Computers & Business Machines

Imagine the loss, 100 years from now, if museums hadn't begun preserving the artifacts of the computer age. The last few decades offer proof positive of why museums must collect continuously—to document technological and social transformations already underway.

The museum's collections contain mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers, and handheld devices. Computers range from the pioneering ENIAC to microcomputers like the Altair and the Apple I. A Cray2 supercomputer is part of the collections, along with one of the towers of IBM's Deep Blue, the computer that defeated reigning champion Garry Kasparov in a chess match in 1997. Computer components and peripherals, games, software, manuals, and other documents are part of the collections. Some of the instruments of business include adding machines, calculators, typewriters, dictating machines, fax machines, cash registers, and photocopiers

This group of five educational computer programs was developed for the Commodore 64 during the 1980s.
Description
This group of five educational computer programs was developed for the Commodore 64 during the 1980s. Each program has its original box, the 5 ¼” software diskettes, and the user manual.
Word Shuttle
This word processing program was released in 1985 and included a 42-page user guide and two keyboard overlays. Word Shuttle was the official word processor of the Young Astronaut Program which operated between 1984 and 2004. The objective of this international educational curriculum was to promote greater interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through space-themed activities, experiments, and conferences.
Sky Travel
This astronomy program, designed for persons ages 12 and up, was released in 1984 and included a 138-page manual. It provided an interactive guided tour of the universe—in the past, present, and future. The universe model could show the location of more than 1,200 stars, 88 constellations, 8 planets, deep sky objects, and the (then) future appearance (1986) of Halley’s comet. The program had four basic modes: map, set, sky, and chart. Map was used to select the location on Earth; month, day, year, and time were determined in set; optional displays were chosen in sky; and chart was used to project the sky on a celestial sphere with coordinate lines for creating, viewing, and printing your own star charts.
JUST IMAGINE…
This creative writing program, released in 1984 for individuals of all ages, included a 20-page manual. The user could create colorful animated stories by selecting up to three animated characters from the twenty-five provided, choosing one of nine backgrounds, and a few of the 48 stationary objects. The author then wrote a story to match the selected graphics. While different parts of the program loaded it displayed random trivia facts from the 300 stored on the diskette. The story could be played back and saved to diskette. The introduction in the manual states that “JUST IMAGINE… is another example of Commodore’s commitment to excellence-in-education through technology.”
Reading Professor
This reading program, released in 1984, was designed to teach reading skills to high school-age students as well as adults. Included with the two software diskettes was a 40-page user guide. The program provided a series of ten 20-minute lessons to increase reading speed and improve comprehension by presenting specific techniques for eliminating bad reading habits and developing new skills. It has a library of reading materials with three reading levels--High School, College and Adult, and Professional. Each level contains thirty-two reading selections. The program used seven types of exercises to monitor and log progress and success.
Typing Professor
This typing program, released in 1984 for individuals ages 12 and up, included a 20-page manual, two cassettes for use with a Commodore 16, and a diskette for use with either a Commodore 64 or Commodore Plus/4.
Students could learn the basics of touch typing or learn to improve their typing speed. The program had 19 exercises which increased in difficulty. Each exercise contained a score chart that calculated and recorded the number of errors, error rate, and typing speed. The exercises were timed and the student could not exceed the acceptable error rate before beginning the next exercise. The allowed error rate started at 4% for lesson 1 and decreased to 1% for lessons 16-19. The goal for lesson 19 was 35 words per minute with a less than 1% error rate.
maker
Commodore Business Machines, Inc.
ID Number
2006.0132.28.02
catalog number
2006.0132.28.02
accession number
2006.0132
This group of five educational computer programs was developed for the Commodore 64 during the 1980s.
Description
This group of five educational computer programs was developed for the Commodore 64 during the 1980s. Each program has its original box, the 5 ¼” software diskettes, and the user manual.
Word Shuttle
This word processing program was released in 1985 and included a 42-page user guide and two keyboard overlays. Word Shuttle was the official word processor of the Young Astronaut Program which operated between 1984 and 2004. The objective of this international educational curriculum was to promote greater interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through space-themed activities, experiments, and conferences.
Sky Travel
This astronomy program, designed for persons ages 12 and up, was released in 1984 and included a 138-page manual. It provided an interactive guided tour of the universe—in the past, present, and future. The universe model could show the location of more than 1,200 stars, 88 constellations, 8 planets, deep sky objects, and the (then) future appearance (1986) of Halley’s comet. The program had four basic modes: map, set, sky, and chart. Map was used to select the location on Earth; month, day, year, and time were determined in set; optional displays were chosen in sky; and chart was used to project the sky on a celestial sphere with coordinate lines for creating, viewing, and printing your own star charts.
JUST IMAGINE…
This creative writing program, released in 1984 for individuals of all ages, included a 20-page manual. The user could create colorful animated stories by selecting up to three animated characters from the twenty-five provided, choosing one of nine backgrounds, and a few of the 48 stationary objects. The author then wrote a story to match the selected graphics. While different parts of the program loaded it displayed random trivia facts from the 300 stored on the diskette. The story could be played back and saved to diskette. The introduction in the manual states that “JUST IMAGINE… is another example of Commodore’s commitment to excellence-in-education through technology.”
Reading Professor
This reading program, released in 1984, was designed to teach reading skills to high school-age students as well as adults. Included with the two software diskettes was a 40-page user guide. The program provided a series of ten 20-minute lessons to increase reading speed and improve comprehension by presenting specific techniques for eliminating bad reading habits and developing new skills. It has a library of reading materials with three reading levels--High School, College and Adult, and Professional. Each level contians thirty-two reading selections. The program used seven types of exercises to monitor and log progress and success.
Typing Professor
This typing program, released in 1984 for individuals ages 12 and up, included a 20-page manual, two cassettes for use with a Commodore 16, and a diskette for use with either a Commodore 64 or Commodore Plus/4.
Students could learn the basics of touch typing or learn to improve their typing speed. The program had 19 exercises which increased in difficulty. Each exercise contained a score chart that calculated and recorded the number of errors, error rate, and typing speed. The exercises were timed and the student could not exceed the acceptable error rate before beginning the next exercise. The allowed error rate started at 4% for lesson 1 and decreased to 1% for lessons 16-19. The goal for lesson 19 was 35 words per minute with a less than 1% error rate.
maker
Commodore Business Machines, Inc.
ID Number
2006.0132.28.03
catalog number
2006.0132.28.03
accession number
2006.0132
This group of five educational computer programs was developed for the Commodore 64 during the 1980s.
Description
This group of five educational computer programs was developed for the Commodore 64 during the 1980s. Each program has its original box, the 5 ¼” software diskettes, and the user manual.
Word Shuttle
This word processing program was released in 1985 and included a 42-page user guide and two keyboard overlays. Word Shuttle was the official word processor of the Young Astronaut Program which operated between 1984 and 2004. The objective of this international educational curriculum was to promote greater interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through space-themed activities, experiments, and conferences.
Sky Travel
This astronomy program, designed for persons ages 12 and up, was released in 1984 and included a 138-page manual. It provided an interactive guided tour of the universe—in the past, present, and future. The universe model could show the location of more than 1,200 stars, 88 constellations, 8 planets, deep sky objects, and the (then) future appearance (1986) of Halley’s comet. The program had four basic modes: map, set, sky, and chart. Map was used to select the location on Earth; month, day, year, and time were determined in set; optional displays were chosen in sky; and chart was used to project the sky on a celestial sphere with coordinate lines for creating, viewing, and printing your own star charts.
JUST IMAGINE…
This creative writing program, released in 1984 for individuals of all ages, included a 20-page manual. The user could create colorful animated stories by selecting up to three animated characters from the twenty-five provided, choosing one of nine backgrounds, and a few of the 48 stationary objects. The author then wrote a story to match the selected graphics. While different parts of the program loaded it displayed random trivia facts from the 300 stored on the diskette. The story could be played back and saved to diskette. The introduction in the manual states that “JUST IMAGINE… is another example of Commodore’s commitment to excellence-in-education through technology.”
