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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Documentation - Hewlett-Packard HP-28C Getting Started Manual
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1987
- maker
- Hewlett-Packard Company
- ID Number
- 1999.0291.02
- catalog number
- 1999.0291.02
- accession number
- 1999.0291
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, Amdahl 470 V/7, V/8 Field Engineering Reference Manual
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1982-02
- user
- Page, Brian R.
- ID Number
- 2014.3099.01
- catalog number
- 2014.3099.01
- nonaccession number
- 2014.3099
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation for the Amdahl 580, Vol. I
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1980s
- user
- Page, Brian R.
- ID Number
- 2014.3099.02
- catalog number
- 2014.3099.02
- nonaccession number
- 2014.3099
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation for the Amdahl 5890
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1985
- user
- Page, Brian R.
- ID Number
- 2014.3099.04
- catalog number
- 2014.3099.04
- nonaccession number
- 2014.3099
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, GRiD Case 1530 System MS-DOS Reference
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1986
- August 1986
- maker
- GRiD Systems
- ID Number
- 2015.3168.01
- nonaccession number
- 2015.3168
- catalog number
- 2015.3168.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, Hard Disk Tool Kit
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1983
- ID Number
- 2015.3167.16
- catalog number
- 2015.3167.16
- nonaccession number
- 2015.3167
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, Basic 86 User's Guide
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1982
- ID Number
- 2015.3167.18
- catalog number
- 2015.3167.18
- nonaccession number
- 2015.3167
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Software and Documentation, Framework Documentation by Ashton-Tate
- Description
- This documentation is for Framework, an integrated software package, released in 1984 by Ashton-Tate for $695. The software package included database management, word processing, graphics, spreadsheet, outlining, and telecommunication functions as well as its own programming language, FRED (FRamework EDitor) for data manipulation. This productivity tool encouraged users to be organized by asking them to create a frame (an all-purpose container) and place related documents, spreadsheets, databases, drawings, pictures, charts, or other frames in it. Data manipulation would take place within the frame. The same commands were used to navigate in all functions.
- The original container includes two binders, Reference and Tutorial, a software license agreement, and a Dow Jones News/Retrieval access offer and price quote.
- Reference:
- “InfoWorld,” October 29, 1984.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1984
- maker
- Ashton-Tate
- ID Number
- 2012.3098.010
- catalog number
- 2012.3098.010
- nonaccession number
- 2012.3098
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Documentation, Windows Paint User’s Guide by Microsoft
- Description
- This documentation is the User's Guide for Microsoft Windows Paint, version 1.0. Along with Windows Write, this software, was packaged with Microsoft’s Windows operating system, released in 1985. Paint was a drawing tool that helped create, enhance, save, and print artwork. It used menus and function keys instead of commands and instructions. Microsoft promoted the software as a “useful drawing tool that’s easy to use.”
- See also 2012.3098.031 and 2012.3098.032
- Reference:
- Popular Science May 1986, p. 16d.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1985
- maker
- Microsoft Corporation
- ID Number
- 2012.3098.030
- catalog number
- 2012.3098.030
- nonaccession number
- 2012.3098
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, Windows Operating Environment, Desktop Applications User's Guide by Microsoft
- Description
- This documentation is the Desktop Applications User's Guide for Microsoft Windows Operating Environment, version 1.0, released in 1985. The software included built-in desktop applications. The manual discusses the seven applications, Notepad (electronic memo pad), Cardfile (electronic index cards), Terminal (connection to other computers [today’s internet connection]), Calendar (desktop calendar and appointment book), Calculator (according to the manual it “works just like a handheld calculator”), Clock, and Reversi (a game whose object was to end with more squares on the board of your color than the computer had of its color.)
- See also: 2012.3098.030 and 2012.3098.032
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1985
- maker
- Microsoft Corporation
- ID Number
- 2012.3098.031
- catalog number
- 2012.3098.031
- nonaccession number
- 2012.3098
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Documentation, Windows Write User's Guide by Microsoft
- Description
- This documentation is the User's Guide for Microsoft Windows Write software. The software, along with Windows Paint was packaged with Microsoft’s Windows operating system, was released in 1985. Write was Microsoft’s word processing program. It used the same conventions as the Windows environment--command menus, icons, and dialog boxes, and it allowed the pasting of information and graphics from other applications.
- See also 2012.3098.030 and 2012.3098.031
- Reference:
- “Popular Science,” May 1986, p. 16d.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1985
- maker
- Microsoft Corporation
- ID Number
- 2012.3098.032
- catalog number
- 2012.3098.032
- nonaccession number
- 2012.3098
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, Windows User's Guide by Microsoft
- Description
- This documentation, the User’s Guide for Microsoft Windows version 2.0, was distributed by Wang Laboratories in 1988. The manual contains Microsoft guides for Windows Desktop Applications, Windows Paint, and Windows Write.
