In April 27, 2017, Klipsch concluded the official transfer of the museum and archives of audio pioneer Paul W. Klipsch to the Klipsch Heritage Museum Association (KHMA). The Association will continue to preserve the vast archives and legacy of Paul W. Klipsch, as well as expand the museum’s reach and impact by implementing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education programs on local, state, and national levels.
The Klipsch Museum of Audio History has been a fixture in Hope, AR since 1979 and includes the original Klipsch factory, its surrounding property, and the archives of company founder Paul W. Klipsch. KHMA is a non-profit 501(c) corporation with a mission to display and preserve the ideas, research, designs, documents, accomplishments, and loudspeakers from the archives of Paul W. Klipsch and Klipsch and Associates, as well as to host educational activities and events.
“This is an important and necessary step in our quest to preserve the legacy of Paul W. Klipsch who is one of the founding fathers of the audio industry,” says Klipsch CEO Paul Jacobs. “His genius has stood the test of time, serving as an inspiration to myself and countless others. As we look to the future, it is important that generations to come have the opportunity to learn from his incredible work.”
After WWII, Building #116 of the telephone exchange for Southwest Proving Grounds became the first factory of Klipsch & Associates. From 1948 to 1952 the basement of this building housed all manufacturing. Today it houses the Klipsch Museum of Audio History. Recently, it has been awarded historic status by the Arkansas Register of Historic Places. The Klipsch Heritage Museum Association has been incorporated in the State of Arkansas to provide a continuing nonprofit repository for this museum, as well as the papers of Paul W. Klipsch.
Paul W. Klipsch’s career spanned more than seven decades, and was spent in the pursuit of technical achievements through the exercise of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Many people know that Paul Klipsch left a lasting legacy in the field of audio engineering, beginning with his greatest achievement, the Klipschorn loudspeaker. Lesser known are his substantial earlier achievements in electronics, geophysics and ballistics. All three disciplines share a common thread — vibrations. It is the association’s intent to encourage students of all ages to pursue technology inspired by the incredible record that he leaves behind. Its mission is officially stated as: “The Klipsch Heritage Museum Association’s mission is to restore, preserve, maintain, and display Klipsch and Klipsch-related artifacts and archival materials for historic and scientific purposes, as well as to provide pertinent research and to host educational activities and events.” If you have an interest in the museum’s mission, they welcome your comments and support by email message.
"Several years ago when I was lecturing to the engineering group at Klipsch in Hope, Jim Hunter gave me a personally guided tour of the building that is now the museum. Even back then it was full of some of the most amazing loudspeakers and Paul Klipsch memorabilia I could have ever imagined. Anyone who considers themselves a loudspeaker engineer or technician should without a shadow of a doubt, make the pilgrimage to Hope, AR, and visit the Klipsch Museum of Audio History!" recalls Vance Dickason, Voice Coil founder and editor.
www.klipschmuseum.org
The Klipsch Museum of Audio History is also on Facebook and we recommend the page.
www.facebook.com/klipschmuseum/