Reading Professor
This reading program, released in 1984, was designed to teach reading skills to high school-age students as well as adults. Included with the two software diskettes was a 40-page user guide. The program provided a series of ten 20-minute lessons to increase reading speed and improve comprehension by presenting specific techniques for eliminating bad reading habits and developing new skills. It has a library of reading materials with three reading levels -- High School, College and Adult, and Professional. Each level includes thirty-two reading selections. The program used seven types of exercises to monitor and log progress and success.
Typing Professor
This typing program, released in 1984 for individuals ages 12 and up, included a 20-page manual, two cassettes for use with a Commodore 16, and a diskette for use with either a Commodore 64 or Commodore Plus/4.
Students could learn the basics of touch typing or learn to improve their typing speed. The program had 19 exercises which increased in difficulty. Each exercise contained a score chart that calculated and recorded the number of errors, error rate, and typing speed. The exercises were timed and the student could not exceed the acceptable error rate before beginning the next exercise. The allowed error rate started at 4% for lesson 1 and decreased to 1% for lessons 16-19. The goal for lesson 19 was 35 words per minute with a less than 1% error rate.
Date made
ca 1984
maker
Commodore Business Machines, Inc.
ID Number
2006.0132.28.01
catalog number
2006.0132.28.01
accession number
2006.0132
This group of five educational computer programs was developed for the Commodore 64 during the 1980s.
Description
This group of five educational computer programs was developed for the Commodore 64 during the 1980s. Each program has its original box, the 5 ¼” software diskettes, and the user manual.
Word Shuttle
This word processing program was released in 1985 and included a 42-page user guide and two keyboard overlays. Word Shuttle was the official word processor of the Young Astronaut Program which operated between 1984 and 2004. The objective of this international educational curriculum was to promote greater interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through space-themed activities, experiments, and conferences.
Sky Travel
This astronomy program, designed for persons ages 12 and up, was released in 1984 and included a 138-page manual. It provided an interactive guided tour of the universe—in the past, present, and future. The universe model could show the location of more than 1,200 stars, 88 constellations, 8 planets, deep sky objects, and the (then) future appearance (1986) of Halley’s comet. The program had four basic modes: map, set, sky, and chart. Map was used to select the location on Earth; month, day, year, and time were determined in set; optional displays were chosen in sky; and chart was used to project the sky on a celestial sphere with coordinate lines for creating, viewing, and printing your own star charts.
JUST IMAGINE…
This creative writing program, released in 1984 for individuals of all ages, included a 20-page manual. The user could create colorful animated stories by selecting up to three animated characters from the twenty-five provided, choosing one of nine backgrounds, and a few of the 48 stationary objects. The author then wrote a story to match the selected graphics. While different parts of the program loaded it displayed random trivia facts from the 300 stored on the diskette. The story could be played back and saved to diskette. The introduction in the manual states that “JUST IMAGINE… is another example of Commodore’s commitment to excellence-in-education through technology.”
Reading Professor
This reading program, released in 1984, was designed to teach reading skills to high school-age students as well as adults. Included with the two software diskettes was a 40-page user guide. The program provided a series of ten 20-minute lessons to increase reading speed and improve comprehension by presenting specific techniques for eliminating bad reading habits and developing new skills. It has a library of reading materials with three reading levels--High School, College and Adult, and Professional. Each level contains thirty-two reading selections. The program used seven types of exercises to monitor and log progress and success.
Typing Professor
This typing program, released in 1984 for individuals ages 12 and up, included a 20-page manual, two cassettes for use with a Commodore 16, and a diskette for use with either a Commodore 64 or Commodore Plus/4.
