Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
RS 13/20/51
John Vincent Atanasoff (1903-1995)
Papers, 1925-2011, undated
creator: | Atanasoff, John Vincent (1903-1995) |
title: | Papers |
dates: | 1925-2011, undated |
extent: | 32.75 linear feet (60 document boxes, 1 records center carton, 9 oversized boxes, and 2 map case folders ) |
collection number: | RS 13/20/51 |
repository: | University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
access: | Open for research |
publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
preferred citation: | John Vincent Atanasoff Papers, RS 13/20/51, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
John Vincent Atanasoff was born in 1903 in New York State. His father was a Bulgarian immigrant named Ivan (John) Atanasov and his mother was Iva Lucena Purdy, a mathematics schoolteacher. The couple had nine children and resided in Brewster, Florida, during John Vincent's childhood. As a young child, Atanasoff was very interested in mathematical principles and studied calculus at the age of 9. He completed high school in two years and in 1921, he entered the University of Florida in Gainesville. He graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. (1925) in electrical engineering and accepted a teaching position from Iowa State College. Atanasoff received his masters degree (1926) in mathematics from Iowa State College, and a few days later, he married Lura Meeks. They had three children: Elsie, Joanne and John II. He completed his doctoral thesis, "The Dielectric Constant of Helium," at the University of Wisconsin and received his Ph.D. in theoretical physics in 1930. In the fall of 1930 he became a member of the Iowa State College faculty as assistant professor in mathematics and physics. Atanasoff began developing a computation method for solving complicated math problems in a faster, more efficient way. He was promoted to associate professor (1936) of both mathematics and physics. Atanasoff continued to struggle with the development of a faster computation system and in 1937 developed basic concepts for his computing machine. After receiving a grant of $650 from Iowa State College in March 1939, Atanasoff hired an electrical engineering student, Clifford E. Berry, to assist him. From 1939 until 1941 they worked at developing and improving the ABC, Atanasoff-Berry Computer, as it was later named. When World War II started on 7 December 1941, the work on the computer came to a halt. Although Iowa State College had hired a Chicago patent lawyer, Richard R. Trexler, the patenting of the ABC was never completed. In September of 1942 Atanasoff left for a defense-related position at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in Washington, D.C. and became Chief of the Acoustics Division. By 1948 the Atanasoff-Berry Computer had been removed from the Physics Building and dismantled. Neither Atanasoff nor Clifford Berry were ever notified that the computer was going to be destroyed. In 1949 Atanasoff and his wife Lura were divorced. Lura moved with the children to Denver, Colorado. In the same year, John Atanasoff married Alice Crosby. In 1949 he became chief scientist for the Army Field Forces and he then returned to Washington as director (1950-1951) of the Navy Fuse Program at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory. In 1952 he established The Ordnance Engineering Corporation, a research and engineering company in Rockville, Maryland, with his friend and former student, David Beecher. The company was sold to Aerojet General Corporation in 1957, and he became Manager of its Atlantic Division from 1957-1959 and Vice President from 1959-1961. In 1961 he retired. Although the ABC was never patented, it was part of major court case in the 1960s and 1970s. In Honeywell v. Sperry Rand, Sperry Rand was attempting to establish the validity of patent rights they had purchased from J. Presper Eckert and John W. Mauchly. These rights included the Electronic Numerical Integrator (ENIAC) which Eckert and Mauchly had patented in 1964. Honeywell, Inc. was trying to establish that Mauchly had obtained important concepts used in the ENIAC from examination of a device known as the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, during a visit to Iowa State in June, 1941. In his decision (1973), the judge agreed that the concepts used in developing ENIAC were based on Atanasoff's work with the ABC. Atanasoff received numerous awards and honors including: the U.S. Navy Distinguished Service Award (1945); Order of Cyril and Methodius (1970);Iowa Inventors Hall of Fame (1974); Governor's Science Medal (1985);Holley Medal, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1985) and the Coors American Ingenuity Award (1986) and the National Medal of Technology (1990). After a long illness, Atanasoff died of a stroke on 15 June 1995 at his home in Maryland. |
Series I, Biographical records (1930-2011), contains biographical sketches and personnel records, newspaper and printed clippings, photographs and scanned image printouts, certificates, oral history interviews with Atanasoff; material from Clark Mollenhoff's book, "Atanasoff : Forgotten Father of the Computer" (1988), and other published material concerning Atanasoff, awards information, correspondence relating to computer exhibitions and the 1990 trip to Bulgaria, 2 audiotapes, 1 VHS tape, and a film script. Series 2, Correspondence (1929-1993), contains a wide variety of professional correspondence from colleagues, friends, and students from throughout Atanasoff's career. Correspondents include George Gross, Sam Legvold, Max Munk, Bob Vaile, Jay Woodrow, and Iowa State College (later University). Several folders of 1993 celebratory birthday cards received from Maryland elementary school children are also in this series. Atanasoff was involved with the Aerojet Corporation in the late 1950s, and their records are contained in Series 3, Business records (1956-1961). Included are memorandum and correspondence concerning company proposals. The proposals include the development of automation systems, bacteriological weapons, and a satellite program. Series 4, Invention records (1930-1981), contains records relating to Atanasoff's inventions, beginning prior to World War II and extending through to the 1970s. The files contain notes, information, and drawings relating to the following inventions: an electrical clock (1936); cathode-ray tub and low-frequency detection device (World War II-era); electronic chassis (late 1940s); and several inventions relating to his home in Maryland, including the house itself, a hog house, a dryer for vegetables, and a seeder. Atanasoff's research notes and published materials relating to his career are in Series 5, Research and publications (1926-1986, undated). There are reprint articles, notes for speeches, translations, Iowa State College exam questions and coursework, quantum mechanics notes, portions of a book on underwater acoustics and sound, Naval Ordnance Laboratory project reports, and drafts of "The Advent of Electronic Digital Computing," published in the Annals of the History of Computing in 1983. A large component of the Atanasoff papers is Series 6, Legal records (1925-1980, undated), which contains depositions, transcripts of proceedings, testimony, correspondence, black and white photographs, published materials, original notes and drawings, and a finding of fact for the case of Honeywell, Inc. v. Sperry-Rand. The materials relate to the development of the ABC Computer, and depositions from Atanasoff, John Mauchly, and patent lawyer, Richard Trexler, and a full-length interview with Atanasoff are included. The correspondents include Cliff Berry, Sam Legvold, Richard Trexler, and Iowa State College (University). Series 7, Language study records (1965-1980), contains published materials, notes, and correspondence, related to Atanasoff's experimentation and study of the creation of a new alphabet. Atanasoff firmly believed that a digital alphabet should be developed as the current alphabet was too difficult for children to learn. Series 8, Printed materials (1927-2003), consists of a varying amount of printed material, relating to Atanasoff's research interest. Included are reprint articles and theses of former students and other researchers, and articles and clippings relating to the history of computing. |
Series 1 | Biographical records |
1925-2011, undated |
extent: | 64 folders |
|
description: | This series contains biographical sketches and personnel records, newspaper and printed clippings, photographs and scanned image printouts, certificates, oral history interviews with Atanasoff, material from Clark Mollenhoff's book, "Atanasoff: Forgotten Father of the Computer" (1988) and other published material concerning Atanasoff, awards information, correspondence relating to computer exhibitions and the 1990 trip to Bulgaria, a scrapbook depicting the trip to Yambol, Bulgaria, in photographs, 2 audiotapes, and a film script. |
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
41 |
11 |
Addresses, awards, remarks |
1974 |
41 |
12 |
Addresses, awards, remarks |
1980 |
41 |
13 |
Addresses, awards, remarks |
1981 |
54 |
24 |
Ahmehu: Bulgarian Newspaper |
1974-1985 |
20 |
11 |
Allen McIntosh: article in IEEE |
1984-1986 |
20 |
12 |
Allen McIntosh: article in IEEE |
1986-1989 |
58 |
19 |
Allen, Edward |
1945-1985 |
59 |
1 |
American Society of Mechanical Engineers Holley Medal (photocopy) |
1985 |
Map |
case |
Appointment to the Great Navy of Nebraska |
1984 |
59 |
2 |
Article: 100th Birthday |
2005 |
50 |
1 |
Articles about Atanasoff by George Hamlin published in the Naval Surface Weapons Center newsletter, On the Surface |
1984-1990 |
59 |
3 |
Atanasoff Asteroid |
1988 |
50 |
|
Award: The National Medal of Technology |
1990 |
55 |
6 |
Awards & Recognition |
1953-1994 |
21 |
1 |
Awards and press clippings |
1986-1990 |
58 |
1 |
Awards, birth certificate, photos |
1984-1985 |
54 |
18 |
Ballad to John Atanasoff |
1990 |
58 |
18 |
Berry, Jean |
1981-1986 |
49 |
7 |
Bibliography and list of patents by Atanasoff compiled by George Hamlin, Naval publications writer and biographer |
2006 |
41 |
3 |
Biographical material |
1974 |
41 |
4 |
Biographical material |
1974 |
41 |
5 |
Biographical material |
1981 |
41 |
6 |
Biographical material |
1983-1984 |
41 |
7 |
Biographical material |
1989-1999 |
41 |
8 |
Biographical material (2 audio cassette tapes: All Things Considered) |
1986-1995 |
41 |
2 |
Biographical materials |
1950-1976, undated |
41 |
1 |
Biographical materials |
undated |
12 |
1 |
Biographical sketch |
undated |
4 |
13 |
Biographical sketches |
undated |
55 |
4 |
Biography |
undated |
59 |
4 |
Birthday card |
1983 circa |
Map | case | Blueprints of Atanasoff residence in Ames | 1935 |
59 |
5 |
Book review: The First Electronic Computer: The Atanasoff Story |
1988 |
58 |
8 |
Broad, Williams: New York Times |
1983 |
59 |
6 |
Bulgaria, letters and travel logs |
1970 |
41 |
22 |
Bulgaria trip |
1970 |
70 | Bulgaria trip: scrapbook (62 b/w and 6 color photographs) | 1990 circa | |
22 |
7 |
Bulgarian documentary correspondence |
1989-1990 |
59 |
7 |
Bulgarian Order of Cyril and Methodius, Official Decree |
1970 |
59 |
8 |
Bulgarian Order of Cyril and Methodius, U.S. Dept. of State Telegram |
1970 |
56 |
1 |
Burks, Alice |
1982-1983 |
56 |
3-4 |
Burks, Arthur: Annals of Computer History |
1981 |
7 |
1 |
Centennial Award (University of Florida) |
1953 |
14 |
14 |
Certificate of appreciation |
1993 |
56 |
2 |
Charles Babbage Institute: newsletters |
1981-1988 |
59 |
9 |
Clipping |
1966 |
36 |
17 |
Clipping |
1985 |
59 |
10 |
Clipping |
1987 |
46 |
3 |
Clippings |
1942-1983, undated |
46 |
2 |
Clippings |
1984 |
46 |
1 |
Clippings |
1985-1992 |
22 |
6 |
Computer exhibit clippings and correspondence |
1990 |
54 |
17 |
Computing Reviews |
1990 |
58 |
15 |
Computing Reviews: Origins of Modern Computing |
1989 |
59 |
11 |
Contracts regarding ABC |
1980-1988 |
20 |
2 |
Correspondence with oral history interviewer, William Turner |
1987-1991 |
56 |
5 |
Council for Unified Research & Education |
1980-1984 |
58 |
9 |
Cowan, Ken: Commex |
1980-1984 |
Map |
case |
Democrat Chronicle article featuring John Atanasoff in photograph |
1960 |
56 |
6 |
Digital Equipment Corporation: Lecture outlines |
1980 |
57 |
|
Doctorate of Science Diploma |
1981 |
58 |
3 |
Documentary |
1979-1983 |
58 |
23 |
DPF Incorporated |
1977-1980 |
49 |
4 |
"Dr. Atanasoff's Computer" by Allan R. Mackintosh |
1988 |
57 |
1 |
Drawings - oversized box |
undated |
58 |
22 |
Educom |
1984-1985 |
55 |
5 |
Educom: Computer Conference |
1984-1988 |
58 |
17 |
Educon: Speeches on Computers |
1984 |
21 |
7 |
Field notes (notebook) |
1968 |
42 |
8 |
Film: "From One John Vincent Atanasoff" Notes and initial treatment |
1969-1979 |
42 |
7 |
Film: "From One John Vincent Atanasoff" Script |
1981-1983 |
42 |
6 |
Film: "From One John Vincent Atanasoff" Script |
1983 |
58 |
4 |
First Annual Colorado business Awards |
1986 |
59 |
12 |
Florida Engineer alumni magazine featuring Atanasoff |
1984 |
56 |
8 |
Forbush, Scott & Julie |
1980-1984 |
58 |
20 |
Gardner, David |
1982 |
54 |
15 |
Gardner, David |
1992 |
21 |
13 |
Handwritten guidelines for using computer |
1989 |
Map |
case |
High school diploma |
1920 |
34 |
8 |
Honorary degree, Western Maryland College |
1982-1984 |
58 |
11 |
Hood College |
1984 |
20 |
6 |
"How the Computer Revolution Started Fifty Years Ago," by William Turner |
1988 |
49 |
5 |
Iowa Award: program |
1999 |
54 |
20 |
Iowa Governor's Medal |
1985 |
Map |
case |
Iowa State College Master of Science Degree |
1926 |
59 |
13 |
Iowa State University: Atanasoff Celebration |
1983-1984 |
58 |
10 |
Iowa State University: Atanasoff Celebration |
1988 |
55 |
11 |
Iowa State University: Movie Script about Atanasoff |
1983 |
54 |
14 |
Iowa State University: newsletters & correspondence |
1990-1991 |
59 |
14 |
Iowa State University replica of ABC: Introduction at National Press Club (VHS tape) |
1997 |
59 |
15 |
Iowa State University replica of ABC: Promotional materials |
1996 |
59 |
16 |
Iowa State University replica of ABC: Selected media clips |
1997 |
58 |
12 |
Israel |
1986-1987 |
55 |
1 |
John's 90th birthday |
1994 |
58 |
5 |
Johnson, Dick: Article for Educon |
1984 |
58 |
24 |
Kovacs: Budapest |
1987 |
55 |
3 |
Lecture: Beginning of Digital Electronic Computing |
undated |
59 |
17 |
Letters of Recommendation: National Medal of Science and Medal of Freedom |
1988 |
20 |
10 |
List of patents (incomplete) |
undated |
41 |
14 |
List of publications |
1936-1942, undated |
21 |
10 |
Listing of data documents |
1983-1986 |
21 |
9 |
Listing of data documents |
1986-1988 |
21 |
12 |
Lists and calculator manuals |
1985, undated |
Map |
case |
Maryland House of Representatives resolution |
undated |
Map |
case |
Maryland State government: photographs upon declaring the resolution |
1989 |
54 |
16 |
Medal of Technology |
1989-1990 |
6 |
5 |
Membership certificate |
1948 |
8 |
8 |
Memberships, notes, personnel information, house information, correspondence |
1930-1941 |
21 |
4 |
Mollenhoff ballad and memorial card |
1988, undated |
20 |
9 |
Mollenhoff book, Chapters 11-15 |
1988 circa |
20 |
7 |
Mollenhoff book, Chapters 1-5 |
1988 circa |
21 |
5 |
Mollenhoff book, Chapters 16-20 |
1988 circa |
20 |
8 |
Mollenhoff book, Chapters 6-10 |
1988 circa |
59 |
18 |
Mollenhoff book response (clippings) |
1988 |
22 |
11 |
Mollenhoff correspondence and information |
1986-1990 |
22 |
10 |
Mollenhoff release |
undated |
58 |
21 |
Moravian College |
