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Computer Oral History Collection
1969-1973, 1977 |
43.5 cubic feet: 158 boxes
By Alison L. Oswald, March 1996
Revised by Alison Oswald, August 1999; May 2010
Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
©
1999 by the Smithsonian Institution. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
- History
Scope and Content Note
- Abstracts
-
- Series 1: Transcripts,
1969-1973, 1977
Series 2: Supplemental Documentation, 1922-1974
Series 3: Patents, 1940-1973
Series 4: John Vincent Atanasoff's Materials,
1927-1968
Series 5: Audio Tapes, 1967-1974, 1977
Series 6: Video Tapes, 1968-1972
Provenance
Related Collections
Acronyms
Container List
Transcripts of the following oral history interviews are available
online as PDF documents. Those marked with an asterisk (*) were
made possible by the Morton I. Bernstein Fund. Morton Bernstein
was a pioneer computer programmer and friend of the Archives Center,
National Museum of American History. Transcripts marked with a
double asterisk (**) were made possible by the Association
for Computing Machinery, the Special
Interest Group on Management of Data (SIGMOD), and the Special
Interest Group on Programming Languages (SIGPLAN). Charlie
Bachman and William Olle kindly reviewed and edited the Conference
on Data System Languages (CODASYL) Meeting transcript.
-
Howard
Aiken, February 26-27, 1973*
Franz Alt,
February 24, 1969**
Franz Alt,
March 13, 1969**
Franz Alt,
September 12, 1972**
Paul Armer,
April 17, 1973**
Association
for Computing Machinery (ACM) Annual Meeting, August 30,
1967
Association
for Computing Machinery Conference, August 14, 1972**
John V.
Atanasoff, 1969
John V.
Atanasoff, May 5, 1969
John V.
Atanasoff, February 18, 1972
John V.
Atanasoff, April 17, 1972
John V.
Atanasoff, April 24, 1972
John V.
Atanasoff, May 11, 1972
John V.
Atanasoff, May 24, 1972
John V.
Atanasoff, June 7, 1972
John V.
Atanasoff and Alice Atanasoff, July 17, 1972
John V.
Atanasoff, August 10, 1972
John V.
Atanasoff, August 16, 1972
John V.
Atanasoff, August 28, 1972
Jean Bartik
and Frances Holberton, April 27, 1973*
Morton
Bernstein, March 14, 1973*
Julian
Bigelow, January 20, 1971
James Bradburn,
February 1, 1973
Werner
Buchholz and Byron Phelps, July 20, 1973
Gertrude
Blanch, May 16, 1973*
CODASYL
(Conference on Data System Languages), May 27, 1969**
Arthur
H. Dickinson, March 8, 1973
William
Farrand and William Downey, June 25, 1973
Harry Earl
Goheen, August 15, 1972
Jackson
Granholm, June 7, 1973
Sidney
Greenwald, November 25, 1970
Ralph Griswold,
May 14, 1972; May 21, 1972; and May 28, 1972**
Herbert
R. Grosch, July 15, 1970**
Herbert
R. Grosch, August 24, 1970**
Herbert
R. Grosch, August 28, 1970**
Herbert
R. Grosch, November 9, 1970**
Herbert
R. Grosch, March 30, 1971**
Herbert
R. Grosch, May 7, 1971**
Henry Herold
and Jack Mitchell, April 10, 1973
B. Holbrook,
May 10, 1969
Grace Murray
Hopper, July 1968*
Grace Murray
Hopper, November 1968*
Grace Murray
Hopper, January 7, 1969*
Grace Murray
Hopper, February 4, 1969*
Grace Murray
Hopper, July 5, 1972*
Bernard
Horwitz, February 7, 1973
Alston
Scott Householder, July 20, 1970**
Harry Huskey
and Mrs. Huskey, March 9, 1972**
Harry Huskey
and Mrs. Huskey, April 19, 1973**
Josef Kates,
June 29, 1971
Roy Kaufold
and Walt Edwards, February 2, 1973
Les Kilpatrick,
May 17, 1973
Russell
Kirsch, October 8, 1970
Irving
Korn, May 11, 1973
Sandy Lanzarotta,
September 12, 1973
John Lowe,
October 16, 1973
Richard
Martin, April 27, 1970
John Mauchly,
June 22, 1970**
John Mauchly,
January 10, 1973**
John Mauchly,
February 6, 1973**
John Mauchly,
February 23, 1973**
Roger Mills,
May 14, 1973
Philip
Morse, December 16, 1970
Eldred
Nelson, October 17, 1972
Max Palevsky,
February 15, 1973
R.D. Parker,
July 13, 1970
Harry Polachek,
March 24, 1970
Jacob Rabinow,
November 23, 1970*
Jan Rajchman,
October 26, 1970
Mina Rees,
March 19, 1969*
Mina Rees,
September 14, 1972*
Mina Rees,
October 20, 1972*
Ida Rhodes,
March 21, 1973*
Rex Rice,
October, 10 1972
Nathaniel
Rochester, July 24, 1973
Milton
Rosenberg, February 19, 1973
Paul Rosenthal,
May 16, 1973
Morris
Rubinoff, May 17, 1971
John M.