Students could learn the basics of touch typing or learn to improve their typing speed. The program had 19 exercises which increased in difficulty. Each exercise contained a score chart that calculated and recorded the number of errors, error rate, and typing speed. The exercises were timed and the student could not exceed the acceptable error rate before beginning the next exercise. The allowed error rate started at 4% for lesson 1 and decreased to 1% for lessons 16-19. The goal for lesson 19 was 35 words per minute with a less than 1% error rate.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1984
maker
Commodore Business Machines, Inc.
ID Number
2006.0132.28.04
catalog number
2006.0132.28.04
accession number
2006.0132
This group of five educational computer programs was developed for the Commodore 64 during the 1980s.
Description
This group of five educational computer programs was developed for the Commodore 64 during the 1980s. Each program has its original box, the 5 ¼” software diskettes, and the user manual.
Word Shuttle
This word processing program was released in 1985 and included a 42-page user guide and two keyboard overlays. Word Shuttle was the official word processor of the Young Astronaut Program which operated between 1984 and 2004. The objective of this international educational curriculum was to promote greater interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through space-themed activities, experiments, and conferences.
Sky Travel
This astronomy program, designed for persons ages 12 and up, was released in 1984 and included a 138-page manual. It provided an interactive guided tour of the universe—in the past, present, and future. The universe model could show the location of more than 1,200 stars, 88 constellations, 8 planets, deep sky objects, and the (then) future appearance (1986) of Halley’s comet. The program had four basic modes: map, set, sky, and chart. Map was used to select the location on Earth; month, day, year, and time were determined in set; optional displays were chosen in sky; and chart was used to project the sky on a celestial sphere with coordinate lines for creating, viewing, and printing your own star charts.
JUST IMAGINE…
This creative writing program, released in 1984 for individuals of all ages, included a 20-page manual. The user could create colorful animated stories by selecting up to three animated characters from the twenty-five provided, choosing one of nine backgrounds, and a few of the 48 stationary objects. The author then wrote a story to match the selected graphics. While different parts of the program loaded it displayed random trivia facts from the 300 stored on the diskette. The story could be played back and saved to diskette. The introduction in the manual states that “JUST IMAGINE… is another example of Commodore’s commitment to excellence-in-education through technology.”
Reading Professor
This reading program, released in 1984, was designed to teach reading skills to high school-age students as well as adults. Included with the two software diskettes was a 40-page user guide. The program provided a series of ten 20-minute lessons to increase reading speed and improve comprehension by presenting specific techniques for eliminating bad reading habits and developing new skills. It has a library of reading materials with three reading levels--High School, College and Adult, and Professional. Each level contains thirty-two reading selections. The program used seven types of exercises to monitor and log progress and success.
Typing Professor
This typing program, released in 1984 for individuals ages 12 and up, included a 20-page manual, two cassettes for use with a Commodore 16, and a diskette for use with either a Commodore 64 or Commodore Plus/4.
Students could learn the basics of touch typing or learn to improve their typing speed. The program had 19 exercises which increased in difficulty. Each exercise contained a score chart that calculated and recorded the number of errors, error rate, and typing speed. The exercises were timed and the student could not exceed the acceptable error rate before beginning the next exercise. The allowed error rate started at 4% for lesson 1 and decreased to 1% for lessons 16-19. The goal for lesson 19 was 35 words per minute with a less than 1% error rate.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1984
maker
Commodore Business Machines, Inc.
ID Number
2006.0132.28.05
catalog number
2006.0132.28.05
accession number
2006.0132
In 1974 Stanford University doctoral graduates Harry Garland and Roger Melen established a partnership named for their former dormitory Crothers Memorial Hall. Cromemco was formally incorporated in 1976.
Description
In 1974 Stanford University doctoral graduates Harry Garland and Roger Melen established a partnership named for their former dormitory Crothers Memorial Hall. Cromemco was formally incorporated in 1976. For the life of the company Garland and Melen remained the sole shareholders and avoided outside investment. At the insistence of their accountant, the company held a bank credit line but never had to tap the full amount. Their business philosophy was to grow only within the parameters of available cash. Revenues in 1975 were $50,000 and grew to an estimated $55 million by 1987 when the owners sold the company to Dynatech.
The company’s first products were a microcomputer system digital camera, the Cyclops, and a color graphics card called the Dazzler. From these products the company moved on to making reliable, high-quality business and scientific computers and in 1982, they introduced the C-10 Personal Computer. Cromemco systems were the first commercially marketed microcomputers certified by the U.S. Navy for use aboard ships and Ohio class submarines for data logging during tests. The United States Air Force became a major customer for their Theater Air Control System (TACS) and the Mission Support System (MSS) for F-16, F-15 and other aircraft. By 1986 more than 80 percent of the major-market television stations in the U.S. used Cromemco systems to produce news and weather graphics.
According to the user manual, “The C-10’s high-quality construction, continual self-testing, and proven design assure that it will perform faithfully year after year.”
This Cromemco C-10 microcomputer was used at Monroe High School in Monroe, MI from 1982-2008. In 1980 physics teacher Darol Straub started an after school computer class which led to the development of the school’s first formal computer curriculum. To be accepted into the course, students were required to take an aptitude entrance test. Classes were two periods per day for three years. Hardware and software topics included basic circuits to microcomputer design and building, and programming in binary code and assembly language as well as higher level languages such as BASIC, FORTRAN, PASCAL, COBOL, and “C.” The third year focused on developing advanced projects using speech recognition, numeric control, fiber optic communication, graphic design, and robotics.
Many of Straub’s students went on to college to study computer science and earned jobs with companies such as Microsoft and Intel. Two brothers who completed the curriculum opened a computer company when they graduated from high school. According to Mr. Straub, the company was still in business in 2018. The brother of the donor, also a student of Straub’s, graduated from Monroe High School in 2009 and MIT in 2013. He now works for Space X.
In 1988 the Computer Engineering Program students produced a 20 minute video “Monroe High School – Current Generation” which the school used to promote and recruit new students for the course.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1982
user
Straub, Darol
Gagnon, Blair
maker
Cromemco Inc.
ID Number
2018.0113.01
accession number
2018.0113
catalog number
2018.0113.01
This white sticker shows a black cat with a brown face standing on a blue circle. At the bottom in black text it reads "GitHub."GitHub, founded in 2008, has its headquarters in San Francisco, CA.
Description
This white sticker shows a black cat with a brown face standing on a blue circle. At the bottom in black text it reads "GitHub."
GitHub, founded in 2008, has its headquarters in San Francisco, CA. The company’s mission is to connect software developers and make it easy for them to collaborate by providing a software development platform where a user can host and review code, manage projects, and build software alongside other developers. It offers software development applications, custom tools and version control. GitHub, free for public and open source projects, offers secure private repositories with a paid plan.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2017
ID Number
2018.3049.01
nonaccession number
2018.3049
catalog number
2018.3049.01
Intel introduced its 8080A 8-bit central processing unit (CPU) microprocessor in April 1974. Generally considered as the first truly usable microprocessor, the chip ran at 2 megahertz and powered the Altair 8800 and the IMSAI 8080, two of the first Personal Computers.
Description
Intel introduced its 8080A 8-bit central processing unit (CPU) microprocessor in April 1974. Generally considered as the first truly usable microprocessor, the chip ran at 2 megahertz and powered the Altair 8800 and the IMSAI 8080, two of the first Personal Computers. Housed in a 40-pin DIP package that contained 6,000 transistors, the integrated circuit could receive 8-bit instructions and perform 16-bit operations. This particular example is marked "8321"indicating it was made in the 21st week of 1983. The "D8080A" means the unit has a housing of black ceramic.
date made
1983-05
maker
Intel Corporation
ID Number
1984.0124.04
accession number
1984.0124
catalog number
1984.0124.04
maker number
8080
“Newsweek” Magazine, 84 pages, February 22, 1982, $1.50.
Description
“Newsweek” Magazine, 84 pages, February 22, 1982, $1.50. Pages 50-56 in the Business Section is entitled “To Each His Own Computer.” The lead picture is James Egan standing next to a display of computers and software in the New York City ComputerLand store.
James Egan, Joseph Alfieri, Robert Kurland, and Thomas Vandermeulen of Facks Computer, Inc. were the owners of the first ComputerLand store in Manhattan.
ComputerLand was a nationwide chain of retail computer stores. They opened their first store in 1976 in Hayward, California. By 1990 most stores had closed and in early 1999 the company officially disbanded.
The objects in accession 2017.0321 and non-accession 2017.3153 are related.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1982
ID Number
2017.3153.08
nonaccession number
2017.3153
catalog number
2017.3153.08
This 8" x 10" black and white photograph shows four men with a ComputerLand poster behind them and a continuous feed matrix printer in front of them. James Egan is the man on the right.
Description
This 8" x 10" black and white photograph shows four men with a ComputerLand poster behind them and a continuous feed matrix printer in front of them. James Egan is the man on the right. The other men are likely his three partners, Joseph Alfieri, Robert Kurland, and Thomas Vandermeulen.
James Egan, Joseph Alfieri, Robert Kurland, and Thomas Vandermeulen of Facks Computer, Inc. were the owners of the first ComputerLand store in Manhattan.
ComputerLand was a nationwide chain of retail computer stores. They opened their first store in 1976 in Hayward, California. By 1990 most stores had closed and in early 1999 the company officially disbanded.
The objects in accession 2017.0321 and non-accession 2017.3153 are related.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2017.3153.04
nonaccession number
2017.3153
catalog number
2017.3153.04
This 3 1/2" diskette contains the text used for the First Ladies page on the NMAH website.Web designer David McOwen, a member of the New Media Office at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, used these materials when designing sections of the NMAH website.The ent
Description
This 3 1/2" diskette contains the text used for the First Ladies page on the NMAH website.
Web designer David McOwen, a member of the New Media Office at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, used these materials when designing sections of the NMAH website.
The entire Smithsonian website is preserved by the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2017.3148.04
nonaccession number
2017.3148
catalog number
2017.3148.04
This white sticker shows the CRA logo in four shades of blue at the top, gray text that reads "CRA-W" and black text that reads "Computing Research Association" in the center, and medium blue text that reads "Women" at the bottom.Computing Research Association (CRA) was formed in
Description
This white sticker shows the CRA logo in four shades of blue at the top, gray text that reads "CRA-W" and black text that reads "Computing Research Association" in the center, and medium blue text that reads "Women" at the bottom.
Computing Research Association (CRA) was formed in 1972 to advance computing research and education in industry, academia, and government. The association has four committees, Computing Community Consortium Catalyst (CCC), Computing Research Association Women (CRA-W), Computing Research Association Education (CRA-E), and Computer Research Association Evaluation (CERP).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2017
ID Number
2018.3049.02
nonaccession number
2018.3049
catalog number
2018.3049.02
This zip disk contains the text used for the "Our Stories" page on the NMAH website.Web designer David McOwen, a member of the New Media Office at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, used these materials when designing sections of the NMAH website.The entire Sm
Description
This zip disk contains the text used for the "Our Stories" page on the NMAH website.
Web designer David McOwen, a member of the New Media Office at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, used these materials when designing sections of the NMAH website.
The entire Smithsonian website is preserved by the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2017.3148.05
nonaccession number
2017.3148
catalog number
2017.3148.05
This set of six orange punch cards each have 53 columns. The standard IBM punch card has 80 columns.
Description
This set of six orange punch cards each have 53 columns. The standard IBM punch card has 80 columns. Each card is marked PO-33, PATENT ORDER (Letter Unit) on the left edge, and IBM D7 7517 on the bottom edge.