1980-1982 |
56 |
9 |
Moravian College: Atanasoff receiving Doctorate of Science |
1981 |
58 |
13 |
Morice, Dave: Computer Comics |
1984 |
Map |
case |
Mount St. Mary's College Doctor of Humane Letters |
1990 circa |
58 |
7 |
National Medal of Technology |
1990 |
54 |
19 |
National Medal of Technology |
1990-1991 |
55 |
7 |
Newspaper & Articles: Atanasoff named "Inventor of First Digital Computer" |
1969-1987 |
55 |
8-10 |
Newspaper Articles |
1981-1999 |
58 |
6 |
Newspaper Articles and Correspondence |
1974-1990 |
55 |
2 |
Newspaper Articles: John's death |
1995 |
20 |
5 |
Notes and reminiscences on Naval Ordnance Lab for oral history |
1987 |
54 |
22 |
Omaha: Acknowledged for 81st birthday and 45th anniversary of computer |
1984 |
20 |
3 |
Oral history transcript |
1987 |
20 |
4 |
Oral history transcript |
1988 |
54 |
23 |
Personal Notes |
1964-1974 |
5 |
17 |
Personnel contract |
1950 |
4 |
12 |
Personnel files and notes |
1949-1952, undated |
5 |
18 |
Personnel forms |
1948-1951 |
5 |
19 |
Personnel records |
1949-1950 |
Map |
case |
Phi Kappa Phi, University of Florida Class of 1925 |
1925 |
41 |
21 |
Photographs, 1940s-1950s (photocopies) |
undated |
59 |
19 |
Photographs |
1984 circa |
4 |
9 |
Photographs (6) of Atanasoff |
1947-1950 |
68 |
1 |
Photographs of Atanasoff |
1935 circa-1980s |
68 |
2 |
Photographs of Atansoff |
1984-1989, undated |
68 |
3 |
Photographs of family members |
undated |
68 |
4 |
Photographs of Celebration at Iowa State University |
1983 |
68 |
5 |
Photographs of Atanasoff giving presentation at Washington D.C. |
1984 |
68 |
6 |
Photographs of Atanasoff receiving the Iowa Governor's Science Medal from Terry Branstad |
1985 |
68 |
7 |
Photographs of Atanasoff at Iowa State University for the VEISHEA celebration |
1988 |
68 |
9 |
Photographs of Atanasoff ABC plaques |
1975-1990 |
69 |
1 |
Photographs of Atanasoff (slides) |
1981-1988 |
69 |
2 |
Photographs of Atanasoff at Iowa State University (slides) |
1983-1988 |
69 |
3 |
Photographs of the ABC replica and Atanasoff |
undated |
Map |
case |
Pi Mu Epsilon certificate of membership |
1923 |
57 |
25 |
Polk County (Iowa) Rest Area Northbound Design Draft: "Technology that Changed the World . . . From Iowa” |
2011 |
Map |
case |
Poster: "The people behind computers: A brief history (2 copies and negative transparency) |
undated |
Map |
case |
Poster: John Vincent Atanasoff lecture for the Digital Equipment Corporation: "The ABC Machine: Atanasoff-Berry Computer" |
1980 |
21 |
3 |
Presidential Medal |
1990 |
4 |
8 |
Publicity clippings |
1960-1961 |
4 |
10 |
Publicity clippings |
1960-1961 |
55 |
12 |
Queries on JVA Computer History |
1968-1979 |
21 |
6 |
Reference chronology |
undated |
59 |
20 |
Rock Island history |
1989-1992, undated |
Map |
case |
Russian poster |
1983 |
12 |
4 |
Scanned images (JVA), biographical sketches, birthday correspondence (elementary school) |
1993 circa |
15 |
2 |
Scanned images of JVA (color) |
1993 |
66 |
|
Scrapbook: A Celebration of the Accomplishments of Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff, Iowa State University |
1988 |
65 |
|
Scrapbook: Condolence notes and letters at JVA's passing |
1995 |
67 |
|
Scrapbook: Condolence letters, obituaries, clippings at JVA's passing |
1995 |
38-39 |
|
See Series 5, Research and Publications; also see article, Annals of the History of Computing |
1980 circa-1983 |
Map |
case |
Sigma Tau Epsilon chapter initiated March 12, 1924 |
1924 |
58 |
16 |
Slater, Robert: Time-Life Interview |
1985 |
22 |
8 |
Smithsonian exhibit clippings and correspondence |
1988-1990 |
59 |
21 |
Smithsonian oral history transcript and correspondence, Merzbach, Tropp, Finn (1 of 2) |
1965-1974 |
59 |
22 |
Smithsonian oral history transcript and correspondence, Merzbach, Tropp, Finn (2 of 2) |
1965-1974 |
59 |
23 |
Summary history of Atanasoff-Berry Computer |
Undated |
56 |
7 |
Telenews |
1980 |
54 |
21 |
Time Magazine |
1986 |
Map |
case |
University of Florida B.S. in Electrical Engineering |
1925 |
59 |
24 |
University of Wisconsin, Madison: commencement programs (honorary degree) |
1987 |
58 |
14 |
University of Wyoming: correspondence |
1982-1984 |
Series 2 | Correspondence |
1929-1993, undated |
extent: | 56 folders |
|
description: | This series contains a wide variety of professional correspondence from colleagues, friends, and students from throughout Atanasoff's career. Correspondents include George Gross, Sam Legvold, Max Munk, Bob Vaile, Jay Woodrow, and Iowa State College (later University) departments and offices. Several folders of 1993 celebratory birthday cards received from Maryland elementary school children are also included in this series. |
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
2 |
5 |
ABC exhibit at the State Historical Society of Iowa |
1987 |
7 |
2 |
A-E |
1938-1942 |
34 |
6 |
Alan Martin |
1986 |
51 |
7 |
Allegretti, Dimitri |
1981-1984 |
63 | 23 | American Association of University Professors | 1937-1941 |
53 |
8 |
American Federation of Information Processing Societies |
1986 |
53 |
6 |
American Society of Mechanical Engineers |
1985-1988 |
12 |
8 |
Approximate solution research |
1941 |
51 |
12 |
Atchison: University of Maryland |
1978-1980 |
51 |
11 |
Bell, Gwen: Director of Computer Museum, |
1980-1982 |
53 |
7 |
Bennet, Ralph |
1985-1990 |
52 |
6 |
Berg, Herman |
1984 |
14 |
18 |
Birthday cards and letters |
1993 |
15 |
3-15 |
Birthday cards and letters |
1993 |
14 |
17 |
Birthday cards and letters and 6 color still photographs of Atanasoff web site |
1993 |
14 |
13 |
Birthday letters |
1993 |
13 |
11 |
Birthday letters (elementary school) |
1993 |
5 |
3 |
Bob Vaile (Stanford University) |
1950-1960 |
54 |
4 |
Bonchev, Vikoley |
1990-1992 |
51 |
6 |
Bulgaria |
1981-1984 |
53 |
16 |
Burks, Alice |
1987-1990 |
52 |
1 |
Burks, Arthur |
1981 |
53 |
5 |
Burroughs Corporation: Research Symposium |
1985-1986 |
54 |
9 |
Caldwell, Wallace |
1991 |
54 |
12 |
Caldwell, Wallace: PBS correspondence |
1992 |
51 |
14 |
Ceruzzi, Paul |
1980 |
11 |
16 |
Charles P. Wells |
1934-1938 |
52 |
7 |
Clem, John |
1984-1985 |
3 |
13 |
Computer Medicine |
1974-1976 |
58 |
2 |
Correspondence |
1963-1990 |
51 |
1 |
Correspondence |
1976-1994 |
52 |
13 |
Correspondence |
1984-1992 |
51 |
8 |
Correspondence |
1983-1984 |
5 |
2 |
Dr. Roy and Betty Weller |
1950-1951 |
8 |
5 |
Earl C. McCracken |
1934-1941 |
8 |
4 |
Erwin Krammer |
1940-1942 |
51 |
2 |
Evans, Chris |
1977 |
54 |
7 |
Fan Mail |
1990-1995 |
51 |
3 |
Fan Mail |
1981-1982 |
59 |
25 |
Fan Mail |
1983-1986 |
12 |
5 |
F-J |
1938-1942 |
53 |
11 |
Florida State University |
1987 |
52 |
3 |
Fusaro, Ben: Salisbury College, Maryland |
1984 |
7 |
13 |
George Gross |
1937-1942 |
12 |
17 |
George L. Clark and S.T. Gross |
1940-1941 |
2 |
4 |
Heat energy from the ocean |
1977 |
52 |
4 |
Howerton, Hugh |
1984 |
54 |
5 |
Inventor's Hall of Fame |
1990-1993 |
51 |
16 |
Iowa State University |
1963-1981 |
51 |
13 |
Iowa State University |
1977-1984 |
53 |
19 |
Iowa State University |
1987-1992 |
53 |
21 |
Iowa State University: Computer Science Department |
1984-1990 |
14 |
5 |
ISC |
1942-1946 |
60 |
1 |
ISC: Physics |
1945-1948 |
41 |
27 |
ISU |
1974-1981 |
41 |
26 |
ISU |
1967-1973 |
41 |
24 |
ISU |
1963-1966 |
41 |
25 |
ISU |
1967-1968 |
8 |
10 |
ISU Dept. of Math letter and ISU Dept. of Physics newsletter |
1946-1947 |
11 |
7 |
ISU Dept. of Physics newsletter |
1947 |
11 |
9 |
J.R. Stehn |
1941 |
52 |
5 |
Japanese Brain |
1984 |
11 |
10 |
Jay Woodrow |
1941-1942 |
41 |
23 |
John Mauchly (photocopies) |
1941 |
8 |
7 |
John Robert Sites |
1941 |
54 |
13 |
John's Death |
1995 |
51 |
9-10 |
Johnson, Cecil A. |
1983-1985 |
52 |
9 |
Johnson, Cecil A.: after Omaha |
1984-1987 |
52 |
11 |
Judge Earl R. Larson: United States District Court |
1984-1990 |
54 |
11 |
Kirkpatrick, Allen |
1992 |
9 |
4 |
K-O |
1939-1942 |
53 |
15 |
Larson, Clarence |
1985 |
54 |
10 |
Lee, John: Annals History of Computers |
1992 |
52 |
12 |
Lendt, David |
1984-1990 |
52 |
10 |
Lendt, David |
1984-1987 |
59 |
26 |
Letters to editors |
1983-1984 |
53 |
18 |
Mackintosh, Allen |
1987-1992 |
11 |
18 |
Margaret Woodrow |
1940-1941 |
3 |
14 |
Max Munk |
1974-1985 |
36 |
15 |
Max Munk (1 item) |
1985 |
53 |
9 |
Mayfield, Betsy |
1986-1987 |
54 |
3 |
McIntire, Glenda |
1990-1991 |
6 |
4 |
Miscellaneous |
1949-1951 |
59 |
27 |
Miscellaneous |
1943-1949 |
53 |
3 |
Mulberry High School |
1985-1986 |
14 |
6 |
National Defense Committee and Council |
1942-1943 |
14 |
16 |
National Polytechnic Museum (Bulgaria) correspondence and 10 black and white still photographs of Atanasoff exhibit |
1993 |
Map case |
|
National Polytechnic Museum (Bulgaria): Posters |
1993 |
21 |
2 |
Notes for ISU exhibit and clippings |
1990 |
53 |
10 |
Olson, Walter |
1986-1992 |
53 |
14 |
Penkov, Boyan |
1987-1990 |
6 |
6 |
Personal and professional |
1955-1960 |
6 |
7 |
Personal and professional |
1952-1955 |
7 |
5 |
Personal and professional |
1960-1961 |
7 |
9 |
Personal and professional (including correspondence with the Iowa State Highway Comm.) |
1936-1937 |
8 |
6 |
Philip Hart |
1937-1942 |
34 |
9 |
Philip J. Hart, also contains reprint articles |
1983-1985 |
54 |
8 |
Physics Today |
1991 |
54 |
6 |
Press Packet |
1990-1993 |
16 |
1 |
Prof. Fox and Osterberg and reprint articles |
1929-1936 |
14 |
1 |
P-T |
1932-1942 |
53 |
1 |
Pylant, Jeff |
1985 |
51 |
5 |
Radio Shack |
1981-1982 |
8 |
2 |
Ray Cook |
1936-1940 |
5 |
20 |
Reference and professional |
1950-1951 |
52 |
8 |
Regis, Edward |
1984-1985 |
12 |
2 |
Relating to crystal research |
1936-1942 |
64 |
1 |
Research Corporation correspondence (photographs) |
1963 |
11 |
17 |
Robert G. Wilson |
1936-1941 |
53 |
20 |
Rochester, Jack |
1990 |
42 |
9 |
Rockefeller Foundation (discussion of locating records of grant denial in the 1940s) |
1990 |
8 |
3 |
Sam Legvold |
1939-1942 |
3 |
2 |
Scanivalve Company |
1973 |
53 |
4 |
Sendov, Blagovest |
1985-1986 |
54 |
2 |
Stancoiff, John |
1990-1991 |
3 |
15 |
U.S. Office of Management and Budget |
1976 |
52 |
2 |
University of Florida |
1983-1985 |
53 |
13 |
University of Florida: Building dedication |
1987 |
53 |
12 |
University of Wisconsin |
1987 |
54 |
1 |
University Publications |
1989 |
13 |
1 |
U-Z |
1937-1941 |
53 |
2 |
Varna Conference |
1985 |
53 |
17 |
Veishea |
1988 |
51 |
4 |
Wells, Charles |
1981-1982 |
51 |
15 |
Zientara: Computer World |
1981 |
Series 3 | Business records |
1956-1961 |
extent: | 15 folders |
|
description: | This series contains records relating to the operation of Aerojet, a corporation which Atanasoff was involved with in the late 1950s. Included are memorandum and correspondence concerning company proposals. The proposals include the development of automation systems, bacteriological weapons, and a satellite program. |
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
4 |
7 |
Aerojet analysis of satellite program |
1961 |
4 |
6 |
Aerojet analysis: automation as commercial product |
1959 |
6 |
10 |
Aerojet Automated Mail Sorting data |
1960 |
7 |
6 |
Aerojet contract |
1961 |
7 |
7 |
Aerojet correspondence (General Tire and Rubber) |
1958 |
6 |
12 |
Aerojet correspondence and memorandum |
1950-1961 |
7 |
8 |
Aerojet financial records |
1956 |
60 | 2 | Aerojet general release agreement | 1959 |
6 |
11 |
Aerojet proposal |
1960 |
4 |
3 |
Aerojet proposal for automatic mail system |
1960 |
4 |
5 |
Aerojet proposal for developing bacteriological weapons |
1960 |
4 |
1 |
Aerojet prospectus |
1959 |
4 |
2 |
Aerojet prospectus |
1959 |
7 |
4 |
Aerojet records |
1956 |
4 |
4 |
Aerojet still photographs (3) |
undated |
6 |
9 |
Aerojet Turnkey Post Office Proposal |
1959 |
Series 4 | Invention records |
1930-1987, undated |
extent: | 52 folders |
|
description: | This series contains records relating to Atanasoff's inventions, beginning prior to World War II and extending through to the 1970s. The files contain notes, information, and drawings relating to the following inventions: electrical clock (1936); cathode-ray tube and low-frequency detection device (World War II-era); electronic chassis (late 1940s); and several inventions relating to his home in Maryland, including the house itself, a hog house, a dryer for vegetables, and a seeder. |
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
7 |
2 |
2-dimensional integraph |
1937 |
60 |
3 |
Accelerometer |
1950 |
6 |
8 |
Article/proposal: "The Mission of Pisgah V" |
1965 |
60 |
4 |
Atanasoff-Berry Computer diagrams and photograph |
1942-1987 |
64 |
2 |
Atanasoff-Berry Computer: Captions to Figures (photograph) |
undated |
64 |
3 |
Atanasoff-Berry Computer: Clifford Berry at the ABC (11 b/w photographs) |
1940 circa |
64 |
4 |
Atanasoff-Berry Computer: Parts (photographs) |
1940 circa |
64 | 5 | Atanasoff-Berry Computer: Parts (photographs) | 1942-1990 |
64 | 6 | Atanasoff-Berry Computer: Illustrations (photographs) | undated |
5 |
6 |
Batteries |
1950 |
Map |
case |
Boat motor invention illustration |
undated |
3 |
7 |
Caloric |
1980 circa |
3 |
8 |
Camera |
1956, undated |
36 |
4 |
Correspondence and notes |
1965-1969 |
12 |
10 |
Crystal data |
1930s circa |
11 |
12 |
Crystal vibration theory |
undated |
Map |
case |
Drawings of boats |
undated |
Map |
case |
Drawings of computer parts (10 drawings; 3 positives and 7 negatives) |
1931-1940, undated |
3 |
12 |
Dryer for vegetables |
1981 |
5 |
9 |
Electric clock |
1936, undated |
33 |
9 |
Electronic chassis |
1948 |
12 |
9 |
Extension of Fredholm Method to Linear Operational Equations |
undated |
3 |
9 |
Gate alarm |
undated |
3 |
5 |
Generalized Taylor Expansion |
1939-1979 |
5 |
4 |
Hay drying |
1950, undated |
3 |
10 |
Hog house |
1980 |
8 |
1 |
House sketches |
undated |
3 |
11 |
Induction pendulum |
1930 circa |
12 |
12 |
Key to crystal groups |
undated |
Map |
case |
Laplacian Integraph, Project 210, Iowa Engineering Experiment Station: Drawing |
1937 |
7 |
3 |
Magnetic amplifiers |
1948-1953 |
5 |
10 |
Naval Ordnance Lab (NOL): seismograph plates and blueprints |
1945 circa |
Map |
case |
Naval Ordnance Lab (NOL): seismograph plates and blueprints |
1945 circa |
12 |
7 |
NOL barograph Type 1A |
1949 |
33 |
10 |
NOL: Cathode Ray Tube Sound Recorder andNOL: Low Frequency Vibration Detection Device |
1952-1953 |
5 |
15 |
NOL: Memorandum of results (2) |
1949 |
5 |
16 |
NOL: Microbaragraph notes and NOL: Shaking table design |
1948, undated |
5 |
11 |
NOL: printed article, "Constant Frequency Oscillators" |
1931 |
8 |
9 |
NOL: Project steering committee minutes |
1946-1947 |
9 |
9 |
NOL: project - trip to Germany |
1947 |
5 |
14 |
NOL: Seismographic/low frequency records |
1947 |
10 |
10 |
NOL: Storage of Pulses on Cathode-Ray Tubes reports and memoranda |
1947 |
5 |
12 |
NOL: technical report, " An Electrostatic Method...," (Kolsrud) |
1951 |
5 |
13 |
NOL: thesis, earlier version of above technical report |
undated |
10 |
7 |
NOL: Glossary of Electroacoustic Terms |
1948 |
12 |
4 |
Notes on variables |
undated |
11 |
16 |
Nylon cutter |
1945 |
46 |
4 |
Patent correspondence (some photocopies) |
1940-1979 |
35 |
7 |
Photography data |
1965-1966 |
35 |
8 |
Photography data |
1965-1966 |
35 |
9 |
Photometer for enlarging |
1969 |
36 |
6 |
Potentrometers |
1966 |
36 |
18 |
Printed materials relating to solar heat/energy |
1972-1977 |
11 |
14 |
Properties of orthogonal functions |
undated |
36 |
5 |
Proton magnetometer |
1966 |
35 |
10 |
Radio receivers |
1964-1970 |
3 |
6 |
Seeder |
1980 |
35 |
6 |
Separator |
1963-1968 |
36 |
2 |
Slide rule for domestic use |
1965, undated |
6 |
1 |
Solar heating notes |
1951 |
8 |
14 |
Transformer and spring by dimensional analysis data |
undated |