Salzer, February 17, 1971
John Todd,
February 24, 1971
Mark Torfeh,
March 8, 1973
An Wang,
October 29, 1970*
James Wilkinson,
June 27, 1973
Philip
Wolfe, November 28, 1972
Way Dang
Woo, October 28, 1970
William
W. Woodbury, January 15, 1973
Pat Youtz,
January 26, 1970
Everett
C. Yowell, September 25, 1972
Heinz Zemanek,
December 12, 1972
The Computer Oral History Collection (1969-1973, 1977), was
a cooperative project of the American Federation of Information
Processing Societies (AFIPS) and the Smithsonian Institution.
This project began in 1967 with the main objective to collect,
document, house, and make available for research source material
surrounding the development of the computer. The project collected
taped oral interviews with individuals who figured prominently
in developing or advancing the computer field and supplemental
written documentation--working papers, reports, drawings, and
photographs. The AFIPS provided the "seed" money to
support the project and to aid the Smithsonian with its expenditures.
Interviews were conducted by I.B. Cohen, A. Dettinger, Bonnie
Kaplan, Elizabeth Luebbert, William Luebbert, Robina Mapstone,
Richard Mertz, Uta Merzbach, and Henry Tropp. In some instances,
the audio tapes and/or transcripts are not "formal"
interviews, but rather moderated panel discussions/meetings,
or lectures delivered by interviewees.
This collection consists of approximately 43.5 cubic feet of
material and is divided into six series:
1. Transcripts
2. Supplemental Documentation
3. Patents
4. John Vincent Atanasoff Materials
5. Audio Tapes
6. Video Tapes
For a brief overview of the interview contents and for biographical
information on the interviewees, researchers should consult
the interview abstracts available in the full finding aid in
Archives Center reading room.
For a brief overview of the interview contents and for biographical
information on the interviewees, researchers should consult
the interview abstracts. Not all interviews have abstracts.
- Abstracts
A-D
- Abstracts
E-G
- Abstracts
H
- Abstracts
I-M
- Abstracts
N-R
- Abstracts
S-Z
Go to container
list for Series 1
Subseries A. Combined Index, 1986
The combined index to the oral histories is only a partial index
to the entire collection of interviews conducted. Researchers
should note that there are several interviews not included in
this index. It is arranged alphabetically by last name of the
interviewee and provides the date and length of the interview.
Subseries B. Research Copies, 1969-1973, 1977
This series consists of approximately 4 cu. ft. and reflects
all of the individuals, organizations, lectures, and/or meetings
interviewed for this project and the date of the interview if
known. Although the bulk dates indicate 1969-1973, there is
one interview from 1955 and one from as late as 1977. In some
instances there is no transcript of the interview and this is
noted in the container list with a parenthetical (NT). Transcriptions
were made by different individuals over a long period of time.
