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
429
Page 5 of 22
-
Button, Kiss your paper files goodbye...Summit Laser Base Filing System
- Description
- This circular button has back text on a white background that reads: Kiss your paper files goodbye...Summit Laser Base Filing System. It has a pink image of a lipstick "kiss". A mark in black ink on the reverse reads: 87?
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1987
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.222
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.222
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
XTree Company Button
- Description
- This circular button has grey text on a white background that reads: XTREE Company. It has a purple image of a tree. A mark on the reverse reads: PC EXPO NY 6/89.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1989
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.229
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.229
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Presentation Technologies Button, Montage FR1
- Description
- This circular button has black text on a white background that reads: montage FR1. In the center it has an image of a bullet that is half gold, half rainbow colored. Above it is a black Presentation Technologies logo.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1980s
- c 1988
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.242
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.242
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Nantucket Button, McMax
- Description
- This circular button has black text on a white background that reads: McMax. The word McMax has a blue underline mark below it. It has a black Nantucket logo.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1989
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.246
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.246
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Proteon Button, UTP
- Description
- This circular button has blue text on a white background that reads: proteon UTP. The button is designed to look like a smiling face by using the proton logo as a hat, the letters UTP as the eyes and nose, and wires as the smile. A mark in black ink on the reverse reads: Networld 9/89.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1989
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.249
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.249
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Button, Stick It In Your MemoryMate
- Description
- This square button has a white border around a black background. It has a half-tone image of a person's profile and images of paper products in blue, white, and orange. Inside a white callout bubble the black text reads: Stick It In Your MemoryMate. A mark in black ink on the reverse reads:Comdex Spring '89.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1989
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.209
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.209
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Caere Button, Addition
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Aristocad Button, My VP can Spell!...can youres?
- Description
- This circular button has black and red text on a white background that reads: My VP can Spell!...can youres? Announcing new VP TO THE MAX with Spell Check. Another Ventura solution from Aristocad. It has a red x through the e in youres and a black Aristocad logo at the bottom. A mark in black ink on the reverse reads: Fall '89.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1989
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.216
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.216
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Button, Telebit!modems
- Description
- This circular button has red text on a white background that reads: telebit!modems. A mark on the reverse reads: NW Boston '89.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1989
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.223
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.223
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
CYCO International Button, I'm a Happy Dealer!
- Description
- This circular button has black text on a white background that reads: I'm a Happy Dealer! It has a blue CYCO International logo in the center. A mark in black ink on the reverse reads: "Comdex Spring '89.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1989
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.248
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.248
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Micrografx Lapel Pin
- Description
- This rectangular lapel pin has a butterfly clutch clasp. The background is a white and gold-colored grid with gold shapes on it. A large blue "M" with gold outline is in the center; a small blue circle with gold "R"is in the lower left-hand corner. A red strip across the bottom has gold text reading: MICROGRAFX. The reverse is gold-colored metal marked "PX Expo NY 6/89" in black permanent ink.The clasp is gold-colored metal.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1989
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.676
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.676
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Kennect Lapel Pin
- Description
- This rectangular lapel pin has a butterfly clutch clasp. Atop the metallic yellow background is text in red reading: KENNECT. Next to this is a logo of a red circle with six black lines. The reverse is of patterned silver-colored metal with "NW 8/89" written on it in black permanent ink. The clasp is of silver-colored metal.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1989
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.677
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.677
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
OS/2 Lapel Pin
- Description
- This square lapel pin has a butterfly clutch clasp. The black background has a gold border and text running diagonally; colored in segments of red, yellow and pale green and outlined in gold. It reads: OS/2. The reverse is of gold-colored metal and reads "Spring 8 9" in black permanent ink. The clasp is gold-colored metal.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1989
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.693
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.693
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
ISA EISA Lapel Pin
- Description
- This trapezoidal lapel pin has a butterfly clutch clasp. Silver-colored lines surround text reading "ISA EISA" to form the trapezoid. The "E" is also silver-colored, outlined in black; the remaining text is black. The reverse is of silver-colored metal and reads "CDX 11/89" in black permanent ink.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1989
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.725
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.725
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Advertising Button, Quadram, Microfazer VI
- Description
- This circular button has a white background with an image of a pig with five piglets. Below the image in black text it reads: "FOR SOME, SHARING COMES NATURALLY. OTHERS NEED MICROFAZER VI." At the bottom in blue text it reads "QUADRAM," followed by their logo. A mark in black ink on the reverse reads: “ '87?"
- Quadram of Norcross, GA, was a maker of laser printers.
- Reference: [last accessed 2019-08-14]
- InfoWorld June 23, 1986, p. 42. (review of laser printers.)
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1987
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.597
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.597
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Button, Advertising
- Description
- This square button has an image in the style of watercolor painting. There are various computer components such as floppy disks and CDs at the bottom and a large section of paper with people making technical drawings on it. A mark in black ink on the reverse reads: "Lotus '87."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- c 1987
- ID Number
- 2009.3071.605
- catalog number
- 2009.3071.605
- nonaccession number
- 2009.3071
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hewlett-Packard HP 34C Programmable Handheld Electronic Calculator
- Description
- This programmable handheld electronic calculator has a black plastic case and thirty sloping rectangular plastic keys. The model was introduced in July 1979 and sold through 1983. Most keys take on different meanings if the gold "f" shift key, the blue "g" shift key or the black "h" key is pressed. The calculator has limited programming capabilities. It also has “continuous memory,” which allows limited storage of programs when the calculator is turned off. The calculator featured solve and integrate functions not found on previous calculators.
