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Former owner:

Hunnel, Frederick  Search this

Hutcheson, William  Search this

Hutcheson, Martha Brookes  Search this

Norton, C. McKim Mr. Mrs.  Search this

Landscape architect:

Hutcheson, Martha Brookes  Search this

Contractor:

Hendershot, David  Search this

Farmer:

Temple, George  Search this

Gardener:

Hannah, Herbert  Search this

Preservationist:

Hannah, Herbert  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Bamboo Brook (Gladstone, New Jersey)

United States of America -- New Jersey -- Somerset County -- Peapack-Gladstone -- Gladstone

Scope and Contents:

Bamboo Brook related holdings consist of 2 folders and (15) 35 mm. slides. )The folders include worksheets, garden plans, photocopies of photographs of the garden, photocopies of articles about the garden, and a brochure describing the outdoor education center, including a site plan and plant descriptions.

General:

Formerly known as Merchiston Farm, this property was purchased in 1911 by William and Martha Brookes Hutcheson. Martha Brookes Hutcheson, a landscape architect who was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was made a fellow of the American Association of Landscape Architects in 1935, designed and planted the ca. five-acre gardens adjacent to the house. A natural pond enclosed by native plants, a vegetable garden, flower borders, orchards, allees, and a quadrangle of farm buildings, were sited to emphasize vistas and axes, all intimately related to the house. The overall design was influenced by classical Italian gardens, but incorporated American plant material and detail. In addition, Hutcheson valued gardens not only as a repository for plants, but as a place where birdsong, the hum of insects, and the sound of water could provide inspiration and tranquility. The Morris County Park Commission acquired the property in 1972 and renamed it Bamboo Brook. It is now an outdoor education center, but its greater significance lies in its being the only personal garden of an early woman landscape architect that remains intact.

Persons associated with the property include: Frederick Hunnel and heirs (former owners, mid-1700s-1854); William Hutcheson (former owner, 1911-1959); Martha Brookes Hutcheson (former owner and landscape architect, 1911-1959); Mr. and Mrs. C. McKim Norton (former owners, 1959-1972); David Hendershot (contractor, ca. 1914); George Temple (farmer); and Herbert Hannah (gardener and preservationist, 1947-1970s).

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Topic:

Gardens -- New Jersey -- Gladstone  Search this

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.

Sponsor:

A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File NJ116

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / New Jersey

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb639c3b92d-6be8-437f-8cfe-14acf263a7b8

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref20173

Provenance:

Garden Club of Darien  Search this

Former owner:

Bennet, Sara Hadley  Search this

Johnson, Peter  Search this

Lybrand, William M.  Search this

St. George, Lewis  Search this

Landscape architect:

Chamberlin, Noel  Search this

Arborist:

Johnson, Ned  Search this

Garden designer:

Sanford, Tad  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

The Rosenberry Garden (Darien, Connecticut)

United States of America -- Connecticut -- Fairfield County -- Darien

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes a written description of the garden, a garden features plan and key, a plant list, a side view plan, and photocopies of the garden and planting plans done by Noel Chamberlin.

General:

This two-acre property is located in northern Darien just south of the New Canaan border in a section originally known as Flatte (or Flatt) Ridge. In 1880 a small farmhouse was built by Lewis St. George. The house, with additions over the years, today bears a plaque from the Darien Historical Society designating it as the "St. George House 1880." William M. Lybrand, who acquired the house in 1932 from Sara Hadley Bennet, expanded the property to fifty acres and had the St. George House renovated for a caretaker. In connection with the design for the main house, he hired landscape architect Noel Chamberlin of New York City to landscape the grounds of the estate. Chamberlin was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was notably involved in the design of the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida and the gardens of Applecross in Greenville, Delaware. Part of the plan for the St. George House included a large formal garden, designated for cuttings, situated around one of the original farm wells located in the western part of the property. It was surrounded by a yew hedge planted in a shield shape and accessed from the estate's driveway. In 1959, the estate was sold and divided. The St. George house on two acres, including the formal garden, was sold to Peter Johnson.

When the current owners acquired the property in 1979 the garden has been abandoned and allowed to deteriorate. The unsheared yew hedge had grown to 30 feet in some places. In the spring of 1980 Ned Johnson, the head arborist at the Bartlett Arboretum, freed the hedge and advised the owners on the necessary steps for its rejuvenation. With the hedge suggesting the bones of a garden, the current owners outlined, edged, dug, and planted beds, creating a secret garden. Initially it was a garden of roses, tree peonies, perennials, annuals, and vegetables.

A new garden for vegetables was created on the north side of the property. This eventually evolved into a garden divided into four quadrants of dahlias and asparagus anchored by a garden shed. With the assistance of Tad Sanford of Young's Nursery in Woodbury, Connecticut, they developed a woodland garden and meandering path to create space for shade-loving plants. Much of the lawn between the woodland and the house was allowed to become field, gradually filling in with wildflowers. The growing deer problem necessitated surrounding the secret garden with deer fencing and deer resistent plants outside the fence.

Persons associated with the garden include Lewis St George, (former owner, 1880-1919); Sara Hadley Bennet (former owner, 1919-1932); William M. Lybrand (former owner, 1932-1959); Peter Johnson (former owner, 1959-1979); Noel Chamberlin (landscape architect, 1939); Ned Johnson (Bartlett Arboretum arborist, 1980-1983); Tad Sanford (garden designer).

Related Materials:

The Rosenberry Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (11 digital images)

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Topic:

Gardens -- Connecticut -- Darien  Search this

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.

Sponsor:

A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File CT353

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Connecticut

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb625cdafd0-113d-46a6-9bcc-bfe03ee0f1f6

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref21452

Creator:

National Museum of African American History and Culture  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2022-10-14T16:38:34.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

African Americans  Search this

See more by:

WatchNMAAHC

Data Source:

National Museum of African American History and Culture

YouTube Channel:

WatchNMAAHC

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_EiTpc5VdZTU

Creator:

Smithsonian Education  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2009-03-17T16:51:01.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

Education  Search this

See more by:

SmithsonianEducation

Data Source:

Smithsonian Education

YouTube Channel:

SmithsonianEducation

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_gsPJRKM1n5E

Creator:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2017-12-27T20:28:12.000Z

YouTube Category:

Science & Technology  Search this

Topic:

Astronomy  Search this

See more by:

cxcpub

Data Source:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

YouTube Channel:

cxcpub

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_gxogmyY_V_Q

Creator:

National Museum of the American Indian  Search this

Type:

Symposia

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2015-07-15T22:50:37.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

Native Americans;American Indians  Search this

See more by:

SmithsonianNMAI

Data Source:

National Museum of the American Indian

YouTube Channel:

SmithsonianNMAI

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_Cda0YzPhzI0

Creator:

National Museum of the American Indian  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2015-06-05T13:17:53.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

Native Americans;American Indians  Search this

See more by:

SmithsonianNMAI

Data Source:

National Museum of the American Indian

YouTube Channel:

SmithsonianNMAI

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_dql-D6JQ1Bc

Artist:

Frank Weston Benson, 1862 - 1951  Search this

Sitter:

Richard Cockburn Maclaurin, 1870 - 1920  Search this

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

162.6 x 127cm (64 x 50")

Type:

Painting

Date:

1925

Topic:

Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair  Search this

Printed Material\Book  Search this

Container\Vase  Search this

Home Furnishings\Furniture\Bookshelf  Search this

Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie\Necktie  Search this

Richard Cockburn Maclaurin: Male  Search this

Richard Cockburn Maclaurin: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\College administrator\President  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

Owner: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Object number:

MEM-2643

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Catalog of American Portraits

Data Source:

Catalog of American Portraits

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4a703f889-df12-4cd0-94f9-63eae33dcc29

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_MEM-2643

Artist:

Ellen Gertrude Emmet Rand, 4 Mar 1875 - 18 Dec 1941  Search this

Sitter:

Henry Smith Pritchett, 1857 - 1939  Search this

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

128.3 x 110.5cm (50 1/2 x 43 1/2")

Type:

Painting

Date:

before 1941

Topic:

Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair  Search this

Henry Smith Pritchett: Male  Search this

Henry Smith Pritchett: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\College administrator\President  Search this

Henry Smith Pritchett: Science and Technology\Scientist\Astronomer  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

Owner: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Object number:

MEM-2665

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Catalog of American Portraits

Data Source:

Catalog of American Portraits

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm446184363-1ac2-4437-85df-215184411925

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_MEM-2665

Artist:

Johan Selmer-Larsen, 1876 - 1969  Search this

Sitter:

Richard Cockburn Maclaurin, 1870 - 1920  Search this

Medium:

Bronze

Dimensions:

124.5 x 54.6 x 30.5cm (49 x 21 1/2 x 12")

Type:

Sculpture

Date:

1942

Topic:

Richard Cockburn Maclaurin: Male  Search this

Richard Cockburn Maclaurin: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\College administrator\President  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

Owner: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Object number:

MEM-2741

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Catalog of American Portraits

Data Source:

Catalog of American Portraits

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm43a6e06b9-2acc-4214-8d78-9b2aaabd7d4a

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_MEM-2741

Creator:

Gordon, Elizabeth, 1906-2000  Search this

Names:

Claiborne, Craig  Search this

Gordon, Elizabeth, 1906-2000  Search this

Leach, Bernard, 1887-1979  Search this

Extent:

3 Linear feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Periodicals

Photographs

Correspondence

Personal papers

Place:

Japan

Date:

1958-1987

Summary:

Papers, 1959-1987, of Elizabeth Gordon, editor of the periodical, House Beautiful from 1941-1964, mostly related to her research for the August and September 1960 issues of House Beautiful regarding the Japanese aesthetic concept of "shibui", and the subsequent travelling "shibui exhibition" from 1961-1964. Included are correspondence, some photocopies, 1959-1963; notes; drafts for articles and lectures; printed material including magazine and newspaper clippings, 1959-1987; 2 books, and exhibition announcements; drawings of paper and foil art; a photo album containing photos of exhibition installations; and photographs, slides, color transparencies, and lantern slides depicting people, sites, and objects reflecting the "shibui" aesthetic.