11 |
13 |
Vector elasticity notes |
undated |
12 |
11 |
Vibration of crystal plates |
undated |
Series 5 | Research and Publications (including printed materials and JVA writings) |
1926-1986, undated |
extent: | 112 folders |
|
description: | This series contains Atanasoff's research notes and published materials relating to his career. There are reprint articles, notes for speeches, translations, ISU exam questions and coursework, quantum mechanics notes, portions of a book on underwater acoustics and sound, Naval Ordnance Laboratory project reports, and drafts of "The Advent of Electronic Digital Computing," published in the Annals of the History of Computing in 1983. |
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
38 |
2 |
"Advent of Electronic Digital Computing," Annals of the History of Computing |
1983 |
11 |
6 |
"Solution of Linear Systems of High Order" (Von Neumann) |
1946 |
8 |
15 |
"Theory of Physical Dimensions" (JVA) |
undated |
38 |
7 |
Annals article |
1983 circa |
38 |
8 |
Annals article |
1982 |
39 |
1 |
Annals article |
1980 circa |
39 |
2 |
Annals article |
1980 circa |
39 |
3 |
Annals article |
1980 circa |
39 |
5 |
Annals article |
1980 circa |
39 |
7 |
Annals article |
1980 circa |
39 |
8 |
Annals article |
1980 circa |
39 |
9 |
Annals article |
1980 circa |
38 |
4 |
Annals article, revised |
1983 |
39 |
6 |
Annals notes and article |
1983 circa |
36 |
1 |
Anodizing notes |
undated |
14 |
7 |
Anti-aircraft article and notes |
1943 circa |
7 |
10 |
Article and seminar reports |
1929, undated |
60 |
5 |
Article: "A Determination of the Elastic Constants of Beta-Quartz |
1942 |
8 |
11 |
Article: "Piezo Electric Oscillations" |
1935 circa |
14 |
12 |
Article: Application of Punched Card Equipment to the Analysis of Complex Spectra |
1935 |
14 |
15 |
Bibliography on electronic computer |
1949 |
18 |
3 |
Bibliography, Computer Impacts |
1983 |
22 |
1 |
Blank graph sheets |
undated |
21 |
8 |
Cement mortar field notebook |
1969 |
24 |
10 |
Chapter III, Evolution of State of Gas (handwritten) |
undated |
24 |
11 |
Chapter III, Evolution of State of Gas (typescript) |
undated |
24 |
12 |
Chapter III, Evolution of State of Gas (typescript) |
undated |
18 |
5 |
Computer Impacts (communications equipment) |
1983 |
19 |
2 |
Computer Impacts (engine tests) |
1983 |
19 |
1 |
Computer Impacts (mapping) |
1983 |
10 |
5 |
Dynamics course (ISU) |
1935 circa |
12 |
13 |
Elastic constants of quartz notes |
1935 circa |
13 |
6 |
Electricity and magnetism |
undated |
13 |
7 |
Electricity and magnetism |
undated |
10 |
6 |
Electrodynamics course (ISU) |
1935 circa |
60 |
6 |
Electrodynamics notes |
undated |
14 |
2 |
Equations for unknowns |
undated |
5 |
1 |
Essay: fuse design (JVA) |
undated |
5 |
5 |
Essay: military economics (JVA) |
undated |
12 |
6 |
Essay: philosophical relationship between math and physics |
undated |
5 |
8 |
Essay-theory of army motorization (JVA) |
1943 circa |
21 |
7 |
Field book notes |
1968 |
60 |
7 |
Graduate Committee: Clifford Anderson |
1942 |
14 |
9 |
Ground state of lithium notes and references |
undated |
14 |
11 |
Initial phase of bacterial growth notes |
undated |
10 |
9 |
Kinetic theory course (ISU) |
1936 |
60 |
8 |
Kinetic Theory exam questions |
1936 |
60 |
9 |
Linear Partial & Algebraic Equations: draft and notes |
1936-1937, undated |
17 |
4 |
List of graduate students |
undated |
38 |
6 |
List of slides |
undated |
14 |
3 |
Magnetron notes |
undated |
13 |
8 |
Michigan Symposium (Bohr, Van Vleck, Fermi) |
1933 |
37 |
8 |
NOL: Correspondence and final report |
1949 |
37 |
2 |
NOL: Crossroads project |
1946 |
37 |
3 |
NOL: Crossroads project |
1946 |
37 |
6 |
NOL: Helgoland |
1946 |
37 |
7 |
NOL: Helgoland project notebook |
1946 |
37 |
5 |
NOL: memos and project descriptions |
1946 |
37 |
1 |
NOL: notebook, Helogland Project (Bikini) |
1946 |
12 |
3 |
Notes and report on Summerfeld/Richardson electron |
undated |
6 |
2 |
Notes for speeches (JVA) |
undated |
14 |
8 |
Notes, printed materials and correspondence—Geiger Counter |
1935-1936 |
9 |
10 |
Notes: Dynamics (JVA) |
1945 circa |
9 |
11 |
Notes: Dynamics of Rigid Bodies (JVA) |
1945 circa |
9 |
12 |
Notes: Theoretical physics, Hamilton's Principle (JVA) |
1947 circa |
40 |
|
Original galleys |
1983 |
11 |
11 |
Osborne Club speech |
undated |
12 |
15 |
Physical Review article |
1945 circa |
12 |
16 |
Physical Review crystal data |
undated |
9 |
6 |
Physical Review review |
1942 |
60 |
10 |
Physics exams |
1933-1937 |
36 |
3 |
Precise scales and balances |
1969-1971 |
39 |
4 |
Presentation |
1980 circa |
9 |
7 |
Presentations and correspondence (Related to ISU) |
1937-1942 |
9 |
13 |
Quantum Mechanics course |
1931 |
13 |
9 |
Quantum mechanics course |
undated |
13 |
10 |
Quantum mechanics course notes |
1929 |
8 |
16 |
Quantum Mechanics Exam Questions (ISU) |
1937-1942 |
13 |
2 |
Quantum mechanics syllabus |
1935 |
18 |
4 |
References: Computer Impacts (manufacturing) |
1983 |
9 |
1 |
Relativistic Quantum Mechanics (JVA) |
undated |
56 |
10-11 |
Reports & Publications |
1940-1985 |
3 |
1 |
Reprint articles (JVA) |
1940-1967 |
5 |
21 |
Reprint articles (JVA) |
1932-1942 |
34 |
7 |
Research notes and presentation on computing |
1985 |
14 |
10 |
Research projects index |
undated |
35 |
1 |
Speech |
1984 |
9 |
5 |
Speeches: quantum mechanics (JVA) |
1940 circa |
11 |
8 |
Subject notes |
1926 |
38 |
5 |
Summarizing of Concepts Brought to Computing |
undated |
36 |
8 |
Teachers in the U.S. clippings |
1974-1986 |
36 |
7 |
Teachers in the U.S. correspondence and articles |
1974-1986 |
9 |
6 |
The Physical Review review |
1942 |
10 |
2 |
Theoretical physics course (ISU) |
1935 |
10 |
1 |
Theoretical physics course (University of Md.) |
1946-1947 |
60 |
11 |
Theoretical physics exam questions |
1937-1946, undated |
10 |
3 |
Thermodynamics course (ISU) |
undated |
10 |
4 |
Thermodynamics course (ISU) |
undated |
7 |
12 |
Thesis and essays on linear differential equations |
1938, undated |
13 |
5 |
Translation (Vol. II), Krawtchouk |
undated |
11 |
15 |
Translation (Vol. II-Krawtchouk) |
undated |
8 |
12 |
Translation of: On the Solution of Linear Differential and Integral Equations by the Method of Moments (Krawtchouk) |
1935 circa-1936 |
10 |
8 |
Translation: Boltzman's H. Theorem |
undated |
8 |
13 |
Translations: Krawtchouk |
1935 circa-1936 |
11 |
4 |
Underwater Acoustics: chapter II |
1946 circa |
11 |
5 |
Underwater Acoustics: chapter IV |
1946 circa |
11 |
1 |
Underwater Acoustics: draft |
1946 circa |
11 |
3 |
Underwater Acoustics: drawings |
1946 circa |
11 |
2 |
Underwater Acoustics: notes |
1946 circa |
10 |
12 |
Underwater Sound: bibliographies and summaries |
1946 circa |
10 |
13 |
Underwater Sound: chapter I |
1946 circa |
10 |
14 |
Underwater Sound: chapter II |
1946 circa |
10 |
15 |
Underwater Sound: chapter III |
1946 circa |
10 |
16 |
Underwater Sound: chapter III |
1946 circa |
10 |
11 |
Underwater Sound: material and chapters |
undated |
9 |
2 |
Van Vlack lectures on Quantum Mechanics |
1929 |
9 |
3 |
Wentzel notes on Quantum Mechanics |
1929-1930 |
35 |
12 |
Wine information and recipes |
undated |
Series 6 | Legal records |
1925-1980, undated |
extent: | 155 folders and 3 records center cartons |
|
description: | This series contains depositions, transcripts of proceedings, testimony, correspondence, black and white photographs, published materials, original notes and drawings, and a finding of fact for the case of Honeywell, Inc. v Control Data, Inc. The materials all relate to the development of the ABC Computer, and depositions from Atanasoff, John Mauchly, and patent lawyer, Richard Trexler, and a full-length interview with Atanasoff are included. The correspondents include Cliff Berry, Sam Legvold, Richard Trexler, and Iowa State College (University).
Also included is a particular grouping of files introduced by Atanasoff to the U.S. District Court records during his deposition taken in Minneapolis, MN, November 11 through December 6, 1968. These were organized according to an alphanumeric system, a key to which is included in the first file. They are given a heading of "Atanasoff Litigation Docs" followed by their code designation and specific title. The date "(1968)" at the end of the title indicates the date at which the files were compiled and submitted to the court, even the items within the files contain materials from a range of dates, being primarily photocopies of original documentation. |
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
24 |
1 |
"Solutions of Systems of Linear Equations by the Use of Punched Cards" and blueprints (2) |
undated |
62 |
3 |
A21 Mauchly-Dodds visit |
1967-1968, undated |
61 |
11 |
ABM Timetable |
1967, undated |
47 |
2 |
Agreement and ISU/Research accounts (1941-1953) |
1968 circa |
47 |
1 |
Agreement and modification |
1968-1972 |
25 |
3 |
Article |
1940 circa |
23 |
15 |
Articles and notes |
undated |
44 |
3 |
Atanasoff deposition, volume 1 (11/11/68) |
1968 |
44 |
4 |
Atanasoff deposition, volume 2 (11/12/68) |
1968 |
44 |
5 |
Atanasoff deposition, volume 3 (11/13/68) |
1968 |
44 |
6 |
Atanasoff deposition, volume 4 (11/14/68) |
1968 |
45 |
1 |
Atanasoff deposition, volume 5 (11/15/68) |
1968 |
45 |
2 |
Atanasoff deposition, volume 6 (12/3/68) |
1968 |
45 |
3 |
Atanasoff deposition, volume 7 (12/4/68) |
1968 |
45 |
4 |
Atanasoff deposition, volume 8 (12/5/68) |
1968 |
45 |
5 |
Atanasoff deposition, volume 9 (12/6/68) |
1968 |
32 |
4 |
Atanasoff interview, 7/10/1968 |
1968 |
32 |
3 |
Atanasoff interview, 7/11/1968 |
1968 |
32 |
6 |
Atanasoff interview, 7/22/1968 |
1968 |
32 |
7 |
Atanasoff interview, 7/23/1968 |
1968 |
33 |
1 |
Atanasoff interview, 7/24/1968 |
1968 |
33 |
2 |
Atanasoff interview, 7/25/1968 |
1968 |
33 |
3 |
Atanasoff interview, 7/26/1968 |
1968 |
32 |
5 |
Atanasoff interview, 7/9/1968 |
1968 |
62 |
6 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (A1): File order (1968) |
1945-1967 circa |
62 |
7 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (A2): Physics Department Christmas letters (1968) |
1939-1941 |
62 |
8 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (A3): Publicity (1968) |
1941-1967, undated |
62 |
9 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B1): Anderson (1968) |
1941-1942, undated |
62 |
10 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B2): Bell Labs (1968) |
1941-1967 |
62 |
11 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B4): Buchanan (1968) |
1941-1951 |
62 |
12 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B6): Henry, ISU Engineering Extension (1968) |
1966 |
62 |
13 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B7): Legvold (1968) |
1942-1971 |
62 |
14 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B8): Marvin, G. E. (1968) |
1941, undated |
62 |
15 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B9): Mather (1968) |
1942 |
62 |
16 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B10): Mauchly (1968) |
1941 |
62 |
17 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B11): Milne (1968) |
1938-1940 |
62 |
18 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B12): Orr, ISCU Library; Yates, ISU Library (1968) |
1963-1972 |
62 |
19 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B13): Richards (1968) |
1963-1966 |
62 |
20 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B14): Thorne (1968) |
1937-1942, undated |
62 |
21 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B15): Vaile (1968) |
1939-1967 |
62 |
22 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (B16): Miscellaneous correspondence (1968) |
1936-1968 |
62 |
23 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (C1): Office search (1968) |
undated |
62 |
24 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (C2): Bradley (1968) |
1959-1964 |
62 |
25 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (C2): Bradley (1968) |
1967-1967 |
62 |
26 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (C3): Trexler (1968) |
1927-1968 |
62 |
27 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (D1): ISU, Research Corporation, Rockefeller Foundation, etc. (1968) |
1939-1942 |
63 |
1 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (D2): IBM (1968) |
1934-1973 |
63 |
2 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (D3): Remington Rand (1968) |
1940 |
63 |
3 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (D4): Support - Rockefeller, Scientific Aids, Other (1968) |
1940-1941 |
63 |
4 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (E1): Contracts Including JVA-CEB (1968) |
undated |
63 |
5 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (E2): JVA - ISU Research Foundation (1968) |
1927-1966 |
63 |
6 |
Atanasoff Litigation Docs (E3): ISU Research (1968) |
1940-1967 |
25 |
7 |
Bell Labs article |
1967 |
25 |
1 |
Black and white still photographs (11), Negatives (23) |
undated |
38 |
9 |
Black and white still photographs (21), some original and some copies, Drawings (3) (photocopies) |
1940 circa |
23 |
8 |
Black and white still photographs (42) of the ABC, JVA and Atanasoff family and correspondence |
1940-1985 circa |
26 |
7 |
Black and white still photographs of the ABC (5) |
1940 circa |
63 |
9 |
Bobroff |
1969 |
25 |
8 |
Buchanan notes (photocopies) |
1951 |
46 |
|
Case transcript, Volume II: Sperry Rand Corporation v Control Data Corporation |
1970 circa |
25 |
4 |
Christmas letters (original) |
1939-1941 |
27 |
5 |
Chronological event list |
1967 circa |
33 |
4 |
Chronological event lists |
1968 circa |
61 |
6 |
Clifford Berry’s death |
1963-1967, undated |
62 |
4 |
Computer schematics |
1968 |
27 |
1 |
Computing Machine article (photocopy) |
undated |
23 |
10 |
Computing machine notes (photocopy) |
undated |
62 |
2 |
Contracts |
1967-1968 |
61 |
8 |
Contacts regarding ABM |
1966-1968, undated |
40 |
|
Copies of documents used in case |
1970 circa |
40 |
|
Copies of documents used in case |
1970 circa |
33 |
8 |
Correspondence |
1972 |
61 |
4 |
Correspondence - Eckert, Mauchly & Atanasoff Meeting in Washington, D.C. (photocopies) |
1944 |
63 |
7 |
Correspondence - Litigation stipulations |
1968 |
24 |
9 |
Correspondence: miscellaneous (original) |
1940 |
24 |
7 |
Correspondence: resistors (original) |
1939-1940 |
24 |
8 |
Correspondence: vacuum tubes (original) |
1939-1941 |
28 |
4 |
Correspondence and agreement with ISURF |
1968-1972 |
24 |
6 |
Correspondence and information: condensors (original) |
1939-1940 |
25 |
23 |
Correspondence and material: Clifford Berry (originals and photocopies) |
1939-1974 |
47 |
3 |
Correspondence and memorandum, Original draft for patent |
1941-1974 |
28 |
5 |
Correspondence between law office and ISU |
1968-1971 |
27 |
7 |
Correspondence relating to ISU case participation |
1968-1971 |
27 |
8 |
Correspondence relating to ISU case participation |
1971 |
28 |
3 |
Correspondence relating to ISU case participation |
1970-1971 |
28 |
1 |
Correspondence relating to ISU case participation |
1971 |
28 |
2 |
Correspondence relating to ISU case participation |
1971 |