- Behind the keyboard are an on/off switch, a program/run switch, and an LED display. A mark on the front edge reads: hp HEWLETT • PACKARD 34C.
- The socket for the battery adapter is along the top edge. The battery compartment is at the top of the back. The back also has four rubber feet. Text on the back reads: SERIAL NO. (/) 2252S33344. Another mark reads: MADE IN (/) SINGAPORE. The first four digits of the serial number indicate that the calculator was made in the 52d week of 1982.
- The calculator has a black zippered case with a belt loop. A mark on it reads: hp. It also has a power adapter. A mark on it reads in part: 2213 (/) INPUT (/) 90-120V AC (/) 50-60 HZ (/) HEWLETT-PACKARD (/) 82087B (/) CLASS 2 TRANSFORMER (/) MADE IN SINGAPORE.
- The following documentation accompanies the calculator:
- 1. The leaflet HP-34C Quick Reference Card, published in May of 1979.
- 2. The spiral-bound HP-34C Owner’s Handbook and Programming Guide, published in 1979 and revised in 1980.
- 3.A pamphlet HP-34C Applications, published in 1982.
- 4.A pamphlet Solving Problems with Your Hewlett-Packard Calculator, published in 1980.
- This device is part of a series that included the HP-31E, the HP-32E, the HP-33E, the HP-33C, the HP-34C, the HP-37E, the HP-38E and the HP-38C. Compare 1987.0435.09 (an HP-25) and 1987.0435.11 (an HP-33E), and 1987.0435.12 (an HP-33C).
- The donor of the calculator, Kim Tracy, purchased it as an engineering student. By this time, he also had access to electronic computers, but used the calculator quite heavily.
- References:
- W.A.C. Mier-Jedrzejowicz, A Guide to HP Handheld Calculators and Computers , Tustin, California: Wilson/Burnett Publishing, 1997, p. 60, 132.
- Accession File.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1982
- maker
- Hewlett-Packard Company
- ID Number
- 2014.0179.02
- catalog number
- 2014.0179.02
- accession number
- 2014.0179
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Computer Game on Cartridge, Pinball Spectacular
- Description
- "Pinball Spectacular," this computer game on cartridge for the VIC-20 microcomputer, is in its original box.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1982
- maker
- Commodore Business Machines, Inc.
- ID Number
- 1987.0249.47
- accession number
- 1987.0249
- catalog number
- 1987.0249.47
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Software for the VIC-20 on Disk, VIC General Ledger
- Description
- This software for the VIC-20 microcomputer is entitled VIC General Ledger and was made by Microspec. It consists of a 5"
- floppy disk and a user's guide in a 7" x 9" three-ring binder.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1983
- maker
- Microspec
- ID Number
- 1987.0249.16
- catalog number
- 1987.0249.16
- accession number
- 1987.0249
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Software for the VIC-20 on Disk, Checkbook Manager
- Description
- VIC Checkbook Manager by Microspec. It consists of a 5" floppy disk and a user's guide in a 7" x 9" three-ring binder and was intended for the VIC-20 microcomputer.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1983
- maker
- Microspec
- ID Number
- 1987.0249.18
- accession number
- 1987.0249
- catalog number
- 1987.0249.18
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Pages
Filter Your Results
Click to remove a filter:
- data source
-
topic
- Computers & Business Machines 429
- Advertising 154
- Handheld Electronic Calculators 79
- Mathematics 18
- Family 16
- Social life and customs 16
- Science 14
- Amusements 4
- Desktop Electronic Calculators 4
- Gaming 3
- Animals 2
- Women Teaching Math 2
- Artifact Walls exhibit 1
- Beer & Spirits 1
- Education 1
- Exidy Sorcerer 1
- Government 1
- Lighting 1
- Macintosh 1
- Novelty 1
-
object type
- button, advertising 145
- electronic calculator 75
- Software 59
- documentation 35
- Microcomputers 32
- electronic calculator; Handheld 22
- software with documentation 18
- documentation, Commodore VIC 20 11
- Pins (fasteners) 9
- Game, Computer 8
- Pin, Button 3
- portable computer 3
- software, game 3
- Documents 2
- Photographs 2
- electronic calculator with manual 2
- software and documentation 2
- Documentation 1
- Magazines (periodicals) 1
- Paperweights 1
- date
- place
-
set name
- Medicine and Science: Computers 423
- Advertising 154
- Handheld Electronic Calculators 79
- Family & Social Life 16
- National Museum of American History 15
- Science & Mathematics 14
- Work 11
- American Enterprise 9
- My Computing Device 5
- Desktop Electronic Calculators 4
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics 4
- Popular Entertainment 4
- Women Teaching Math 2
- Artifact Walls exhibit 1
- Government, Politics, and Reform 1
- Places of Invention 1
- Political and Military History: Political History, Campaign Collection 1
- Punch Cards 1
- Scale Rules 1