Scope and Contents:

The Elizabeth Gordon Papers measure 4.5 linear feet and span the years 1959-1987. The collection mainly documents Ms. Gordon's research for the August and September 1960 issues of House Beautiful regarding the Japanese aesthetic concept of "shibui", and the subsequent travelling "shibui exhibition" from 1961-1964. Included are correspondence, some photocopies, 1959-1963; research notes and materials; articles; lectures; printed material including magazine and newspaper clippings, 1959-1987; 2 books, and exhibition announcements; article materials; a photo album containing photos of exhibition installations; and photographs, slides, color transparencies, and lantern slides depicting people, sites, and objects reflecting the "shibui" aesthetic.

Arrangement note:

This collection is organized into eight series. 1. Biographical data, 2. Shibui research, 3. Shibui issues of, House Beautiful, 4. Correspondence, 5. Shibui promotion, 6. Exhibition files, 7. Printed materials, and 8. Photographs.

Biographical Information:

Born in Logansport, Indiana in 1906, Elizabeth Gordon served as editor of House Beautiful magazine 1941 to 1964. Ms. Gordon first became interested in Japanese aesthetics during the mid-1950s. As a result she began to read and study Japanese art, history and culture. In 1959, Gordon travelled to Japan with three staff people from, House Beautiful. In Kyoto she met Eiko Yuasa, a young woman then employed by the City of Kyoto to handle foreign V.I.P.s, who was assigned to assist Gordon during her stay there. It was Ms. Yuasa who, in the course of discussions of Japanese aesthetics, introduced the term "shibui." Around that term and its related concepts ("iki", "jimi", "hade") the theme for the issue began to crystallize. In August and September, 1960, House Beautiful, under the editorial control of Ms. Gordon, published two extremely popular issues devoted to the subject of "shibui". Due to the popularity of the issues, museum exhibits devoted to the concept of "shibui" travelled around the United States. Ms. Gordon died in Adamstown, Maryland in 2000.

Biographical Overview

1906 -- Born in Logansport, Indiana

1920s -- Attended the University of Chicago

1930s -- Moved to New York to work as a promotional copywriter for several newspapers

1930s -- Syndicated columnist on home maintenance for The New York Herald Tribune

1930s -- Editor at Good Housekeeping (here for 8 years)

1937 -- More House for your Money by Elizabeth Gordon and Dorothy Ducas published by W. Morrow and Company: New York.

1937 -- Married Carl Hafey Norcross

1939 -- Appointed editor of House Beautiful

1964 -- Left the magazine world

1972 -- Published a special issue on Scandinavian design and awarded the insignia of a knight, first class, in the Finnish Order of the Lion

1987 -- American Institute of Architects made her an honorary member

1988 -- Carl Hafey Norcross died

September 3, 2000 -- Died in Adamstown, MD

(The following biography of Elizabeth Gordon comes courtesy of curator Louise Cort. Written in consultation with Elizabeth Gordon, October 23, 1987)

The research papers, memoranda, magazines, books, photographs and color transparencies and other materials in this archives are related to the publication by Elizabeth Gordon (Mrs. Carl Norcross), editor of House Beautiful from 1941 to 1964 and creator of the August, 1960 issue of the magazine on the special theme of the Japanese aesthetic concept of "shibui". The "shibui issue" was followed by the September, 1960, issue of the same publication on the theme, "How to be shibui with American things." As a by-product of the issues, a "Shibui Exhibition" travelled to eleven museums in the United States during 1961-1964. Each exhibition was opened with a slide lecture by Elizabeth Gordon.

Miss Gordon first became curious about Japanese aesthetics in the mid-1950s when she began to see Japanese objects being displayed and used in the homes of Americans who had spent time in Japan during the Occupation and Japanese influence began to appear in wholesale showrooms of home furnishings manufacturers. It was clear that the time had come: she HAD to go to Japan!

She read for five years before going to Japan - history, social mores, art history. (Many of the books on Japan that she collected during this time have been presented to the library at the University of Maryland, College Park.)

An important bit of advice came from Alice Spaulding Bowen, owner of Pacifica, the highest quality shop of Asian antiquities in Honolulu, who told her, "Be sure to read, The Tale of Genji - then you'll understand everything."

She made her first trip to Japan in April, 1959, accompanied by three staff people from, House Beautiful. In Kyoto she met Eiko Yuasa, a young woman then employed by the City of Kyoto to handle foreign V.I.P.s, who was assigned to assist Miss Gordon during her stay there. It was Ms. Yuasa who, in the course of discussions of Japanese aesthetics, introduced the term "shibui." Around that term and its related concepts ("iki", "jimi", "hade") the theme for the issue began to crystallize.

Miss Gordon came home, planning to spend the summer researching "shibui" with the aid of the Japan Society. But she found virtually nothing written in English on the concept. So she returned to Japan in December, 1959 together with staff member Marion Gough, to dig deeper and to work out details and get better educated with Eiko Yuasa. One of their devices was to walk through department stores and discuss with sales personnel whether objects for sale were "shibui", or were "jimi" or "hade", and why. Between themselves, they did the same for the costumes of women they saw on the streets.

Lacking printed sources for information on "shibui", Miss Gordon sought out and interviewed experts, including Douglas Overton, head of the Japan Society in New York. In Japan in December, 1959, she met Yanagi Soetsu, founder of Japan's Folk Craft Movement and head of the Craft Museum in Tokyo (with an introduction from Tonomura Kichinosuke, head of the Craft Museum in Kurashiki). She met the chef Tsuji Kaichi, who was commissioned to write an article on "kaiseki" (that could not be used because of an inadequate English translation) and Frances Blakemore. She met several times with Bernard Leach and attended his lecture at Bonnier's while he was in New York in March, 1960. (He would later write a "fan letter" for the issue)

As the concept of "the shibui issue" began to take shape, a third trip in the spring of 1960 focused on photography - to produce the shooting script decided on the preceding December. This was executed by the noted photographer Ezra Stoller of Rye, New York, and John DeKoven Hill, House Beautiful's Editorial Director. (Mr. Hill worked with Frank Lloyd Wright except for the ten years that he was a member of the House Beautiful editorial staff)

Miss Gordon was back in Japan in Mid-August 1960 as the "shibui issue" was causing a sensation. Altogether she spent sixteen months in Japan.

As one of the experiences that influenced her strong interest in Japanese costumes and textiles, Miss Gordon remembers a spectacularly thorough exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno on, 1200 Years of Japanese Costume. She saw it on the last day of its exhibition (possibly 1964).

The August 1960 issue sold out quickly. Copies of the magazine, which sold for fifty cents, were sold on the "black market" for ten dollars.

The publication of the August 1960 issue was followed by an unprecedented avalanche of "fan mail". Many department heads in colleges and universities, including the Harvard-Yenching Institute and the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (where Miss Gordon had worked as an undergraduate) wrote to comment on the issue. Many people in other fields of endeavor wrote: heads of firms concerned with interior design, landscape architecture, and related areas expressed their interest in the concept of "shibui" Other writers include Bernard Leach, Gertrude Natzler, Laura Gilpin, Mainbocher, the architect Yoshimura Junzo, the textile artist Marianne Strengell, Walter Kerr, Craig Claiborne, and Oliver Statler.

The "shibui issue" was followed immediately by the September issue dealing with the use of non-Japanese objects to express the concept of "shibui." (Miss Gordon convinced her advertisers, who had been skeptical about the potential success of the August issue, by promising the September issue dealing with American products.) Four American firms were involved in the production of an integrated line of paints, wallpaper, furniture and carpets expressive of the concept. Products were designed by the firms' designers following the clues offered by objects and fabrics purchased by Miss Gordon in Japan in December 1959 and spring 1960. Miss Gordon has expressed her dissatisfaction with the September issue, although public opinion was positive. She feels that some of the firms failed in the "shibui" project, though some "caught" the message: namely the paint company and the fabric/wallpaper company.

In response to strong public interest, the House Beautiful staff prepared a travelling exhibition to introduce the concept of "shibui" through a series of vignettes, mixing fabrics and objects, colors and textures. The museum installation was designed by John Hill of House Beautiful. Japan Air Lines underwrote shipping costs.

The exhibition began in Philadelphia in late 1961. Ezra Stoller was sent to photograph the installation in considerable detail at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts in January, 1962, so that his photographs cold serve as guidelines for installations at the other museums, which included the San Francisco Museum of Art (April 1962), the Newark Pubic Library, and the Honolulu Academy of Art. Miss Gordon presented a lecture on "shibui" at each of the museum installations.

In appreciation of her work to introduce Americans to the concept of "shibui", the city of Kyoto presented a bolt of especially "shibui" kimono fabric executed by a Living National Treasure textile artist. Miss Gordon eventually tailored the fabric into a dress and jacket. She received the 1961 Trail Blazer Award from the New York Chapter of the National Home Fashions League, Inc. In June, 1987, Miss Gordon was named an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects, with her introduction of the concept of "shibui" and her promotion of an understanding of other culture cited as her major contributions to American architecture.

