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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Dr. Logo User Manual and Other Documentation
- Description
- This documentation for Dr. Logo (software by Digital Research, Inc.) includes a reference manual, command summary guide, tutorial, release notes, and system disks.
- Dr. Logo is proprietary computer programming software originally designed to teach children how to use computers. The software is conversational and is pre-programmed to understand two hundred one-word commands. The user adds other commands as needed. Dr. Logo may be used to draw pictures, create graphic designs, play word games, record names or numbers, and chart figures.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1983
- ID Number
- 2016.3148.05
- catalog number
- 2016.3148.05
- nonaccession number
- 2016.3148
- serial number
- 6000-0000-002525
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, Silicon Graphics O2 Workstation Owner's Guide
- Description
- Two copies of Silicon Graphics O2 Workstation Owner's Guide. One is spiral bound, 87 pages with a copyright date of 1996. The second copy, 97 pages, has a glued spine binding, copyright date 1997, and has the donor's initials (GMC) written on the cover.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1996
- 1997
- maker
- Silicon Graphics, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2016.3032.03
- nonaccession number
- 2016.3032
- catalog number
- 2016.3032.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Silicon Graphics Employee and Product Documentation
- Description
- This purple two-pocket folder has the company slogan printed on the front - "sgi INNOVATION FOR RESULTS". The folder contents include company documents for new employees such as "Code of Business Conduct and Ethics", "Living Our Corporate Values", "The SGI 401(k)", and a business card with the donor's name.
- The white three-ring binder with "sgi" printed on it contains technical specifications and sales information for the O2 workstation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Silicon Graphics, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2016.3032.07
- nonaccession number
- 2016.3032
- catalog number
- 2016.3032.07
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Palm IIIxe Documentation
- Description
- Documentation for a Palm IIIxe personal data assistant (PDA) including "Handbook For the Palm III series," "Warranty and End User License Agreement," "Accessories for Palm Connected Organizers," "Palm Protection," "Palm Organizer Solutions" by LandWare, "GoType! users guide" with product registration card by LandWare, and an advertising flyer for mobile applications from AvantGo.
- See 2017.3053.02 for other Palm IIIxe documentation and
- 2017.0113.01 for the Palm IIIxe
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 2000
- ID Number
- 2017.3053.01
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3053
- catalog number
- 2017.3053.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Palm Desktop Organizer Software
- Description
- Compact disc containing the software to connect the Palm III xe personal digital assistant (PDA) to a desktop computer. Also included on the cd are add-on folder applications and help notes.
- See 2017.3053.01 for other Palm IIIxe documentation and
- 2017.0113.01 for the Palm IIIxe
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 2000
- maker
- Palm, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2017.3053.02
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3053
- catalog number
- 2017.3053.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Univac I Documentation
- Description
- Brown pressboard binder containing UNIVAC documentation dated 1950 & 1951:
- Reference Guide to t1he Univac System, 1/1951
- Programming Manual for the Univac System, Part 1, 4/23/1951
- Univac Instruction Code C-10, 1/27/1950
- IRE Glossary, 5/1950
- Minimum Latency Tables, 9/22/1950
- See related documentation 2017.3034.01-.14
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2017.3034.02
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3034
- catalog number
- 2017.3034.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Univac I Documentation
- Description
- Archival folder containing UNIVAC documentation dated 1948 - 1952:
- Scientific Planning of Military Programs
- Conference Brochure – Joint AIEE-IRE Computer Conference
- The Education of a Computer [Dr. Grace Murray Hopper]
- Development of Dynamic Models for Program Planning [reprint]
- Scientific Techniques for Program Planning [reprint]
- See related documentation 2017.3034.01-.14
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2017.3034.06
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3034
- catalog number
- 2017.3034.06
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Univac I Documentation
- Description
- Archival folder containing UNIVAC documentation dated 1952:
- The Etax Stip-Pulling Routine
- Unityping Comparison Correction Routine
- Card-to-Tape Comparison Correction Routine
- Tri Calc Operating Instructions
- Operating Instructions for 3 to 2 Tape Merge
- Operating Instructions for 2 to 1 Tape Merge
- Zero ByPass Operating Instructions
- Output Editing Operation Instructions
- See related documentation 2017.3034.01-.14
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2017.3034.07
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3034
- catalog number
- 2017.3034.07
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Univac I Documentation
- Description
- Archival folder containing UNIVAC undated documentation:
- Univac fac-tronic system brochure (in original company envelope)
- Univac fac-tronic system as used by The Army Map Service brochure
- Remington Rand Inc. Memory Allocation Chart [2 copies]
- See related documentation 2017.3034.01-.14
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2017.3034.08
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3034
- catalog number
- 2017.3034.08
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Univac I Documentation
- Description
- Archival folder containing UNIVAC documentation dated 1981-1995:
- Computer Careers, 2/23/1981 [newspaper]
- Unisys article on the history of computing, Winder 1985 [2 pages, loose]
- Solutions Vol 12. No. 1 [magazine by Unisys, 1989]
- Letter from Bob Jones to Herb Finnie, (2/16/91); Steven Wright article on 40 years in computing; Bob Jones’ response letter. [letter from Bob Jones is paper clipped to the Wright article, Jones response is stapled to the Wright article.]
- Datamation, 3/15/1991 [magazine]
- SWE, March/April 1995 [magazine, Society of Women Engineers]
- See related documentation 2017.3034.01-.14
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2017.3034.13
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3034
- catalog number
- 2017.3034.13
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Univac I Documentation
- Description
- Oversized archival folder containing miscellaneous newpaper and magazine articles about early computing and the UNIVAC. Dates range from 1957-1996.
- See related documentation 2017.3034.01-.14
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2017.3034.14
- nonaccession number
- 2017.3034
- catalog number
- 2017.3034.14
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Manuals for Columbia Microcomputer and Related Software
- Description
- Two boxed sets of user manuals for the Columbia Data Products microcomputer.
- Box 1 contains:
- Perfect Writer/Perfect Speller; Perfect Filer; The Home Accountant Plus; Fast Graphs; Perfect Calc; MPC Tutor; MPC Asynchronous Communications Program.
- Box 2 contains:
- Microsoft BASIC; MS-DOS; Microsoft GW BASIC / BASIC A; CP/M-86 Operating System User’s Guide, Programmer’s Guide, System Guide; CP/M-86 Release Notes; CP/M-86 Command Summary; MACRO/86.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Columbia Data Products, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2016.3148.02
- catalog number
- 2016.3148.02
- nonaccession number
- 2016.3148
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Silicon Graphics Flat Panel Monitor Documentation
- Description
- This collection of documentation for the Silicon Graphics 1600SW flat panel monitor includes:
- "Silicon Graphics 1600SW Flat Panel Monitor Owner's Guide"
- "O2: Silicon Graphics 1600SW Flat Panel Monitor Adapter Installation Guide"
- "O2: Silicon Graphics 1600SW Flat Panel Monitor Software Installation Guide for IRIX 6.3"
- "SiliconGraphics Computer Systems Software Library"
- "Silicon Graphics ColorLock Sensor for the Silicon Graphics 1600SW Flat Panel Monitor"
- Silicon Graphics Packing Slip
- Silicon Graphics Registration Card.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Silicon Graphics, Inc.
- Maker
- Silicon Graphics, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2016.3032.05
- nonaccession number
- 2016.3032
- catalog number
- 2016.3032.05
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Okidata Personal Printer User's Manual
- Description
- This OKIDATA Personal Printer User’s Manual is in a blue 3-ring binder that measures approximately 9” x 7”.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Okidata
- ID Number
- 2016.3148.03
- catalog number
- 2016.3148.03
- nonaccession number
- 2016.3148
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Invitation to Attend a Meeting of the Short-Range Language Committee, June 1959
- Description
- During 1959 the first plans for the computer language COBOL emerged as a result of meetings of several committees and subcommittees of programmers. These were not the work of a professional society, but of groups organized by the U.S. Department of Defense. This letter invited Howard Bromberg of RCA to attend a subcommittee meeting held in Michigan. It represents only a small part of the organizational effort that went into COBOL.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1960
- ID Number
- 2010.3050.3
- catalog number
- 2010.3050.3
- nonaccession number
- 2010.3050
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Hewlett-Packard HP-35 Operating Manual
- Description
- This is the operating manual for an HP-35 calculator. For the calculator, see 1991.0210.01.1.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1972
- maker
- Hewlett-Packard Company
- ID Number
- 1991.0210.02
- catalog number
- 1991.0210.02
- accession number
- 1991.0210
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Printout from COBOL Program Run at RCA in August 1960
- Description
- This is one of the first successful printouts of a program written in the computer programming language COBOL. After COBOL was proposed and described in 1959, programmers at Remington Rand Univac and at RCA wrote compilers that translated COBOL commands into machine language. They also wrote test programs to demonstrate the language. Like later COBOL programs , this one was divided into four sections.
- The first identified the program and gave the name of the programmer. The second section, called the environment division, presented information about the specific machine used, such as the computer model, and locations to be used for different files. The third, or procedure, division was independent of the computer. It gave a series of statements about what the machine was to do. Although commands resemble ordinary English, the words used had very specific definitions and equations could be written using mathematical symbols. Finally, the data division defined the information to be processed. This data was entered so that it could be used in several programs, as in later database management systems. Successfully compiling a program produced a printout with each of these sections, as well as a listing of the desired results.
- This printout of the first successful COBOL compilation at RCA relates to inventory control. One page is marked in ink: Good output – 8/17/60 (/) (isn’t it beautiful) (/) not really [the not really is crossed out] (/) well almost.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1960
- maker
- RCA Corporation
- ID Number
- 2010.3050.1
- catalog number
- 2010.3050.1
- nonaccession number
- 2010.3050
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Bound Printout from COBOL Test Program Run December 6, 1960, at RCA
- Description
- COBOL was one of the first programming languages designed to run on computers built by several different manufacturers. In December 1960 programmers at Remington Rand UNIVAC and at RCA successfully ran the same COBOL test programs on a Univac II and an RCA 501 computer.
- This is the printout from the RCA demonstration. It contains two programs. One produces a profit and loss report for a corporation. It is a modification of a program developed by Warren G. Simmons of US Steel for a UNIVAC II.
- According to the printout, the actual program used in the test was written by J. Farinelli. This was probably programmer Joseph D. Farinelli of US Steel. The second program, which computes cash sales and credit balances, was written by Carl H. Thorne Jr. of the General Services Administration for an RCA computer.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1960
- maker
- RCA Corporation
- ID Number
- 2010.3050.2
- catalog number
- 2010.3050.2
- nonaccession number
- 2010.3050
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Texas Instruments Programmable 58/59 Owner's Manual -A Complete Owner’s Manual for TI Programmable 58/59
- Description
- Texas Instruments described this softcover book as “A complete owner’s manual for TI Programmable 58/59.” It contains a detailed description of the calculator and methods of programming it by setting up series of functional operations. Received with TI Programmable 59 calculator 1990.0609.01.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1977
- maker
- Texas Instruments
- ID Number
- 1990.3166.01
- catalog number
- 1990.3166.01
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3166
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Texas Instruments Programmable 58/59 Leisure Library, Manual
- Description
- This pamphlet has the full title: TI Programmable 58/59 Leisure Library Using the power of your Solid State Software module.
- It describes in detail the operation of twenty-one programs in the entertainment library for the TI 58 and 59 calculators. In addition to the first diagnostic program, it discusses programs relating to photography, sports (football, bowling, and golf), chess, and bridge. It also introduces programs for breaking calculator-generated codes and attempting games like blackjack, acey-deucy, craps, hangman, and Nim.
- Received with TI Programmable 59 calculator 1990.0609.01.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1977
- maker
- Texas Instruments
- ID Number
- 1990.3166.03
- catalog number
- 1990.3166.03
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3166
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
