writings.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The Frank A. Dubinskas papers primarily document his research into the social aspects of automated manufacturing at Apple Computer, but also includes a small mount of material from his earlier research as well as biographical information and writings. 

Series 1. Biographical, comprises newsclippings, photographs, and other documents relating to Dubinskas' education, opposition to the draft, and employment. Also included are photographs of Dubinskas, as well as obituaries and memorials that followed his death.

Series 2. Research, includes a small amount of correspondence home and final paper relating to Dubinskas' Sierra Leone research into Mende woodcarving, and correspondence home and completed dissertation relating to research into Slavonian folklore in Yugoslavia. The bulk of the research series comprises Dubinskas' work on automated manufacturing at Apple Computer, Inc., specifically related to the istallation and implementation of an automated assembly line at Apple's Fremont facility. Materials consist of both paper and born-digital files and include correspondence, notes, reports, and presentations.

Series 3, Writings, include drafts and published articles and chapters by Dubinskas, as well as reviews of his edited volume, Making Time: Ethnographies of High-Technology Organizations. Also included are case studies that Dubinskas prepared for Harvard Business School and Digital Equipment Corporation.


Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.