Provenance:

Elizabeth Gordon donated her papers to the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives in 1988.

Elizabeth Gordon donated her papers to the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives in 1988.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

No restrictions on use.

Topic:

Interior decoration -- Periodicals  Search this

Landscape gardening  Search this

Art, Japanese  Search this

Aesthetics, Japanese  Search this

House funishings  Search this

Interior decoration  Search this

Museum exhibits  Search this

Interior decorators  Search this

Gardens -- Japan  Search this

Genre/Form:

Periodicals -- 1940-1970

Photographs

Correspondence

Personal papers -- 1950-2000

Citation:

The Elizabeth Gordon Papers. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Elizabeth Gordon, 1988

Identifier:

FSA.A1988.03

See more items in:

Elizabeth Gordon Papers

Archival Repository:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/dc3bd5683e5-f956-4a04-9d0c-4565a6b761b7

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-fsa-a1988-03

Creator:

Blanch, Gertrude  Search this

Bloch, Richard M.  Search this

Bradburn, James  Search this

Brainerd, John G.  Search this

Brown, George W.  Search this

Brown, Gordon S.  Search this

Buchholz, Werner  Search this

Burns, Robert  Search this

Atanasoff, John V.  Search this

Atchison, William  Search this

Auerbach, Issac  Search this

Bartik, Jean  Search this

Bauer, William  Search this

Beek, Allan  Search this

Bernstein, Mort  Search this

Bigelow, Julian  Search this

Coleman  Search this

Cohen, I. Bernhard  Search this

Computer History Forum.  Search this

COT Meeting.  Search this

Coombs, John  Search this

Crawford, Perry O.  Search this

Couret, Lynn  Search this

Campbell, Robert V.  Search this

Campaigne, Howard  Search this

Cannon, Edward  Search this

Canning, R.G.  Search this

Clem, Mary  Search this

Cass, James  Search this

CODASYL Meeting.  Search this

Clippinger, Richard F.  Search this

MIT Club Talks (Brown & Wiener).  Search this

Andrews, Ernest G.  Search this

American Federation of Information Processing Societies  Search this

Alt, Franz  Search this

Alrich, John  Search this

Association for Computing Machinery.  Search this

Association for Computing Machinery.  Search this

Argonne National Laboratories R.  Search this

Allard, Gerry  Search this

Aiken, Howard  Search this

Adams, Charles  Search this

Acton, Forman  Search this

Halstead, Maurice H.  Search this

Harmon, Leon  Search this

Harvey, Samuel  Search this

Hazen, Dean Harold  Search this

Gruenberger, Fred  Search this

Gunning, William  Search this

Hagen, Glenn E.  Search this

Hall, W.  Search this

Greenwald, Irwin  Search this

Greenwarld, Sidney  Search this

Griswold, Ralph E.  Search this

Grosch, Herbert R. J.  Search this

Goheen, Harry E.  Search this

Good, I.J.  Search this

Goteib, C.C.  Search this

Granholm, Jackson  Search this

Israel, David R.  Search this

Huskey, Harry D.  Search this

Kates, Josef  Search this

Juncosa, Mario  Search this

Householder, Alston S.  Search this

Horwitz, Bernhard R.  Search this

Hurd, Cuthbert R.  Search this

Howard, Bernard  Search this

Hopper, Grace Murray, 1906-1992  Search this

Holbrook, Bernard  Search this

Horner, Joseph  Search this

Horn, Robert J.  Search this

Herold, Henry  Search this

Herget, Paul  Search this

Holberton, Betty  Search this

Hertz, Ted  Search this

Elkins, Harold  Search this

Estrin, Gerald  Search this

Edwards, Walt  Search this

Elbourn, Robert  Search this

Eckert, J. Presper (John Presper), 1919-1995  Search this

Eddy, Robert Philip  Search this

Downey, William  Search this

Eckdahl, Donald  Search this

Dodd, Stephen  Search this

Dotts, Richard D.  Search this

Dietzhold, Robert  Search this

Dimsdale, Bernard  Search this

Desch, Joseph  Search this

Dickinson, Arthur H.  Search this

Curtiss, John H.  Search this

Dederick, Louis S.  Search this

Glazer, T.  Search this

Givens, Wallace  Search this

Gill, Stanley  Search this

Geisler, Murray  Search this

Garrison, Ken  Search this

Frankel, Stanley  Search this

Forrester, Jay W.  Search this

Forrest, Cameron B.  Search this

Forbes, George  Search this

Fenaughty, Alfred L.  Search this

Fein, Louis  Search this

Feign, David  Search this

Farrand, William R.  Search this

Fall Joint Computer Conference, 12/6/72.  Search this

Fall Joint Computer Conference, 11/17/71.  Search this

