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 for Texas Instruments Programmable 59 Handheld Electronic Calculator
- Description
- This white folder contains a series of documents used in programming the TI Programmable 59 calculator. Included are thin sheets listing programs, coding sheets, related jottings, and photocopies of magazine articles. Received with TI Programmable 59 calculator 1990.0609.01.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1979-1980
- maker
- Texas Instruments
- ID Number
- 1990.3166.04
- catalog number
- 1990.3166.04
- nonaccession number
- 1990.3166
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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First Draft of the Programming Language COBOL
- Description
- During 1959 the first plans for the computer language COBOL emerged as a result of meetings of several committees and subcommittees of programmers from American business and government. This heavily annotated typescript was prepared during a special meeting of the language subcommittee of the Short-Range Committee held in New York City in November. COBOL programs would actually run the following summer, and the same program was successfully tested on computers of two different manufacturers in December 1960.
- Reference: Jean E. Sammet, "The Early History of COBOL," History of Programming Languages, ed. Richard L. Wexelblat, New York: Academic Press, 1981, 199-277.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1959
- maker
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. Language Subcommittee of the Short-Range Committee
- ID Number
- 2010.3050.4
- catalog number
- 2010.3050.4
- nonaccession number
- 2010.3050
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, WorkSlate Microcomputer Manuals
- Description
- The names of these five manuals are: Owner's Manual, Reference Guide (with three inserts: Electronic Information Services, operating instruction addendum, sheet of microcassette labels), Exercise Workbook, Comm Port Owner's Manual, and Microprinter Owner's Manual.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1983
- maker
- Convergent Technologies, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2016.3134.01
- catalog number
- 2016.3134.01
- nonaccession number
- 2016.3134
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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fx-7000GA Owner's Manual
- Description
- This small paperback book describes the operation of the Casio fx-7000GA graphing calculator. The undated publication is well illustrated. The calculator shown closely resembles the Casio fx-7000G, an example of which is 2000.0146.01. Both that calculator and the manual were used at San Juan High School in Citrus Heights, California.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1990
- maker
- Casio Computer Company
- ID Number
- 2000.3037.01
- nonaccession number
- 2000.3037
- catalog number
- 2000.3037.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Graphing Calculators in the Secondary Mathematics Classroom, Manual
- Description
- Casio Computer Company introduced its fx-7000G graphing calculator in 1985. By 1989, when this monograph was published, other graphing calculators were available, not only from Casio, but from Sharp and Hewlett-Packard. However, because of its low cost, relatively large viewing screen, versatility, and ease of operation, the authors of the manual chose to focus on use of the Casio fx-7000G. George Kitchen of the Portage public schools persuaded Paul Eckert of the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center and Cameron Nichols of the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center to coauthor the book with him. They recruited Charles Vonder Embse of Central Michigan University to write the section on programming. The detailed text also describes basic operations of the calculator, graphical solutions to equations, a variety of functions, and applications in modeling in statistics. It was distributed by the Michigan Section of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1989
- publisher
- Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics
- ID Number
- 2000.3037.02
- nonaccession number
- 2000.3037
- catalog number
- 2000.3037.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Graphing Calculator and Computer Graphing Laboratory Manual, Precalculus Series
- Description
- In addition to publishing textbooks that required use of a graphing calculator, Addison-Wesley published a manual describing the use of computer software, Casio graphing calculators, and Sharp graphing calculators with those textbooks. This document by Alan Osborne and Gregory D. Foley of Ohio State University accompanied a series of textbooks by Franklin Demana and Bert K. Waits.
- For one of the related textbooks, see 2000.3037.04.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1990
- maker
- Addison-Wesley Publishing Company
- ID Number
- 2000.3037.03
- nonaccession number
- 2000.3037
- catalog number
- 2000.3037.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Book, Precalculus Mathematics: A Graphing Approach
- Description
- The advent of the graphing calculator and the personal computer transformed the way many students in the United States learned mathematics. In 1989, the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics, published by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, assumed that all students in grades nine through twelve would have access to a graphing calculator. Franklin Demana and Bert K. Waits of The Ohio State University had been interested in the use of graphing calculators in mathematics education since for some years. In 1990, they published this textbook for high school use.
- Reference:
- P. A. Kidwell, A. Ackerberg-Hastings, and David L. Roberts, Tools of American Mathematics Teaching, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1990
- maker
- Addison-Wesley Publishing Company
- ID Number
- 2000.3037.04
- nonaccession number
- 2000.3037
- catalog number
- 2000.3037.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, A Practical Guide to the Tandy 1400 LT
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1986
- ca 1987
- maker
- Tandy Corporation
- ID Number
- 2014.0090.03
- accession number
- 2014.0090
- catalog number
- 2014.0090.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Binder of Docmentation for the Altair 8800 Microcomputer
- Description
- This white three-ring metal binder includes typed sheets and a few programs describing procedures for using the Altair 8800 microcomputer. The documents are:
- Altair 8800 BASIC Reference Manual with checkout procedure, 1977 ( with April, 1977 addenda at the front, and checkout procedure, software agreement at the back)
- Altair 8800 Assembly Manual, 1975
- Altair 88-16K Static Ram Card Assembly Procedure, Manual
- Altair Prom Memory Card (PMC) Manual
- Parallel /IO Board assembly/procedure Manual
- Altair Serial /IO Board assembly/procedure Manual
- Altair 88-2-SIO assembly/procedure Manual
- International Data Systems Morse Code Trainer
- Altair Software Library Update
- Programs and annotations of the user are included.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1977
- ca 1977
- maker
- Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems
- ID Number
- 2013.3016.02
- nonaccession number
- 2013.3016
- catalog number
- 2013.3016.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, Price List for the Altair 8800 and Related Computers and Software
- Description
- This paper sheet, dated April 1, 1976, lists prices for Altair "main frames" (the 8800 A, 680F, and 680T), terminals, memory, input/output and expansion devices, software, and miscellaneious parts. For related documentation and software, see the remainder of the non-accession.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1976
- maker
- Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems
- ID Number
- 2013.3016.03
- nonaccession number
- 2013.3016
- catalog number
- 2013.3016.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, IBM System/360 Models 25, 30, 40, 50, 65, 75, 85, and 195
- Description
- This paper pamphlet describes the components of an IBM 360 system. This is the fifth edition. It relates to object 2013.0129.02.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1970
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 2013.0129.03
- accession number
- 2013.0129
- catalog number
- 2013.0129.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation Relating to the IBM Aptiva Microcomputer
- Description
- This includes:
- 1. Aptiva unpacking getting started setting up - pamphlet - 1996
- 2. Aptiva S series model S7H - leaflet - 1996
- 3. HelpWare Service and Support for your new Aptiva- pamphlet - 1996
- 4. Aptiva Multimedia Monitor User's Guide - pamphlet - 1996
- 5. IBM Aptiva Cordless Mouse User's Guide - pamphlet - 1996
- 6. Western Digital, Western Digital Retall Install Guide - pamphlet - 1999 - for hard drive
- 7. IBM 16-Bit Sound Card User Guide -pamphlet with receipt 1996
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1996-1999
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 2013.0258.02
- accession number
- 2013.0258
- catalog number
- 2013.0258.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation Relating to EMAIL Program of Shiva Ayyadurai
- Description
- This group of documents includes correspondence, typescripts, transparencies and publications relating to Shiva Ayyadurai's early education in computer science and his preparation of an electronic mail program while working for the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. It also includes copyright documents and notes by the donor.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1978-2007
- ID Number
- 2012.3026.03
- nonaccession number
- 2012.3026
- catalog number
- 2012.3026.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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The Punched Card: Embodying Punched Card Operations in all types of Business and Industry
- Description
- This paperback book has a yellow and turquoise cover. It was published in 1952 by the Punched Card Publishing Company of Detroit, Michigan. The punch card was an early means of date storage that could be read by computers or sorted and calculated by fields by specialized machines. By the 1950s the punched card had moved beyond merely recording census data, and was across the corporate landscape for billing, transportation schedules, libraries, payroll, and inventory management. This book served as a trade publication for the Punched Card Publishing Company, illustrating better business practices and new uses of punch cards and devices for reading them.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1952
- ID Number
- 2013.3049.03
- nonaccession number
- 2013.3049
- catalog number
- 2013.3049.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Automation in Banking
- Description
- This hardcover book has a green, black, white and and turquoise cover. It was published in 1963 by Rutgers University Press of New Brunswick, New Jersey.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1963
- ID Number
- 2013.3049.04
- nonaccession number
- 2013.3049
- catalog number
- 2013.3049.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, MITS Kits Assembly Hints
- Description
- This undated paper brochure advises on procedures for assembling MITS kits, particularly the ALTAIR 8800 microcomputer.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1977
- maker
- Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems
- ID Number
- 2013.3016.04
- nonaccession number
- 2013.3016
- catalog number
- 2013.3016.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation, Using WordPerfect 3rd Edition
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1987
- maker
- Q. Pomponius Musa
- ID Number
- 2014.0090.04
- accession number
- 2014.0090
- catalog number
- 2014.0090.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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HP-45 Quick Reference Guide, Documentation for the Hewlett-Packard HP-45 Handheld Electronic Calculator
- Description
- This twenty-two-page spiral-bound booklet gives basic information about the HP-45 handheld electronic calculator. It fits in the carrying pouch for the calculator. For the calculator, see 2004.3053.01; for the carrying pouch, see 2004.3053.03.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1973
- maker
- Hewlett-Packard Company
- ID Number
- 2004.3053.05
- nonaccession number
- 2004.3053
- catalog number
- 2004.3053.05
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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HP-45 Owner's Handbook, Documentation for Hewlett-Packard HP-45 Handheld Electronic Calculator
- Description
- This fifty-nine page manual describes the operation of the HP-45 handheld electronic calculator. A service card is at the back. For the calculator, see 2004.3053.01. For another example of the manual, see 1982.0222.02.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1973
- maker
- Hewlett-Packard Company
- ID Number
- 2004.3053.06
- nonaccession number
- 2004.3053
- catalog number
- 2004.3053.06
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Documentation on HP-65 Electronic Calculator
- Description
- Hewlett-Packard Company encouraged owners of the HP-65 programmable calculator to write programs and share them with other users. These documents, donated by professional programmer Barry S. Berg, illustrate aspects of this process. Included are a contributor’s guide to the HP-65 user’s library, a sheet listing HP-65 application pacs [sic] from March of 1975, a set of HP-65 program forms from 1974, an HP-65 accessory order form from 1975, two issues of HP-65 Key Note for HP-65 Owners from 1976, and an issue of HP Key Notes from 1977. Several of the programs in 2012.3060.07 are listed in the 1977 issue of HP Key Notes.
- An example of the HP-65 calculator (not used by Berg) is 2011.0023.01.
- Reference:
- Non-accession file.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1974-1976
- maker
- Hewlett-Packard Company
- ID Number
- 2012.3060.39
- catalog number
- 2012.3060.39
- nonaccession number
- 2013.3060
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