The following information is punched and printed on each card, the unique patent number, the same customer number (11530), month (01), day (29), and serv. code (6M). These cards were used by the U.S. Patent Office when filling requests for copies of patents.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
IBM
ID Number
2017.3122.02
nonaccession number
2017.3122
catalog number
2017.3122.02
This square button has a white background with a green border. Black text inside the border reads: Addition. Addition 1. a part added; thus increasing the number of, 2. joining of one thing to another. On the bottom left is the CAERE logo.
Description
This square button has a white background with a green border. Black text inside the border reads: Addition. Addition 1. a part added; thus increasing the number of, 2. joining of one thing to another. On the bottom left is the CAERE logo. A mark in black ink on the reverse reads: Comdex 11/89.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c 1989
ID Number
2009.3071.210
catalog number
2009.3071.210
nonaccession number
2009.3071
This tri-fold paper leaflet is an advertisement for the Commuter microcomputer by Visual Computer Incorporated.The outside has a red background with white text.
Description
This tri-fold paper leaflet is an advertisement for the Commuter microcomputer by Visual Computer Incorporated.
The outside has a red background with white text. The right (cover) fold has an image of a woman wearing a business suit and high-heeled shoes carrying a Commuter microcomputer with text that reads: "COMMUTER THE PORTABLE COMPUTER. THE PORTABLE COMPUTER FOR PEOPLE GOING PLACES."
The center fold has an image of the microcomputer closed, and the left fold has an image of it open.
The inside has a white background with black and red text that describes the microcomputer's features and specifications.
The objects in accession 2017.0321 and non-accession 2017.3153 are related.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2017.3153.01
nonaccession number
2017.3153
catalog number
2017.3153.01
This orange punch card, used by the U.S. Patent Office, is attached to a copy of the patent papers the card describes. The card has 53 columns versus the standard IBM 80-column punch card.
Description
This orange punch card, used by the U.S. Patent Office, is attached to a copy of the patent papers the card describes. The card has 53 columns versus the standard IBM 80-column punch card. It is marked PO-33, PATENT ORDER (Letter Unit) on the left edge, and IBM D7 7517 on the bottom edge.
The following information is punched and printed on the card: the patent number (1913948), customer number (11530), month (01), day (29), and serv. code (6M).
The patent papers requested (5 pages) were for patent number 1,913,948 filed on May 2, 1932 by David Perlman for a Synchronous Motor. His patent was for improvements in electrically operated time-pieces.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
IBM
ID Number
2017.3122.03
nonaccession number
2017.3122
catalog number
2017.3122.03
patent number
1,913,948
This gold colored compact disc (cd-r, a recordable compact disc) contains a copy of “Lift” software. This software was an add-on product used with Dreamweaver to ensure websites were compliant with U.S.
Description
This gold colored compact disc (cd-r, a recordable compact disc) contains a copy of “Lift” software. This software was an add-on product used with Dreamweaver to ensure websites were compliant with U.S. government accessibility and usability regulations.
Web designer David McOwen, a member of the New Media Office at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, used these materials when designing sections of the NMAH website.
The entire Smithsonian website is preserved by the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2002-2006
ID Number
2017.3148.07
nonaccession number
2017.3148
catalog number
2017.3148.07
This 5" x 7" black and white photograph shows James Egan sitting at a desk with computers and software on it. He has a foot on the desk, a coffee filter on his head, and is pouring a drink into a cup. Next to his chair is a sign that reads: SEND HELP.
Description
This 5" x 7" black and white photograph shows James Egan sitting at a desk with computers and software on it. He has a foot on the desk, a coffee filter on his head, and is pouring a drink into a cup. Next to his chair is a sign that reads: SEND HELP. On the back, written in pencil, are the dates 1981-1982.
James Egan, Joseph Alfieri, Robert Kurland, and Thomas Vandermeulen of Facks Computer, Inc. were the owners of the first ComputerLand store in Manhattan.
ComputerLand was a nationwide chain of retail computer stores. They opened their first store in 1976 in Hayward, California. By 1990 most stores had closed and in early 1999 the company officially disbanded.