- Wang Laboratories was founded in 1951 and became a successful calculator company. Later they developed a successful line of word processors followed by a popular line of computers. During the 1970s-1980s the company was a dominant competitor in the computer market. By 1992 however, the company filed for bankruptcy and was eventually sold.
- References:
- https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/minicomputers/11/364
- https://biztechmagazine.com/article/2017/04/advent-office-pcs-wang-2200-reigned-computing-dynamo
- http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/wang-laboratories-inc-history/
- https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/66132/wang-labs
- [Last accessed 6-18-2019]
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1988
- maker
- Wang Laboratories
- Microsoft Corporation
- ID Number
- 2012.3098.034
- catalog number
- 2012.3098.034
- nonaccession number
- 2012.3098
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, Word Perfect 4.1 by Satellite Software International (SSI)
- Description
- This documentation is for WordPerfect version 4.1, a word processing software package released by SSI of Orem, Utah, in 1985. Included this version were five new features—a built in thesaurus, the ability to view two documents simultaneously made possible by the split screen feature, two versions of text columns, line drawing, and the ability to sort lines or paragraphs. The documentation box includes a binder containing the installation guide and user manual. In 1985, the software sold for $495 (about $1,200 in 2019 dollars).
- The concept for WordPerfect was the work of Dr. Alan Ashton, a computer science professor at Brigham Young University, and came about in 1977. His idea was to create a program that did not require typing function codes and one that would display the text like a printed page with correct line endings and page breaks. During his summer break that year he developed design specifications. To help write the code, he enlisted the help of Dr. Bruce Bastian, a graduate of Brigham Young’s Computer Science Department.
- In the spring of 1979, they completed P-Edit, a very basic word processing program. To promote the software, they contacted Don Owens, a marketing executive. In September, the three of them incorporated the business as Satellite Software International. P-Edit was soon replaced by SSI*WP, a more robust program. When the DOS version of the software for IBM compatible computers was completed in 1982, the product name was changed to WordPerfect. (Briefly, in the mid-1980s, the company distributed the program under the name SSI Software.) In late 1986, the company name changed to WordPerfect Corporation.
- For several years thereafter, it was the best-selling word processing software in the world. However, by the early 1990s the WordPerfect Corporation was struggling to complete a Microsoft’s Windows compatible version. Not only was the WordPerfect windows version delayed, but their WordPerfect Office program had operational problems. In 1994 Novell Inc. purchased WordPerfect and in 1996 they sold it to Corel Corporation. Corel continues to distribute the product as WordPerfect Office X9.
- See related objects: 2009.3071.033-.035; .038-.044; .601; 753 (computer advertising buttons)
- References:
- InfoWorld, November 18, 1985, pg. 70 (advertisement)
- [last accessed 2019-10-22]
- https://www.corel.com/en/our-story/
- https://www.infoworld.com/article/2639497/how-did-wordperfect-go-wrong-.html
- https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_0intro.shtml
- https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_chap01.shtml
- https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_chap03.shtml
- https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_chap07.shtml
- https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_chap13.shtml
- https://www.wordplace.com/ap/ap_prol.shtml
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1985
- ID Number
- 2012.3098.058
- catalog number
- 2012.3098.058
- nonaccession number
- 2012.3098
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Documentation, MS-DOS 2.1 Reference for the PlusPC
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1985
- ID Number
- 2015.3167.14
- catalog number
- 2015.3167.14
- nonaccession number
- 2015.3167
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Documentation, MS-DOS 2.1 User's Guide
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1983
- ID Number
- 2015.3167.17
- catalog number
- 2015.3167.17
- nonaccession number
- 2015.3167
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Documentation for the Amdahl 580, Vol. II
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1980s
- user
- Page, Brian R.
- ID Number
- 2014.3099.03
- catalog number
- 2014.3099.03
- nonaccession number
- 2014.3099
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Documentation, FORTRAN Reference Guide
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1981
- maker
- Microsoft Corporation
- ID Number
- 2015.3167.12
- catalog number
- 2015.3167.12
- nonaccession number
- 2015.3167
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Documentation, PlusPC User's Guide
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1985
- ID Number
- 2015.3167.13
- catalog number
- 2015.3167.13
- nonaccession number
- 2015.3167
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Documentation, VBASICA for the PlusPC
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1985
- ID Number
- 2015.3167.15
- catalog number
- 2015.3167.15
- nonaccession number
- 2015.3167
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Lotus Freelance Documentation
- Description
- One (1) 2" 3-ring binder containing software diskettes and the "Lotus Freelance Plus" Tutorial documentation.
- Eight (8) Freelance Plus 5 1/4" software diskettes: Program 1, Program 2, Batch, Utilities 1, Utilities 2, Utilities 3, Utilities 4, Symbols1, and Symbols 2. All diskettes are copies of the software.
- One (1) spiral bound binder containing "Lotus Freelance Graphics for DOS Quick Reference" documentation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1985
- ca 1986
- maker
- Lotus Development Corporation
- ID Number
- 2017.3041.03
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3041
- catalog number
- 2017.3041.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
