Researching James Russell

In 1965, Russell joined the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory of Battelle Memorial Institute in Richland. There, in 1965, Russell invented the overall concept of optical digital recording and playback. The earliest patents by Russell, US 3,501,586, and 3,795,902 were filed in 1966, and 1969. respectively. He built prototypes, and the first was operating in 1973. In 1973, 1974, 1975 his first invention viewed by about 100 companies, including Philips and Sony engineers, and more than 1500 descriptive brochures were sent out to various interested parties. The concept was picked up by many technical and media magazines beginning in 1972.

It is debatable whether Russell's concepts, patents, prototypes, and literature instigated and in some measure guided the optical digital revolution. Early optical recording technology, which forms the physical basis of videodisc, CD and DVD technology, was first published/filed by Dr. David Paul Gregg in 1958 and Philips researchers, Kramer and Compaan, in 1969. Russell's optical digital inventions were available publicly from 1970.

In 2000, Russell received The Vollum Award from Reed College.

As of 2004, Russell was doing consulting from an in-home lab, in Bellevue, Washington.

He was born in Bayside, New Brunswick, of Scottish descent, and was educated there. His grandfather was one of many Castine Loyalists who received land grants in 1783. In 1851, he married Agnes McDouall, the daughter of Alexander McDouall and Margaret Cumming McDouall of High Curghie, Scotland. They had two sons: James Alexander Russell and John McDouall Russell. Russell was a magistrate and a member of the council for Charlotte County, serving two terms as county warden.

James Russell died on November 21, 1915 in Bayside, New Brunswick and is buried at the Sandy Point Cemetery there.

He was born in Lewisporte, the son of William Stewart Russell and Blanche Burt, and was educated there and at Memorial University. He taught school in Comfort Cove and Lewisporte. Russell married Mary Buffett. Before entering provincial politics, Russell served on the town council for Lewisporte. He was defeated when he ran for reelection to the House of Assembly in 1975. From 1977 to 1982, he was personnel manager for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. Russell was speaker for the House of Assembly from 1972 to 1975 and from 1982 to 1985. He served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Consumer Affairs and Communications and as Minister of the Environment. Russell retired from politics in 1989.

Russell was born in Richmond, Surrey, England, the eldest son of James Russell, an undertaker's assistant, and his wife Ann, née Stacey. He migrated to South Australia in 1860.

Russell entered the public service of South Australia in March 1878, becoming Master of the Supreme Court. In August 1889 was appointed Commissioner of Insolvency and stipendiary magistrate at Adelaide in succession to Mr. Stuart. He was also Commissioner of Taxes and Commissioner of Stamps without salary.

Russell sat on several royal commissions, including that into Pastoral Valuations in 1892 and the Land Titles Office in 1908. Russell also led the controversial 1903 inquiry into charges of misuse of human remains by Doctor William Ramsay Smith. Russell was a president of the Public Service Association of South Australia, and in 1903 he was awarded the Imperial Service Order.

On 5 January 1918 Russell died of cancer at his Eastwood, South Australia home; he was survived by his wife, four daughters and three sons. He was buried in North Road cemetery.