The objects in accession 2017.0321 and non-accession 2017.3153 are related.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1981-1982
ID Number
2017.3153.06
nonaccession number
2017.3153
catalog number
2017.3153.06
This zip disk has a capacity of 100mb.
Description
This zip disk has a capacity of 100mb. It contains the text used for the Hands On Science Center page on the NMAH website.
Web designer David McOwen, as a member of the New Media Office at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, used these materials in designing sections of the NMAH website. The entire Smithsonian website is preserved by the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2000-2002
ID Number
2017.3148.06
nonaccession number
2017.3148
catalog number
2017.3148.06
This compact disc (cd-rom, a compact disc that functions as read-only memory) contains the FileMaker Pro 4.1 relational database software used by the NMAH web program.
Description
This compact disc (cd-rom, a compact disc that functions as read-only memory) contains the FileMaker Pro 4.1 relational database software used by the NMAH web program. Descriptions of objects displayed in an exhibition were forward to the web program in a FileMaker file which they formatted for posting to the website.
Web designer David McOwen, a member of the New Media Office at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, used these materials when designing sections of the NMAH website.
The entire Smithsonian website is preserved by the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1984-1998
ID Number
2017.3148.02
nonaccession number
2017.3148
catalog number
2017.3148.02
This 3 1/2" diskette contains the text used for the September 11 Witness Story page on the NMAH website.Web designer David McOwen, a member of the New Media Office at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, used these materials when designing sections of the NMAH w
Description
This 3 1/2" diskette contains the text used for the September 11 Witness Story page on the NMAH website.
Web designer David McOwen, a member of the New Media Office at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, used these materials when designing sections of the NMAH website.
The entire Smithsonian website is preserved by the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2002
ID Number
2017.3148.03
nonaccession number
2017.3148
catalog number
2017.3148.03
This 5" x 7" black and white photograph shows James Egan in front of a software display at the ComputerLand store in NYC. On the back, written in pencil are the dates 1981-82.James Egan, Joseph Alfieri, Robert Kurland, and Thomas Vandermeulen of Facks Computer, Inc.
Description
This 5" x 7" black and white photograph shows James Egan in front of a software display at the ComputerLand store in NYC. On the back, written in pencil are the dates 1981-82.
James Egan, Joseph Alfieri, Robert Kurland, and Thomas Vandermeulen of Facks Computer, Inc. were the owners of the first ComputerLand store in Manhattan.
ComputerLand was a nationwide chain of retail computer stores. They opened their first store in 1976 in Hayward, California. By 1990 most stores had closed and in early 1999 the company officially disbanded.
The objects in accession 2017.0321 and non-accession 2017.3153 are related.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2017.3153.05
nonaccession number
2017.3153
catalog number
2017.3153.05
This paper document entitled “MacUser Internet Road Map," is folded like a road map.The information, structured like an outline, has six sections with categories and sub-categories. Every level has a web address and a brief description.
Description
This paper document entitled “MacUser Internet Road Map," is folded like a road map.
The information, structured like an outline, has six sections with categories and sub-categories. Every level has a web address and a brief description. The sections are named Government Information Zone, Education and Reference Zone, Arts and Humanities Zone, MacIntosh Resource Zone, Business and Commerce Zone, and MacUser Magazine.
The reverse side has an index to the categories and sub-categories with map coordinates to locate them, a terminology list, a highlights area listing the most popular sites, instructions on how to connect to the internet, a description of how to read a URL, and the map legend.
Many of the web addresses begin with http://akebono.stanford.edu/yahoo/ which is the address used by Jerry Yang and David Filo (students at Stanford University) in January 1994 when they created “Jerry’s Guide to the World Wide Web.” In March of 1994 it was shortened to http://www.yahoo.com.
Some addresses listed on the map are still valid, others automatically redirect you to their current site, and a few cannot be found.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1994
publisher
Ziff Davis Media Inc.
maker
Ziff Davis Media Inc.
ID Number
2017.3122.01
nonaccession number
2017.3122
catalog number
2017.3122.01

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