Interviewees were afforded the opportunity to make edits, which
were incorporated into the final transcripts. Additionally,
the abbreviation of n.d. has been used to indicate "no
date." The interviews are arranged alphabetically by the
last name of the interviewee. Where there is more than one interview
with the same person on different dates, a separate entry has
been made. A cross-reference of "see" has also been
used to link interviews where there was more than one participant
and to indicate the principal name under which the interview
filed. Abstracts of the interviews contain the name of the interviewee(s)and
interviewer, as well as the date on which the interviews occurred,
if known.
Go to container
list for Series 2
Subseries A: Robina Mapstone Files , 1946-1974
This series is arranged alphabetically and contains approximately
7.5 cu. ft. of supplemental research materials collected by
Robina Mapstone, Research Associate of the Computer History
Project. This series contains articles, correspondence (photocopies),
memoranda, biographical sketch material, selected bibliographies
on various aspects of the computer field, professional literature
related to and authored by specific interviewees, specifications
on selected computers, and product literature. Mapstone built
in cross references (see and see also) in the files to facilitate
locating information. These files should be used in conjunction
with Subseries B: Richard Mertz Files and Subseries C: Henry
Tropp Files which also contain additional biographical materials.
It should be noted that not all interviewees are represented,
but may have material collected in their name under an organization
such as RAND Corporation. In some instances, the histories contain
a listing or index of materials received. This listing was compiled
by Mapstone to facilitate research. Substantial numbers of photographs
exist in the William Gunning files (RAND, REAC Operating Console,
JOHNNIAC, Zephyr, Selectron, Multiplier Quotient Register, and
the RAND Building itself to name a few); Air Force supply problems
and ALWAC III photographs can be found in the Vincent Neisius
files; and transparencies of North American are with the Jack
Strong materials. Some photographs are also scattered throughout
reports.
Subseries B: Richard Mertz Files, 1942-1971
This series represents materials collected by Richard Mertz
during the course of his research and then subsequently given
to the Computer Oral History Project. The materials consist
of one cubic foot of biographical materials (curriculum vitae,
obituaries, biographical sketches), relating to oral interviews,
printed documentation, correspondence, papers, reports, and
notes. The arrangement is alphabetical (Appendix A through Appendix
C.) Each appendix includes an itemized listing of what it contains
and this listing can be found in box 1, folder 1 of this series.
These materials should also be used in conjunction with Subseries
A: Robina Mapstone Files, 1946-1974 and Subseries C: Henry Tropp
Files, 1922-1973.
Subseries C: Henry Tropp Files, 1922-1973
Collected by Tropp and referred to as the "H" Files,
these materials consist of approximately 6 cu. ft. and span
the years 1922 to 1973. Arranged alphabetically, these materials
include articles authored by interviewees, bibliographies, product
literature, and reports. Interviewees associated with a particular
file are noted parenthetically.
Go to container
list for Series 3
These files were presumably maintained by Henry Tropp for
the purposes of research and in preparation of conducting oral
history interviews. Arranged alphabetically by last name of
the interviewee, this series is approximately 1 cubic foot.
Provided is the name of the inventor, the name and/or type of
invention, patent number, and date the patent was issued. In
cases where there is more than one inventor, "et al."
has been used and the patent listed under the primary patentee.
Patents for individuals not associated with the oral history
project are also listed.
Go to container
list for Series 4
These materials were assembled by John V. Atanasoff--a subject
of this oral history collection--and subsequently given to Uta
Merzbach via Mrs. Atsiknoudas in 1972. Spanning the years 1927
to 1968, these materials consist of approximately one cubic
foot. Atanasoff assembled these materials in response to the
litigation of the Sperry-Rand Corporation vs. Honeywell and
Sperry-Rand vs. CDC/Control Data Corporation, which began
in 1967 regarding the rights to the patent for the Electronic
Numerical Integrator and Automatic Computer (ENIAC). Primarily
photocopies, these materials document the process by which Atanasoff
and his colleague, Cliff Berry, created the first automatic
electronic digital computer. J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly
claimed to have invented it first. These files are arranged
according to an outline--Index A to Index C-- developed by Atanasoff.
Researchers should consult this guide to the documents. Some
documents in this series bear numbers. This indicates that the
document was introduced into the U.S. District Court case of
Atanasoff in 1968 involving the Honeywell Inc. vs. Sperry-Rand
Corp. and Illinois Scientific Developments Inc. Copies of
Atanasoff's depositions, volumes 1-9, are also available.
Go to container
list for Series 5
This series is divided into two smaller subseries--reference
copies and originals. The reference copies consist of approximately
10 cu. ft. and the originals approximately 4 cu. ft. The majority
of the audio tapes are on 5" reels. When not in a 5"
format, interviews are on 7" reels or cassettes.
Go to container
list for Series 6
Consists of approximately 3 cu. ft. of material. These videos
contain John Vincent Atanasoff's depositions, business of the
Association for Computing Machinery, and Fortran IV Lectures.
The Computer Oral History Collection was a cooperative project
of the American Federation of Information Processing Societies
(AFIPS) and the Smithsonian Institution. This project began
in 1967 and was concluded in 1973. This collection was transferred
to the Archives Center in approximately 1986 from the Division
of Information, Technology & Society, formerly known as
the Division of Electricity. Transfers still continue.
The Archives Center contains several "computer" related
collections:
American National Standards Institute, 1969-1979
Association for Computing Machinery Collection, 1958-1978 (Washington,
D.C., Chapter)
N.W. Ayer Advertsing Agency Records, 1889-1972
Paul Armer Collection, 1949-1970
Robert G. Chamberlain Numerical Control Collection, 1954-1984
J. Childs Numerical Control Collection, 1952-1970
Computer Standards Collection, 1958-1978
Computer World Smithsonian Awards Collection, 1989-2001
Data Processing Digest Collection, 1955-1974
Max Holland Machine Tool Industry Collection, c. 1941-1990
Grace Murray Hopper Collection, 1944-1965
Information Age Exhibition Records, 1979-1990
Institute for Advanced Study Computer Project Records, 1950-1957
Instrument Society of America Collection, 1911-1969
Odex I Walking Robot Collection, 1973-1986
Jacob Rabinow Papers, 1910-1917; 1947-1990
Terry M. Sachs Collection, 1965-1969
Scientists and Inventors Portrait File, c. 1950-1980
Share Numerical Analysis Project Records, 1964-1970
SHARE Records, c. 1954-1984
Cliff Shaw papers, c. 1954-1985
Society for the History of Technology (SHOT) Records, 1956-1992
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, c. 1754-1965
Whirlwind I Computer Collection, 1945-1959
B.H. Worsley, 1946-1959
Within the National Museum of American History there are other
related collections that may be found in the Division of Information,
Technology & Society. These collections contain both artifacts
and documents. Artifacts include: digital computing machines,
automatic digital computers and electronic calculators, logic
devices, card and tape processors, slide rules, integrators
and integraphs, harmonic analyzers and synthesizers, differential
analyzers, other analog computing devices, space measurement
and representation, time measurement, and combination space
and time measurement. Documentation includes the Electronic
Computers History Collection and the Mathematical Devices History
Collection. Photographs and video materials can also be found.
The Smithsonian Institution Archives contains administrative
documentation regarding the Computer History Project.
