Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 11/6/55
Wallace C. Caldwell
Papers, 1983-2003


Descriptive summary

creator:

Caldwell, Wallace C.

title:

Papers

dates:

1983-2003

extent:

0.42 linear ft. (1 document box)

collection number:

RS 11/6/55

repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Wallace C. Caldwell Papers, RS 11/6/55, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Biographical note

Wallace Caughey Caldwell received his M.S. (1940) in physics from Iowa State College (University). He joined the staff of the Physics Department at Iowa State as Assistant Professor (1948) and then became Associate Physicist (1950). He was eventually named Adjunct Professor (1983-1995) and Emeritus Adjunct Professor (1995-present) in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering at Iowa State.

 

Collection description

This collection (1983-2003) contains correspondence and news clippings regarding John Vincent Atanasoff and the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) collected by Wallace C. Caldwell. Most of the correspondence is related to Caldwell's efforts to have Atanasoff, along with graduate student Clifford Berry, recognized as the inventor of the digital electronic computer. Of note is correspondence with producers from WGBH in Boston regarding the series "The Machine that Changed the World" which aired in 1991 on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The television show chronicled the history of the computer, but omitted Atanasoff and the ABC.

Caldwell was also instrumental in having the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recognize the efforts of Atanasoff and Berry by naming the ABC a national Electrical Engineering Milestone. A bronze plaque hangs in Physics Hall on the Iowa State campus commemorating this achievement. Photographs showing Caldwell presenting a framed photograph of the plaque to Atanasoff are in the collection.

The collection also contains materials regarding celebrations of the ABC and Atanasoff sponsored by Iowa State, correspondence of others regarding proper recognition of the ABC, and news clippings and writings about the ABC and its controversial status as the first digital electronic computer.

For more information on John Vincent Atanasoff and the Atanasoff-Berry Computer see the John Vincent Atanasoff Papers, RS 13/20/51, and the Office of University Relations John Vincent Atanasoff Collection, RS 5/2/1/1.

 

Organization

The collection is arranged alphabetically.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Atanasoff celebrations at Iowa State

1983-2003

1

2

Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) replica

1994, 1998

1

3

Correspondence of Arthur Oldehoeft: Omission of Atanasoff and ABC in Association for Computing Machinery's (ACM) history of electronic computing

1993

1

4

Correspondence of Clark Mollenhoff: Omission of Atanasoff and ABC from Encyclopedia Britannica entry and Smithsonian Institute exhibit on the history of computers

1989-1990

1

5

Correspondence of Wallace Caldwell: IEEE Electrical Engineering Milestone award for ABC (5- 3.5x5" color photographs)

1988-1990

1

6

Correspondence of Wallace Caldwell: Omission of Atanasoff and ABC from the PBS series "The Machine that Changed the World"

1989-1994

1

7

News clippings and writings: Atanasoff and ABC

1983-1997

1

8

News clippings: Omission of Atanasoff and ABC from the PBS series "The Machine that Changed the World"

1992

1

9

Nomination of Atanasoff for American Society for Engineering Education hall of fame

1992