Reference Material

Reference Materials

The Computer History Collection includes a wide variety of reference materials related to the objects in its collections.  Access to these materials generally requires making a research appointment with the Division.  Over time, selected materials being digitized and made available to the public on-line.  A few are available below.

In addition to holdings in the Division, reference materials on the history of computing are available in the American History Archives Center.

Original Press Release 1 for ENIAC Computer, February 16, 1946 (3 pages / 48 K)
Original Press Release 2 for ENIAC Computer, February 16, 1946 (2 pages / 42 K)
Original Press Release 4 for ENIAC Computer: Physical Aspects and Operations, February 16, 1946 (3 pages / 31 K)

Presentation entitled “Using the Computer: Episodes Across 50 years” by David K. Allison. Delivered to the ACM Annual Meeting Session honor the 50th Anniversary of the ENIAC, Philadelphia, February 14, 1996. (590K) Monticello Memoirs, a 1996 gathering at Monticello of Pioneers of the Information Age

Interviews

Although the development of modern communications and computers is among the most important aspects of modern American history, historical writing about the development is remarkably sparse. And few of the leaders of the development have written their own memoirs.

The Smithsonian Institution is capturing the recollections of some of these people in the form of oral and video histories. In this area, you will find transcripts of some of the Smithsonian’s images. Copyrights of the interviews belong to the Smithsonian Institution. They may be cited or quoted briefly, but not reproduced or published in any form.

Marc Andreesen – Interview with Mr. Marc Andreesen, Chief Technical Officer of Netscape, Inc., winner of the 1995 SAIC Leadership Award for Global Integration, Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program.

Gordon Bell – Interview with Dr. Gordon Bell, winner of the 1995 MCI Leadership Award for Innovation, Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program.

Robert Ballard – Interview with Dr. Robert Ballard of the Jason Project, winner of the 1990 Award in the Category of Education and Academia, Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program

Seymour Cray – Interview with Seymour Cray, Winner of the 1994 MCI Information Technology Leadership Award for Innovation, Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program.

J. Presper Eckert -Interview with J. Presper Eckert, Co-Inventor of the ENIAC (Electrical Numerical Integrator and Computer)
From Development of the Eniac Interviews, Smithsonian Videohistory Collection, Record Unit 9537, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, DC

Larry Ellison – Interview with Mr. Larry Ellison, Chief Executive Officer of Oracle, winner of the 1994 SAIC Leadership Award for Global Integration, Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program.

Douglas Engelbart -Interview with Mr. Douglas Engelbart, Winner of the 1994 Price Waterhouse Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement, Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program.

Bill Gates – Interview with Mr. William “Bill” Gates, Winner of the 1993 Price Waterhouse Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement, Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program.

Steve Jobs – Interview with Mr. Steve Jobs, Chief Executive Officer of NEXT.

Ann Meyer – Interview with Ms. Ann Meyer of the Center for Applied Special Technology, winner of the 1993 Award in the Category of Education and Academia, Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program.

Tom Nies – Interview with Mr. Tom Nies, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CINCOM Corporation, a pioneer software company.

Kenneth H. Olsen – Interview with Mr. Kenneth H. Olsen of Digital Equipment Corporation, winner of the 1993 MCI Information Technology Leadership Award for Innovation, Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program.

Charles S. Peskin and David M. McQueen – Interview with Charles S. Peskin and David M. McQueen, Winners of the 1994 Cray Leadership Award for Breakthrough Computational Science, Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program.

Lewis Sadler – Interview with Mr. Lewis Sadler, Winner of a 1989 Computerworld Smithsonian award in the category of Government and Nonprofit Organizations.

Hal Uplinger – Interview with Mr. Hal Uplinger, Winner of a 1989 Computerworld Smithsonian Award in the Media, Arts & Entertainment Category for the production of the “Live Aid Concert”

Don Wetzel -Interview with Mr. Don Wetzel, Co-Patentee of the Automatic Teller Machine.The National Museum of American History gratefully acknowledges the financial support of MasterCard International in the creation of this transcription and the video history from with it was made.