| ABC |
Atanasoff-Berry Computer |
| ACE |
Automatic Computing Engine |
| ACM |
Association for Computing Machinery |
| ALGOL |
ALGOLrithmic Language |
| ALWAC |
Axel Wenner-Gren Automatic Computer |
| ARPA |
Advanced Research Projects Agency |
| BACAIC |
Boeing Airplane Company Algebraic Interpretative Computing
System |
| BARK |
Binar Automatisk Rela Kalkylator |
| BINAC |
Binary Automatic Computer |
| BIZMAC |
Business Machine |
| BMEW |
Ballistic Missile Early Warning (System) |
| BUIC |
Back-up Interceptor Control |
| CADAC |
Cambridge Digital Automatic Computer |
| CALDIC |
California Digital Computer |
| CEC |
Consolidated Electrodynamics Corporation |
| CEIR |
Council for Economic and Industry Research |
| COBOL |
Common Business-Oriented Language |
| CODASYL |
Conference on Data Systems Languages |
| CONAC |
Continental Automatic Command |
| COMTRAN |
Commercial Translator |
| CPC |
Card Programmed Calculator |
| CRC |
Computer Response Corporation |
| DARPA |
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency |
| DINA |
Digital Network Analyzer |
| DDA |
Digital Differential Analyzer |
| EDSAC |
Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator |
| EDVAC |
Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer |
| EAM |
Electric [or Electronic] Accounting Machines [or Methods] |
| ENIAC |
Electronic Numerical Integrator and Automatic Computer |
| ERA |
Engineering Research Associates |
| ERMA |
Electronic Recording and Machine Accounting |
| FADAC |
Field Artillery Data Computer |
| FSQ |
Fixed Special eQuipment |
| IAS |
Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton University) |
| ICBM |
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile |
| ILLIAC |
Illinois Automatic Computer |
| INTERCOM |
Intercommunication System (Programming Language) |
| JOHNNIAC |
John [von Neumann's ] Integrator and Automatic Computer |
| JOSS |
Johnniac [John's Integrator and Automatic Computer] Open
Shop System |
| LARK |
Livermore Atomic Research Computer |
| LAS |
Laboratories of Applied Science |
| LGP |
Librascope |
| MAC |
Magnetic Automatic Calculator/Multiple Access Computer |
| MADDIDA |
Magnetic Drum Digital Differential Analyzer |
| MAGIC |
Machine for Automatic Graphics Interface to a Computer |
| MANIAC |
Mathematical Analyzer, Numerical Integrator, and Computer |
| MIDAC |
Michigan [University of] Digital Automatic Computer |
| MIDSAC |
Michigan [University of} Digital Special Automatic Computer |
| MINAC |
Minimal Automatic Computer |
| MIT |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| MITRE |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Establishment |
| MX |
Missile, Experimental |
| NATDAN |
North American Digital Anaylzer |
| NATPAC |
North American Programmed Automatic Computer |
| NDRC |
National Defense Research Committee [of Office of Scientific
Research and Development, World War II] |
| NELIAC |
Naval Electronics Laboratory International Algebraic Compiler |
| NORC |
Naval Ordnance Research Calculator [or computer] [Naval
Ordnance Proving Ground] |
| NTDS |
Naval Tactical Data Systems |
| ONR |
Office of Naval Research |
| ORACLE |
Oak Ridge Automatic Computer and Logical Engine |
| ORDVAC |
Ordnance Discrete Variable Automatic Computer [AEC] |
| OSRD |
Office of Standard Reference Data [National Bureau of
Standards] |
| PACT |
Project for the Advancement of Coding Techniques |
| QUAC |
Quadratic Arc Computer |
| RAMAC |
Random Access Memory Accounting Machine |
| RAYDAC |
Raytheon Digital Automatic Computer |
| REAC |
Reeves Electronic Analog Computer |
| RECOMP |
Reliable COMPuter |
| RESISTOR |
Reusable Surface Insulation Stresses [NASA computer program] |
| SCERT |
Systems and Computer Evaluation Review Technique |
| SCM |
Smith Corona Merchant |
| SEAC |
U.S. Bureau of Standards Eastern Automatic Computer |
| SHARE |
Society to Help Avoid Redundant Effort |
| SHOT |
Society for the History of Technology |
| SIAM |
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics |
| SILLIAC |
Sydney [version of the ] Illiac |
| SIMSCRIPT |
Simulation Script |
| SNOBOL |
String-Oriented Symbolic Language |
| SSEC |
Selective Sequence Electronic Calculator |
| SUBROC |
Submarine Rocket |
| SWAC |
U.S. Bureau of Standards Western Automatic Computer |
| TPM |
Tape Processing Machine |
| UDEC |
United Digital Electronic Computer |
| UNIVAC |
Universal Automatic Computer |
| WEIZAC |
Weizmann Automatic Computer [at Weizmann Institute] |
| WISC |
Wisconsin Integrally Synchronized Computer |
Series 1 | Series
2 | Series 3
| Series 4| Series
5 | Series 6
|
