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
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Burroughs Punch Cards DSG 623 618013 for Gardner-Denver Wire Wrap Machine
- Description
- Each of these pink punch cards has square corners and is truncated in the upper left corner. They apparently are designed for use with a wire wrap machine, and do not have the standard arrangement of rows and columns of numbers.
- Each card is marked with the Burroughs logo. Each is marked: GARDNER-DENVER (/) WIRE WRAP (/) MACHINE (/) CARD. Each is marked near the bottom edge: DSG 623 4/68. Each is marked: 618013.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1968
- maker
- Burroughs Manufacturing Corporation
- ID Number
- 1996.0142.11
- catalog number
- 1996.0142.11
- accession number
- 1996.0142
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
SDC A1004 Punch Cards
- Description
- These bright yellow eighty-column punch cards are rounded at the corners except at the upper right corner, which is cut off in a straight line. The cards contain fields in which the date was indicated with two digits for the year, two for the month and two for the day of the month. A mark in the bottom left corner reads: SDC A1004. According to the donor, they were from a firm of dry cleaners that used tabulating equipment in the 1960s (and perhaps the 1950s) for record keeping.
- Compare 1997.3099.02.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1960s
- ID Number
- 1997.3099.01
- nonaccession number
- 1997.3099
- catalog number
- 1997.3099.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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JTC E-7583 1967 Punch Cards with Bell Telephone Laboratories Logo
- Description
- One of these eighty-column punch cards is blue, the other yellow. The corners are rounded with the upper left hand corner truncated. A Bell Telephone Laboratories logo is at the center of both cards. A mark along the bottom edge of both cards reads: BELL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED JTC 1967 MILITARY MANUFACTURING INFORMATION DEPT. E-7583-E(7-57). A mark along the left side reads: GENERAL APPLICATIONS CARD.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1967
- maker
- Jersey Tab Card Corporation
- ID Number
- 1996.0142.04
- catalog number
- 1996.0142.04
- accession number
- 1996.0142
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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JTC E-8450 6698 Punch Cards Marked with Bell System Logo
- Description
- These two eighty-column paper punch cards were made for Bell Telephone Laboratories. One is cream-colored with a blue stripe, the other cream-colored with an orange stripe. The cards have rounded corners and are truncated in the uppler right corner. Columns 1 to 50 and 73 to 80 have the digits 0 to 9 in each column. The intervening columns have a variety of letters and punctuation marks. A Bell System logo is in the center of the card. A mark on the right side reads: GE 600 SELF INTERPRETING CARD. A mark along the bottom toward the left reads: BELL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED. A mark along the bottom toward the right reads: GE 600 CHARACTER SET. A mark along the left side reads: E-8450 (10-65) JTC 6698.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1965
- maker
- Jersey Tab Card Corporation
- ID Number
- 1996.0142.06
- catalog number
- 1996.0142.06
- accession number
- 1996.0142
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
UCLA Computer Club Punch Card
- Description
- In the 1960s, when UCLA (the University of California at Los Angeles) purchased a commercial computer from IBM, students formed a club where they could share their knowledge of the new machines. At that time, data and programs were entered onto computers using punched cards like this one. The decoration of the card was up to the individual customer. This is a pink eighty-column punch card for an IBM computer. Each column contains the digits from 0 to 9. The background of the card shows the head of a moose propped in front of a log. An open book lies on the left, and magnetic tape is in the mouth of the moose.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1960s
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1996.0142.25
- catalog number
- 1996.0142.25
- accession number
- 1996.0142
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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IBM 5081 Punch Card Used with Punch Card Gauge
- Description
- This standard eighty-column paper punch card was received with a punch card gauge (1990.0113.01). A mark near the bottom edge at the left reads IBM5081.
- These materials were used in Robert A. McConnell's research on parapsychology.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1960s
- Maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1990.0113.03
- accession number
- 1990.0113
- catalog number
- 1990.0113.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
IBM D10687 Punch Card Used with IBM Port-a-Punch
- Description
- This eighty-column paper punch card has serrations for easy punching of holes. The columns are divided into eight fields for entering data. A mark along the right edge reads: IBM D10687 Port-A-Punch General Purpose 8 Field. The card was designed for use with an IBM Port-A-Punch (see 1990.0113,02). Several similar cards received at the same time are stored with the object.