27 |
2 |
Correspondence relating to JVA deposition |
1969 |
63 |
11 |
Correspondence - Uta Merzbach |
1980 |
25 |
21 |
Correspondence with Charles Bradley (original) |
1964-1967 |
25 |
18 |
Correspondence with Charles Thorne (original) |
1937-1942 |
25 |
6 |
Correspondence with Clifford Anderson (original) |
1941 |
25 |
24 |
Correspondence with Clifford Berry (originals and photocopies) |
1939-1963 |
25 |
12 |
Correspondence with General Electric (original) |
1941 |
25 |
9 |
Correspondence with George Gross (original) |
1940 |
26 |
2 |
Correspondence with IBM (original) |
1934-1954 |
25 |
10 |
Correspondence with ISU concerning exhibit (original) |
1966 |
26 |
4 |
Correspondence with ISU/Research Council (original) |
1939-1942 |
25 |
26 |
Correspondence with ISURF |
1938-1966 |
25 |
14 |
Correspondence with John Mauchly (original) |
1941 |
26 |
6 |
Correspondence with Mathematics Tables Project, Project description for consideration (originals) |
1942 |
25 |
17 |
Correspondence with R.K. Richards (original) |
1963 |
26 |
3 |
Correspondence with Remington Rand (original) |
1940 |
25 |
22 |
Correspondence with Richard Trexler (original) |
1937-1942 |
25 |
13 |
Correspondence with Robert Mather (original) |
1942 |
25 |
16 |
Correspondence with Robert Orr/ISU Library (original) |
1963 |
25 |
19 |
Correspondence with Robert Vail (original) |
1939-1940 |
25 |
11 |
Correspondence with Sam Legvold (original) |
1942-1967 |
25 |
15 |
Correspondence with W.E. Milne (original) |
1938-1940 |
27 |
6 |
Correspondence, affidavits, briefs relating to ISU case participation, agreement with ISU |
1968 |
31 |
7 |
Correspondence, articles on the history of computing, JVA company |
1952-1970 circa |
47 |
6 |
Correspondence, case transcripts (Maryland case/ISURF) |
1968-1971 circa |
47 |
7 |
Correspondence, case transcripts (Maryland case/ISURF) |
1968-1971 circa |
48 |
1 |
Correspondence, case transcripts (Maryland case/ISURF) |
1968-1971 circa |
47 |
5 |
Correspondence, case transcripts (Maryland case/ISURF) Honeywell Inc. v Sperry Rand legal records |
1968-1971 circa |
23 |
7 |
Correspondence, condensors (photocopies) |
1939 |
23 |
11 |
Correspondence, ISU Research Foundation (photocopies) |
1939-1967 |
23 |
4 |
Correspondence, miscellaneous (photocopies) |
1940 |
25 |
20 |
Correspondence, miscellaneous (original) |
1939-1959 |
23 |
6 |
Correspondence, resistors (photocopies) |
1939-1941 |
23 |
5 |
Correspondence, vacuum tubes (photocopies) |
1939-1941 |
26 |
1 |
Correspondence-financial support for the ABC (original) |
1940 |
25 |
25 |
Data and drawings for computer model |
1968 |
32 |
2 |
Decision |
1973 |
63 |
8 |
Deposition of Albert S. Davis, Jr. |
1968 |
61 |
9 |
Deposition of Lura Atanasoff |
1967 |
28 |
6 |
Deposition of Richard Trexler |
1971 |
61 |
10 |
Deposition of Sam Legvold |
1967 |
19 |
5 |
Depositions (0/13/1967) |
1967 |
19 |
3 |
Depositions (10/11/1967) |
1967 |
19 |
6 |
Depositions (10/12/1971) |
1971 |
23 |
3 |
Description and correspondence relating to the ABC, (photocopy) |
1925-1942 circa |
42 |
1 |
Documents submitted by S.C. Yuter, attorney for Arthur Burks |
1970 circa |
24 |
5 |
Draft: computing machine (original) |
1940 circa |
24 |
4 |
Draft contract for ABC (original), correspondence (original), and articles |
1937-1940, undated |
27 |
4 |
Drawings and notes (photocopies) |
undated |
27 |
3 |
Drawings of the ABC (originals) |
undated |
61 |
5 |
Eckert, “A Survey of digital Computer Memory Systems” |
1953 |
61 |
7 |
ENIAC patent |
1964 |
23 |
2 |
Evidence from foundations |
undated |
23 |
12 |
Evidence of conception (photocopies) |
1939-1942 |
34 |
4 |
Exhibits related to deposition |
undated |
34 |
5 |
Exhibits related to deposition |
undated |
28 |
7 |
File copies |
1971 circa |
24 |
2 |
Fiscal statements (original) |
1940-1941 |
25 |
2 |
Guide to documents furnished by JVA |
1968 circa |
23 |
13 |
Handwritten notes (Cliff Berry) and typed notes |
undated |
40 |
|
Honeywell Inc. v Sperry Rand: Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order for Judgment (Volume) |
1973 |
63 |
10 |
Honeywell Inc. v. Sperry Rand: Findings of Fact, Section 3 Atanasoff |
1973 |
61 |
12 |
Information on Atanasoff, Berry, and ABC |
1967, undated |
61 |
13 |
Information on Atanasoff, Berry, and ABC |
1967, undated |
63 |
12 |
Information on Atanasoff, Berry, and ABC - drafts |
undated |
20 |
1 |
JVA Deposition (2/13/1968) |
1968 |
38 |
3 |
List and notes |
1970 circa |
48 |
|
Maryland/ISURF case transcript |
1968-1971 circa |
60 |
15 |
Material selected by Dodds |
1937-1968 |
22 |
5 |
Mauchly testimony (11/10/1971) |
1971 |
22 |
3 |
Mauchly testimony (11/8/1971) and JVA comments |
1971, undated |
22 |
4 |
Mauchly testimony (11/9/1971) |
1971 |
46 |
4 |
Memorandum and correspondence |
1971 |
62 |
1 |
Miscellaneous notes and worksheets, ABM |
1967, undated |
23 |
14 |
Original notes (photocopy) and graphs |
1939, undated |
61 |
3 |
Parmenter correspondence |
1941 |
60 |
12 |
Patents |
1915-1927 |
60 |
13 |
Patents |
1931-1953 |
60 |
14 |
Patents |
1931-1940 |
61 |
1 |
Patents |
1940-1954 |
24 |
3 |
Payroll vouchers (originals) |
1941 |
40 |
|
Plaintiff's Final Brief on the Merits (Volume) |
1973 circa |
25 |
5 |
Publicity (original) |
1941-1942 |
23 |
9 |
Punched card equipment (photocopy) |
undated |
26 |
5 |
Randall, Prof. Bran |
1968-1976 |
60 |
16 |
Research Corporation correspondence |
1940 |
61 |
2 |
Research Corporation files from Albert Davis |
1940-1967, undated |
26 |
5 |
Revised article |
undated |
33 |
5 |
Revisions to JVA deposition |
1968 circa |
33 |
6 |
Revisions to JVA deposition |
1968 circa |
47 |
4 |
Richard Trexler deposition |
1970 circa |
34 |
1 |
Selected portions of JVA deposition |
undated |
34 |
2 |
Selected portions of JVA deposition |
undated |
34 |
3 |
Selected portions of JVA deposition |
undated |
31 |
5 |
Selected testimony of JVA |
undated |
31 |
6 |
Selected testimony of JVA |
undated |
49 |
|
Sperry Rand v Control Data case transcript |
1970 circa |
32 |
1 |
Transcript notes, "Beginning of Electronic Digital Computing" (JVA) |
1971, 1982 circa |
19 |
4 |
Transcript of proceedings (11/11/1971) |
1971 |
43 |
1 |
Transcript of proceedings (6/15/71) |
1971 |
43 |
2 |
Transcript of proceedings (6/16/71) |
1971 |
43 |
3 |
Transcript of proceedings (6/17/71) |
1971 |
43 |
4 |
Transcript of proceedings (6/18/71) |
1971 |
43 |
5 |
Transcript of proceedings (6/21/71) |
1971 |
43 |
6 |
Transcript of proceedings (6/22/71) |
1971 |
43 |
7 |
Transcript of proceedings (6/22/71) |
1971 |
44 |
1 |
Transcript of proceedings (6/24/71) |
1971 |
44 |
2 |
Transcript of proceedings (6/25/71) |
1971 |
29 |
1 |
Trial transcript, volume I |
undated |
30 |
3 |
Trial transcript, volume I |
undated |
29 |
2 |
Trial transcript, volume II |
undated |
29 |
3 |
Trial transcript, volume II |
undated |
29 |
4 |
Trial transcript, volume III |
undated |
29 |
5 |
Trial transcript, volume III |
undated |
29 |
6 |
Trial transcript, volume III |
undated |
29 |
7 |
Trial transcript, volume IV |
undated |
31 |
3 |
Trial transcript, volume IX |
undated |
31 |
4 |
Trial transcript, volume IX |
undated |
30 |
1 |
Trial transcript, volume V |
undated |
30 |
2 |
Trial transcript, volume V |
undated |
30 |
4 |
Trial transcript, volume VI |
undated |
30 |
5 |
Trial transcript, volume VI |
undated |
30 |
6 |
Trial transcript, volume VII |
undated |
30 |
7 |
Trial transcript, volume VII |
undated |
31 |
1 |
Trial transcript, volume VIII |
undated |
31 |
2 |
Trial transcript, volume VIII |
undated |
23 |
1 |
Typed carbon of manual (photocopy) |
undated |
60 |
17 |
W. D. Anderson correspondence |
1940-1941 |
33 |
7 |
Work schedule |
1971 circa |
Series 7 | Language study |
1944-1987, undated |
extent: | 68 folders |
|
description: | This series contains published materials, notes, and correspondence, related to Atanasoff's experimentation and study of the creation of a new alphabet. Atanasoff firmly believed that a digital alphabet should be developed as the current alphabet was too difficult for children to learn. |
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
34 |
11 |
"Writing in English" (JVA-5 copies) |
undated |
2 |
3 |
"Writing" (presentation) |
undated |
2 |
17 |
"Writing" (various drafts) |
undated |
2 |
15 |
Alphabet |
1970 |
1 |
18 |
Alphabet correspondence |
1980 |
1 |
13 |
Alphabet design notes |
1965-1970 |
2 |
16 |
Alphabet notes |
1973-1975 |
2 |
18 |
Article |
1966 |
2 |
20 |
Articles and correspondence: I.J. Gelb |
1979-1980 |
63 |
13 |
"Binary Alphabet" Frontispiece |
1976 |
2 |
22 |
Biographical information: Sir James Pitman |
undated |
1 |
2 |
Brain studies |
undated |
36 |
9 |
Bulgarian alphabet |
1983 |
2 |
12 |
Center for Applied Linguistics |
1965-1969 |
1 |
5 |
China |
undated |
36 |
16 |
Clippings |
1977-1985 |
1 |
17 |
Correspondence |
1972-1974 |
2 |
13 |
Correspondence |
1972-1973 |
35 |
5 |
Correspondence |
1985 |
2 |
19 |
Correspondence: I.J. Gelb |
1972 |
36 |
10 |
Correspondence: Valerie Yule |
1984-1987 |
36 |
14 |
Correspondence and notes |
1984 |
2 |
9 |
Correspondence: Ben Wood |
1972-1975 |
2 |
10 |
Correspondence: Gerald Baker |
1973-1974 |
2 |
11 |
Correspondence: Marvin Linford |
1974 |
1 |
15 |
Cursive writing |
undated |
35 |
11 |
Data on probabilities |
1973 |
34 |
10 |
Deseret alphabet articles (photocopies) |
1953-1969, undated |
1 |
25 |
Digital alphabet article |
1975 circa |
3 |
3 |
Dvorak typewriter |
undated |
1 |
10 |
English |
undated |
1 |
4 |
Hawaiian language |
undated |
36 |
12 |
Information redundancy |
1972-1977, undated |
2 |
21 |
Initial Teaching Alphabet |
1963-1974 |
63 |
14 |
Iran |
1970-1976 |
1 |
6 |
Japan |
undated |
2 |
2 |
Japanese letters and correspondence (mention of 1973 judgment) |
1974-1980 |
2 |
23 |
Japanese scholar contact information |
undated |
1 |
7 |
Language symposium notes |
1974 |
1 |
23 |
Laubach |
undated |
1 |
9 |
Learning to read |
undated |
34 |
12 |
Lecture |
1984 |
1 |
14 |
Legibility and readability notes |
1970 |
2 |
1 |
Letters, data sheet |
undated |
5 |
7 |
Naval Ordnance Lab: notes on alphabet |
1944-1947 |
1 |
12 |
New Alphabet (article) |
undated |
35 |
3 |
Notes |
undated |
38 |
1 |
Notes and printed materials |
1970 circa |
21 |
11 |
Notes on writing |
undated |
2 |
6 |
Numeralphabet |
1964-1970 |
1 |
11 |
Phoneme considerations data |
1975 |
1 |
27 |
Presentation at ISU - Language study (continued) |
1983 |
1 |
24 |
Presentations |
undated |
35 |
2 |
Proposal for Optimum Alphabet |
1974 |
1 |
22 |
Proposals |
1974 |
35 |
4 |
Published materials and presentations |
1970 circa-1980 |
1 |
1 |
Sight reading of music |
undated |
2 |
8 |
Speech |
1977 |
1 |
8 |
Study of sound |
undated |
1 |
21 |
Theory of writing notes |
1980 |
1 |
16 |
Time comprehension calculations and notes |
1973 |
1 |
19 |
Tune, Editor of Spelling Progress correspondence |
1979-1980 |
1 |
20 |
Typewriter design notes and still photographs (8) |
1972-1980 |
2 |
7 |
U.S. Office of Education Study of Literacy |
1975 |
1 |
3 |
Various alphabets |
undated |
2 |
14 |
Vocabulary data |
1972 |
1 |
26 |
Writings |
1970-1975 |
36 |
11 |
Writings |
1970 circa-1980 |
36 |
13 |
Writings |
1976, undated |
Series 8 | Printed materials |
1927-2004 |
extent: | 43 folders |
|
description: | This series contains a varying amount of printed material, relating to Atanasoff's research interest. Included are reprint articles and theses of former students and other researchers, and articles and clippings relating to the history of computing. |
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
63 |
15 |
Annals of the History of Computing issue honoring Atanasoff and Eckert |
1995 |
63 |
16 |
Annals of the History of Computing |
1996-1998 |
63 |
17 |
Annals of the History of Computing |
2000-2004 |
63 |
18 |
Article on Atanasoff and the history of computing |
1999 |
4 |
11 |
Article on teacher certification (Stout) and speech on the Space Age (Hannum) |
1958, undated |
16 |
2 |
Articles |
1937-1941 |
42 |
2-5 |
Articles on the history of computing |
1974-1978 |
49 |
6 |
Articles on the history of computing, "Calvin Mooers, the NOL Computer Project, and JVA: An Intro" |
2001 |
63 |
19 |
Controversy regarding Mauchly-Eckert Statements (Metropolis)/Rome meeting |
1973-1981 |
63 |
20 |
Cook, Roy Herbert thesis |
1940 |
14 |
19 |
Cosmos Club bulletin |
1993 |
Map |
case |
Digital Equipment Corporation poster honoring J. Forrester |
undated |
49 |
3 |
International Symposium on Modular Computing |
2003 |
63 |
21 |
Kaplan, Bonnie thesis |
1972 |
14 |
20 |
Mt. Airy newspaper |
1993 |
15 |
1 |
Newspaper clippings |
1974-1993 |
41 |
28 |
"Operator's Manual for ENIAC Dynamic Display" (Arthur Burks) |
undated |
37 |
4 |
Pamphlets on seismology |
1946-1947 |
41 |
9 |
Patent: Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, (J.P. Eckert, et al) |
1947 |
22 |
9 |
Printed materials: ENIAC |
1949, 1982 |
6 |
3 |
Printed materials: Local Climatological Data |
1953 |
17 |
7 |
Report (JVA and students) |
1945 |
63 |
22 |
Reprint article (Clifford E. Berry): "Effects of Initial Energies on Mass Spectra" |
1950 |
18 |
1 |
Reprint articles |
1940-1941 |
18 |
2 |
Reprint articles |
1940-1941 |
17 |
9 |
Reprint articles (JVA students) |
1930-1937 |
17 |
10 |
Reprint articles (JVA students) |
1940-1949 |
16 |
3 |
Reprint articles (other authors) |
1930-1932 |
16 |
4 |
Reprint articles (other authors) |
1933-1934 |
16 |
5 |
Reprint articles (other authors) |
1935-1936 |
16 |
6 |
Reprint articles (other authors) |
1937-1938 |
17 |
1 |
Reprint articles (other authors) |
1938-1939 |
17 |
2 |
Reprint articles (other authors) |
1950-1952 |
41 |
15-20 |
Reprints (JVA) |
1930-1984 |
17 |
8 |
Reprints articles (JVA students) |
1927-1929 |
41 |
29 |
"Super Electronic Computing Machine" (Arthur Burks), "Electronic Computing Circuits of the ENIAC" |
1946, undated |
13 |
3 |
Texas Instruments calculator information |
1980 circa |
13 |
4 |
Texas Instruments calculator information |
1980 circa |
42 |
12 |
"The ENIAC: First General-Purpose Electronic Computer" (Arthur W. Burks and Alice R. Burks) |
1981 |
41 |
10 |
"Theory of Self-Reproducing Automata" (John von Neumann) |
1966 |
17 |
5 |
Theses (JVA students) |
1939-1941 |
17 |
6 |
Theses (JVA students) |
1935-1939 |
22 |
2 |
U.S. Dept. of Commerce circular on photographic lenses |
1953 |
42 |
1 |
"Who Invented the General-Purpose Electronic Computer" (Arthur Burks) and newspaper clippings on Sperry-Rand and Mauchly, (photocopies) |
1968-1974 |