The First Osborne Group (FOG) records contain software and documentation created primarily between 1981 and 1993. This material was created or authored by FOG members for other members using hardware compatible with CP/M and later MS and PC-DOS software. The majority of the collection consists of software written by FOG members to be shared through the library. Also collected are textual materials held by the library, some internal correspondence, and an incomplete collection of the FOG newsletters.

The First Osborne Group (FOG) was a users’ group and membership organization originally made up of users of the Osborne 1 portable computer. Founded in 1981 by patrons of the Digital Deli in Mountain View, California, the group’s mission and intended purpose was to share information about the workings and capabilities of the Osborne-1 with anyone who was interested in learning, whether or not they owned a computer. Initial meetings were held at the Dysan Auditorium in Santa Clara, California and attendees were given presentations of software recently written by FOG members for the Osborne-1 on a large screen projector. Membership had grown to nearly 300 by 1982, and in February of that year, FOG was offered a booth at the West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco. A significant increase in membership as a result of FOG’s presence at the WCCF led to the establishment of FOG chapters outside of the South Bay Area, and as many new members owned portable computers other than the Osborne 1 that ran on CP/M (ie Kayprows, Morrows, Commodores), the organization changed its name to the FOG International Computer Users Group. Membership numbers and the geographical reach of FOG increased further as military bases across the world began incorporating microprocessor technology.

26.57 Linear feet, 3 record cartons, 5 manuscript boxes, 2 periodical boxes, 18 software boxes

The Computer History Museum (CHM) can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claims of the copyright holder. Requests for copying and permission to publish, quote, or reproduce any portion of the Computer History Museum’s collection must be obtained jointly from both the copyright holder (if applicable) and the Computer History Museum as owner of the material.

The collection is open for research.