Everett, Robert  Search this

Nelson, Eldred  Search this

Neisius, Vincent  Search this

Northrop, John  Search this

Neovius, G.  Search this

Parker, R.D.  Search this

Palevsky, Max  Search this

Phelps, Byron R.  Search this

Patrick, Robert  Search this

Pickrell, D.  Search this

Phister, Montgomery  Search this

Pollmyer, R.  Search this

Polachek, Harry  Search this

Quady, Emmett  Search this

Postley, John A. R.  Search this

Rajchman, Jan  Search this

Ream, Norman  Search this

Reed, Irving S.  Search this

Rees, Mina  Search this

Rhodes, Ida  Search this

Rice, Rex  Search this

Rochester, Nathaniel  Search this

Rogers, Jim  Search this

Rogers, Stanley  Search this

Rosenberg, Milton  Search this

Rosenthal, Paul R.  Search this

Rubinoff, Morris R.  Search this

Salzer, John M.  Search this

Samuel, Arthur L. R.  Search this

Sarkissian, Harold  Search this

Schuette, Roger  Search this

Serrell, Robert R.  Search this

King, Paul  Search this

Kilpatrick, Lester  Search this

Killian, James  Search this

Kaufold, Leroy R.  Search this

Lanzarotta, Sandy R.  Search this

Kreuder, Norman L.  Search this

Korn, Irving  Search this

Kirsch, Russell  Search this

Lovell, Clarence A.  Search this

Lehmer, Derrick H.  Search this

Legvold, Sam  Search this

Larson, Harry  Search this

Martin, Richard R.  Search this

Marden, Ethel  Search this

Madden, Don R.  Search this

Lowe, John  Search this

McPherson, John C.  Search this

Mendelson, Jerry  Search this

Mason, Daniel R.  Search this

Mauchly, John R.  Search this

Michel, J.G.L. R.  Search this

Miller, Frederick G.  Search this

Menzel, Donald H.  Search this

Metropolis, Nicholas C.  Search this

Mitchell, Joel  Search this

MITRE Meeting.  Search this

Mills, Roger L.  Search this

Morton, Paul  Search this

Mumford, Louis  Search this

Mock, Owen  Search this

Morse, Philip B.  Search this

Wilkinson, James H. R.  Search this

Wilkes, Maurice R.  Search this

Wizenbaum, Joe  Search this

Williams, Charles  Search this

Wieselman, Irving  Search this

Wiener, Robert  Search this

Wild, Arthur  Search this

Wieser, C. Robert  Search this

Wrench, John W. R.  Search this

Woodger, Michael  Search this

Yowell, E.C. R.  Search this

Youtz, Pat  Search this

Woo, Way Dong  Search this

Wolfe, Philip  Search this

Woodbury, William R.  Search this

Wood, Ben D.  Search this

Zemanek, Heinz  Search this

Zuse, Konrad  Search this

Smagorinsky, Joseph  Search this

Slutz, Ralph R.  Search this

Skramstad, Harold R.  Search this

Skillman, Sherwood R.  Search this

SIAM/SIGNUM Meeting.  Search this

SIAM-72.  Search this

SHARE XXXVIII.  Search this

SHARE Meeting for Pioneers.  Search this

Taylor, Norman  Search this

Tanaka, David  Search this

Strong, Jack  Search this

Stibitz, George  Search this

Steele, Floyd G. R.  Search this

Sprague, Richard E.  Search this

Snyder, Samuel  Search this

Smith, Charles V.L.  Search this

TV Program KQED.  Search this

Uncapher, Keith  Search this

Torfeh, Mark  Search this

Travis, Irven  Search this

Todd-Tausskky, Olga  Search this

Tomash, Erwin  Search this

Toben, Gregory  Search this

Todd, John  Search this

Wheeler, R.J.  Search this

Whirlwind Discussion.  Search this

Ware, Willis H.  Search this

Wegstein, Joseph Henry  Search this

Wagner, Frank  Search this

Wang, An R.  Search this

von Hippel, Arthur  Search this

von Neumann, John  Search this

Armer, Paul, 1924- (computer technician)  Search this

Interviewee:

Rabinow, Jacob, 1910-  Search this

Former owner:

National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Computers, Information and Society  Search this

Extent:

43.5 Cubic feet (158 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Audiotapes

Interviews

Oral history

Sound recordings

Transcripts

Videotapes

Date:

1969-1973, 1977

Summary:

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.

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of approximately 43.5 cubic feet of material documenting the development of the computer.

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

NT=No Transcript

R=Restricted

Arrangement:

The collection is divided into six series.

Series 1: Transcripts, 1967-1973, 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

Biographical / Historical:

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.

Related Materials:

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 Medicine and Science. 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.

Provenance:

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.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but original audio tapes and videotapes are stored off-site. Reference copies do not exist for all of the audiovisual materials. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Computers  Search this

Engineers  Search this

Mathematics  Search this

Mathematicians  Search this

Physicists  Search this

Scientists  Search this

Genre/Form:

Audiotapes

Interviews -- 1950-2000

Oral history

Sound recordings -- Compact disks

Transcripts

Videotapes

Citation:

Computer Oral History Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution

Sponsor:

Online transcripts for select oral history interviews were made possible by the Morton I. Bernstein Fund and the Association for Computing Machinery, the Special Interest Group on Management of Data (SIGMOD), and the Special Interest Group on Programming Languages (SIGPLAN).

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0196

See more items in:

Computer Oral History Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8b666ccc2-1644-4513-9a64-89be727d5419

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0196

Creator:

National Museum of American History  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2016-12-12T19:59:20.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

American History  Search this

See more by:

SmithsonianAmHistory

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

YouTube Channel:

SmithsonianAmHistory

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_C4EZLJgas2Q

Creator:

National Museum of the American Indian  Search this

Type:

Symposia

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2013-11-19T16:46:06.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

Native Americans;American Indians  Search this

See more by:

SmithsonianNMAI

Data Source:

National Museum of the American Indian

YouTube Channel:

SmithsonianNMAI

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_7TPsrgC6EoI

Creator:

Union of Concerned Scientists  Search this

Organization for Progressive Engineers  Search this

New University Conference  Search this

Scientists for Social and Political Action  Search this

Science Action Coordinating Committee  Search this

Chodos, Alan, Dr.  Search this

Haseltine, Florence P., Dr.  Search this

Massachusetts Institute of Technology  Search this

Extent:

1 Cubic foot (2 boxes, 1 oversize folder)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Posters

Photographs

Programs

Date:

1968 - 1969

Scope and Contents:

The collection covers the period 1968-1969, the blossoming of the anti-Vietnam War protest movement. The papers primarily concern the March 4, 1969 voluntary research stoppage at MIT. This day was set aside to discuss and criticize the cooperation of MIT researchers with the US Department of Defense and included speakers George McGovern and Noam Chomsky as well as many others. The materials include photographs, posters, programs, and coordinating notes concerning this day of non-violent protest. The papers also cover other days of protests, Agenda Days, May 6-8, 1969 and a demonstration held on June 16, 1969, as well as a letter sent to Russian scientists in April 1969. The collection also includes items from other Vietnam War era protest groups: the Union of Concerned Scientists, New University Conference, Scientists for Social and Political Action and the Organization for Progressive Engineers.

The collection is particularly valuable in the picture it presents of the anti-Vietnam War protest movement of the late 1960s and how it grew to include other societal concerns. It is also valuable in the view it presents from inside the movement.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into one series.

Biographical / Historical:

The Science Action Coordinating Committee (SACC) was a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) based graduate student organization active in the Vietnam War protest movement of the late 1960s. Its activities grew to include protests against a variety of social and political targets. Members described themselves as, "a group of graduate students at MIT concerned with social responsibility of scientists."

Provenance:

Donated to the National Museum of American History, Archives Center by Dr. Alan Chodos and Dr. Florence P. Haseltine in 1992.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Peace movements -- 1960-1970  Search this

Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Protest Movements  Search this

Universities and colleges  Search this

Genre/Form:

Posters

Photographs -- 1960-1970

Programs

Citation:

The Science Action Coordinating Committee Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0473

See more items in:

Science Action Coordinating Committee Papers

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8dcb786de-b934-49e0-a680-ca31031b20f5

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0473

Collection Creator:

Union of Concerned Scientists  Search this

Organization for Progressive Engineers  Search this

New University Conference  Search this

Scientists for Social and Political Action  Search this

Science Action Coordinating Committee  Search this

Chodos, Alan, Dr.  Search this

Haseltine, Florence P., Dr.  Search this

Massachusetts Institute of Technology  Search this

Container:

Box 1, Folder 2

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1969 March 4

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Collection Citation:

The Science Action Coordinating Committee Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

See more items in:

Science Action Coordinating Committee Papers

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep81e4ca48c-dd7b-4d19-9d61-93400ed6f047

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0473-ref14

Collection Creator:

Union of Concerned Scientists  Search this

Organization for Progressive Engineers  Search this

New University Conference  Search this

Scientists for Social and Political Action  Search this

Science Action Coordinating Committee  Search this

Chodos, Alan, Dr.  Search this

Haseltine, Florence P., Dr.  Search this

Massachusetts Institute of Technology  Search this

Container:

Box 1, Folder 4

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

undated

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Collection Citation:

The Science Action Coordinating Committee Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

See more items in:

Science Action Coordinating Committee Papers

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep85ff0e4c2-4302-4f6a-9093-f757eb7b4bc4

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0473-ref16

Collection Creator:

Union of Concerned Scientists  Search this

Organization for Progressive Engineers  Search this

New University Conference  Search this

Scientists for Social and Political Action  Search this

Science Action Coordinating Committee  Search this

Chodos, Alan, Dr.  Search this

Haseltine, Florence P., Dr.  Search this

Massachusetts Institute of Technology  Search this

Container:

Box 1, Folder 5

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1969 April

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Collection Citation:

The Science Action Coordinating Committee Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

See more items in:

Science Action Coordinating Committee Papers

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8dd7f85ba-9ef4-4778-97c0-e3350c8bbdca

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0473-ref17

Collection Creator:

Union of Concerned Scientists  Search this

Organization for Progressive Engineers  Search this

New University Conference  Search this

Scientists for Social and Political Action  Search this

Science Action Coordinating Committee  Search this

Chodos, Alan, Dr.  Search this

Haseltine, Florence P., Dr.  Search this

Massachusetts Institute of Technology  Search this

Container:

Box 2

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1969

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Collection Citation:

The Science Action Coordinating Committee Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

See more items in:

Science Action Coordinating Committee Papers

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep835f81865-de3e-40a0-89c8-8acdcd52befa

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0473-ref32

Creator:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology  Search this

Names:

"MITRE Matrix"  Search this

MITRE Corporation  Search this

Everett, Robert R.  Search this

Collector:

National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Mathematics  Search this

Extent:

10.3 Cubic feet (31 boxes)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Reports

Papers

Date:

1945-1959

Scope and Contents:

This collection consists of over 2,516 items, housed in 31 document boxes. The material is arranged into chronological order and covers the project dates of l945- l959. The items were originally classified secret, confidential, and unclassified.

The collection is arranged into four series:

Series 1: Summary Reports

Series 2: Bi-weekly Reports

Series 3: Correspondence, Memoranda, and Reports

Series 4: Indexes

The summary reports include originals of "Summary Report #1, April, 1946" and "Summary Report #2," in twenty-two volumes, and photocopies of summary reports #3 through #40. The bi-weekly reports, covering the period December, l947 to May, l953, are arranged chronologically. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, notes, memos, and reports. These date from August, 1945 to January, 1959 and are arranged chronologically. A 210 page index to the reports and correspondence (prepared by Whirlwind project personnel) is located in box 31. This guide has a table of contents and lists topic, author, date, and identification number for all items in the collection. Other indexes are located in boxes 30 and 31.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into four series.

Series 1: Summary Reports, 1946-1954

Series 2: Bi-weekly Reports, 1947-1953

Series 3: Correspondence, Memoranda, and Reports, 1945-1959

Series 4: Indices, undated

Biographical / Historical:

Project Whirlwind was sponsored by the Special Devices Center of the Office of Naval Research from 1945 to 1952. The original objective of the project was the development of a device that would simulate airplanes in flight. As the project progressed, other applications of the computer evolved.

The project was centered in the Servomechanisms Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). In the course of the research, Whirlwind evolved from an aircraft simulator into a high speed digital computer and finally into a key element of the United States' early air defense system. In 1948, M.I.T., believing that it was inappropriate for an educational institution to be so heavily involved in air defense research, transferred Whirlwind responsibility to the new M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory in 1952. There, under the direction of Jay Forrester, pioneering work was done on magnetic core memory. MITRE's Whirlwind group spun off from Lincoln Laboratory to the new MITRE Corporation in 1958. Whirlwind served SAGE (Semiautomatic Ground Environment) air defense activities until being retired in May of 1959.

Whirlwind I was of the high-speed electronic digital type, in which quantities were represented as discrete numbers, and complex problems were solved by the repeated use of fundamental arithmetic and logical operations. Computations were executed by fractional microsecond pulses in electronic circuits, of which the principal ones were the flip-flop, the gate coincidence circuit and the magnetic core memory. Whirlwind I used numbers of 16 binary digits; this length was selected to limit the machine to a practical size.

The Whirlwind I Computer was utilized by such projects as Navy Fire Control, Air Traffic Control, the Cape Cod System, Experimental SAGE Sector, and many others. Whirlwind I spawned two computers, the MTC (memory test computer) and TX O (transistor computer), both developed by ESS Installation Group 63.

The Whirlwind I Computer and its facilities were later leased to the Wolf Research and Development Corporation, West Concord, Massachusetts, under Navy Lease Contract Nonr 2956(00) in 1963. Kent C. Redmond and Thomas M. Smith wrote a history of the project, Project Whirlwind: Case History (Bedford, Massachusetts: The MITRE Corporation, l975).

Provenance:

This collection was donated by the MITRE Corporation, February 1983. The Whirlwind I Computer Project originated at the Servomechanics Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) in 1945. The records were transferred in l959 to the MITRE Corporation.

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Computer science  Search this

Aerospace engineering  Search this

Flight Simulation  Search this

Airplanes  Search this

Computers  Search this

Genre/Form:

Reports

Papers

Citation:

Whirlwind Computer Collection, 1945-1959, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0290

See more items in:

Whirlwind Computer Collection

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8508a59fc-7484-4303-8291-837651f48fe1

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0290