- The materials in this accession were used in Robert A. McConnell's research on parapsychology.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1960s
- Maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1990.0113.04
- accession number
- 1990.0113
- catalog number
- 1990.0113.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Punch Cards used with a PDP-9 Minicomputer
- Description
- In the mid-1960s, the Computer Science Department at RAND Corporation turned its attention to developing computer graphics. A set of programs written in the programming language FORTRAN for the PDP-9 minicomputer were used to plot contour lines useful in determining the line of sight for microwave radiation emitted from a given point on a map. These cards have some of the data for one of these programs. The cards are white with a pink border on the top.
- Groups of cards are numbered from 46 through 63. The program has non-accession number 1990.3046.10. A mark on the top card reads: DATE GENERATED 4-11-68.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1968
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1990.3046.01
- catalog number
- 1990.3046.01
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3046
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Punch Cards Used with a PDP-9 Minicomputer
- Description
- In the mid-1960s, the Computer Science Department at RAND Corporation turned its attention to developing computer graphics. A set of programs written in the programming language FORTRAN for the PDP-9 minicomputer were used to plot contour lines useful in determining the line of sight for microwave radiation emitted from a given point on a map. These cards have some of the data for one of these programs. The cards are white with a pink border on the top.
- Groups of cards are numbered from 31 through 45. The program has non-accession number 1990.3046.10. A mark on the top card reads: DATE GENERATED 4-11-68.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1968
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1990.3046.02
- catalog number
- 1990.3046.02
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3046
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Punch Cards Used with a PDP-9 Minicomputer
- Description
- In the mid-1960s, the Computer Science Department at RAND Corporation turned its attention to developing computer graphics. A set of programs written in the programming language FORTRAN for the PDP-9 minicomputer were used to plot contour lines useful in determining the line of sight for microwave radiation emitted from a given point on a map. These cards have some of the data for one of these programs. The cards are white with a pink border on the top.
- Groups of cards are numbered from 16 through 30. A mark on the top card reads: DATE GENERATED 4-11-68.The program has non-accession number 1990.3046.10.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1968
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1990.3046.03
- catalog number
- 1990.3046.03
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3046
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Punch Cards used with a PDP-9 Minicomputer
- Description
- In the mid-1960s, the Computer Science Department at RAND Corporation turned its attention to developing computer graphics. A set of programs written in the programming language FORTRAN for the PDP-9 minicomputer were used to plot contour lines useful in determining the line of sight for microwave radiation emitted from a given point on a map. These cards have some of the data for one of these programs. The cards are white with a pink border on the top (occasional cards have a green border). A mark on the first card reads: 7 3000 500.
- A related program has non-accession number 1990.3046.10.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1968
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1990.3046.04
- catalog number
- 1990.3046.04
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3046
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Punch Cards used with a PDP-9 Minicomputer
- Description
- In the mid-1960s, the Computer Science Department at RAND Corporation turned its attention to developing computer graphics. A set of programs written in the programming language FORTRAN for the PDP-9 minicomputer were used to plot contour lines useful in determining the line of sight for microwave radiation emitted from a given point on a map. These cards have some of the data for one of these programs. The cards are white with a pink border on the top (occasional cards have a green border). Groups of cards are not numbered but groups of data are designated by black marks on the edge. A mark on the first card reads: 3000 500. A printout of a related program has non-accession number 1990.3046.10.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1968
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1990.3046.05
- catalog number
- 1990.3046.05
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3046
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Punch Cards used with a PDP-9 Minicomputer
- Description
- In the mid-1960s, the Computer Science Department at RAND Corporation turned its attention to developing computer graphics. A set of programs written in the programming language FORTRAN for the PDP-9 minicomputer were used to plot contour lines useful in determining the line of sight for microwave radiation emitted from a given point on a map.
- Groups of the punch cards are not numbered but some are grouped by black marks on the edge. The cards have the data for a FORTRAN program with non-accession number 1990.3046.10. The cards are white with a pink, green or no border on the top. A mark on the first card reads: 8258, CLAF6, D7300, 04M, 100CD, 150P, C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1968
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1990.3046.06
- catalog number
- 1990.3046.06
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3046
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Punch Cards used with a PDP-9 Minicomputer
- Description
- In the mid-1960s, the Computer Science Department at RAND Corporation turned its attention to developing computer graphics. A set of programs written in the programming language FORTRAN for the PDP-9 minicomputer were used to plot contour lines useful in determining the line of sight for microwave radiation emitted from a given point on a map.
- This group of cards is labeled: Last version using SC4020 plot routine. The cards have the data for a FORTRAN program with non-accession number 1990.3046.10. Theys are white with a green border along the top. A mark on the first card reads: $IBFTC CLAQR REF.
- The SC4020 was a computer-controlled microfilm printer and plotter produced by the Stromberg-Carlson Corporation. It was one of the first devices sold specifically to visualize computer calculations.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1968
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1990.3046.07
- catalog number
- 1990.3046.07
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3046
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Punch Cards used with a PDP-9 Minicomputer
- Description
- In the mid-1960s, the Computer Science Department at RAND Corporation turned its attention to developing computer graphics. A set of programs written in the programming language FORTRAN for the PDP-9 minicomputer were used to plot contour lines useful in determining the line of sight for microwave radiation emitted from a given point on a map.
- These punch cards have the data for a FORTRAN program with non-accession number 1990.3046.10. The cards are white with a green, pink, red, blue, or yellow border on the top. A mark on the first card reads: $ JOB 8258, BICAD,D7300, 03M,1600CD,150P, C. A gold-colored EDP Procedure card also is part of the group.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1968
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1990.3046.08
- catalog number
- 1990.3046.08
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3046
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Punch Cards used with a PDP-9 Minicomputer
- Description
- In the mid-1960s, the Computer Science Department at RAND Corporation turned its attention to developing computer graphics. A set of programs written in the programming language FORTRAN for the PDP-9 minicomputer were used to plot contour lines useful in determining the line of sight for microwave radiation emitted from a given point on a map. These cards have the program for a FORTRAN program with non-accession number 1990.3046.10.
- The cards are white with a green, gray or no border on the top. A mark on the first card reads: $1BFTC DPLT. Text in ink on this card reads: Used to plot Fig2.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1968
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1990.3046.09
- catalog number
- 1990.3046.09
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3046
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
LOCI-2 Punch Card
- Description
- This is one of a series of forty-column perforated punch cards designed for use with the programmable Wang LOCI-2 electronic calculator. Each card is marked in the bottom left corner: IBM D56709. Each card is marked on the left side: LOCI (LOGARITHMIC COMPUTER) PROGRAM.
- For the calculator, see 1980.0096.01. For the card reader, see 1980.0096.01.1. For the card punch, see1980.0096.02.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1965 or later
- Maker
- IBM
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1980.0096.03.1
- catalog number
- 1980.0096.03.1
- accession number
- 1980.0096
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
LOCI-2 Punch Card
- Description
- This is one of a series of forty-column perforated punch cards designed for use with the programmable Wang LOCI-2 electronic calculator. Each card is marked in the bottom left corner: IBM D56709. Each card is marked on the left side: LOCI (LOGARITHMIC COMPUTER) PROGRAM.
- For the calculator, see 1980.0096.01. For the card reader, see 1980.0096.01.1. For the card punch, see1980.0096.02.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1965 or later
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1980.0096.03.2
- catalog number
- 1980.0096.03.2
- accession number
- 1980.0096
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
LOCI-2 Punch Card
- Description
- This is one of a series of forty-column perforated punch cards designed for use with the programmable Wang LOCI-2 electronic calculator. Each card is marked in the bottom left corner: IBM D56709. Each card is marked on the left side: LOCI (LOGARITHMIC COMPUTER) PROGRAM.
- For the calculator, see 1980.0096.01. For the card reader, see 1980.0096.01.1. For the card punch, see1980.0096.02.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1965 or later
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1980.0096.03.3
- catalog number
- 1980.0096.03.3
- accession number
- 1980.0096
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
LOCI-2 Punch Card
- Description
- This is one of a series of forty-column perforated punch cards designed for use with the programmable Wang LOCI-2 electronic calculator. Each card is marked in the bottom left corner: IBM D56709. Each card is marked on the left side: LOCI (LOGARITHMIC COMPUTER) PROGRAM.
- For the calculator, see 1980.0096.01. For the card reader, see 1980.0096.01.1. For the card punch, see1980.0096.02.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1965 or later
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1980.0096.03.4
- catalog number
- 1980.0096.03.4
- accession number
- 1980.0096
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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