"Twenty-Five Years of FORTRAN" (Exhibit, 1957-1982) International Business Machines Corporation Collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], "Twenty-Five Years of FORTRAN" (Exhibit, 1957-1982) International Business Machines Corporation Collection, Ms 1983-003, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
5 Cubic Feet 5 boxes, 10 oversize items
Creator:
International Business Machines Corporation and Lee, John A. N.
Abstract:
Pioneer Day was celebrated on June 9, 1982, at the National Computer Conference in honor of the 25th anniversary of the delivery of the first FORTRAN compiler. As part of the celebration IBM created and displayed this exhibit. Materials include photographs of FORTRAN pioneers, facsimiles of documents, textual analysis, flow charts, memorabilia, FORTRAN manuals and other publications, and a twelve-minute videotape on the history of FORTRAN.
Language:
The materials in the collection are in English.
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], "Twenty-Five Years of FORTRAN" (Exhibit, 1957-1982) International Business Machines Corporation Collection, Ms 1983-003, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

This exhibit was created by IBM for the 25th anniversary of the programming language FORTRAN in 1982. Materials include photographs of FORTRAN pioneers, facsimiles of documents, textual analysis, flow charts, memorabilia, FORTRAN manuals and other publications, and a twelve-minute videotape on the history of FORTRAN starring the members of the original FORTRAN development team: John Backus, Sheldon Best, Richard Goldberg, Lois Mitchell Haibt, Harlan Herrick, Grace Mitchell, Robert Nelson, Roy Nutt, David Sayre, Peter Sheridan, and Irving Ziller.

Biographical / historical:

Fortran is a programming language developed by John Backus and IBM in 1957. Pioneer Day was celebrated on June 9, 1982, at the National Computer Conference in honor of the 25th anniversary of the delivery of the first FORTRAN compiler. IBM created and displayed this exhibit at the celebration.

Acquisition information:
The collection was donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1982 and prior to 1984.
Processing information:

This collection is unprocessed. Minimal description was completed prior to 2002 with minor additions in 2021.

Physical / technical requirements:

The videotape is a standard 3/4" Sony U-matic cassette, and unfortuntely, we currently do not have the equipment necessary to play the tape.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard