Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Computer Standards Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0310
Creators:
International Standards Organization (ISO).
Bemer, Robert M.
Dates:
1958-1979
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
4.6 Cubic feet
10 boxes
Repository:
Papers collected by Robert W. Bemer (1920-2004) during his involvement in setting language and data standards during the early years of the computer industry.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Correspondence, reports, publications, meeting minutes, and bulletins of standards committees relating to ALGOL, COBOL, and the International Standards Organization (ISO) subcommittee on character sets (ANSI X3L2). The ALGOL records include correspondence to the ALGOL Maintenance Subcommittee (Association for Computing Machinery) and information about the International Algebraic Language, XTRAN source language for FORTRAN, and the SHARE ALGOL 60 translator. The COBOL records (1960-1969) include material from CODASYL, the European Computer Manufacturer's Association, SHARE, and the American Standards Association. The ISO records (1959- 1979) relate exclusively to the standards for data formats and codes and includes material from other standards organizations.
Source
Bruce H. Bruemmer, Resources for the History of Computing: A Guide to U. S. and Canadian Records (Minneapolis, MN: Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, 1987), pp. 30 31.]

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
This collection was put together by Robert W. Bemer during his involvement in setting language and data standards for the early computer industry. He accumulated a collection of material from organizations and individuals relating to computer standards.

Administration

Author
Craig A. Orr
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This material was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in June 1979 by the compiler, Robert W. Bemer.
Custodial History
Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Physical Sciences and Mathematics (now Division of Medicine and Science), August 18, 1988.
Processing Information
Processed by Craig A. Orr, archivist.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Computer Standards Collection, 1958-1978, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Standardization -- Computers -- 1950-1980 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Reports -- 1950-1980 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
ALGOL (Computer program language) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Business records -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Computer programming -- 1950-1980 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Computer industry -- 1950-1980 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Computers -- History -- 1950-1980 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Computers -- 1950-1980 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Computers -- Standards -- 1950-1980 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pamphlets -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Minutes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Physical Sciences and Mathematics Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
COBOL (Computer program language). Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu