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Chapin (Ned) Papers
SC1237
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Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Ned Chapin papers
Identifier/Call Number: SC1237
Physical Description:
15 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1960-2008
Physical Location: Special Collections and University
Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 48 hours in advance. For more
information on paging collections, see the department's website:
http://library.stanford.edu/spc.
Language of Material:
English .
The materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in
original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, 2015.
Dr. Ned Chapin passed away on December 27, 2014. He was born on the Olympic Peninsula and
grew up living in various locations in Washington, Oregon, and California. After graduating
from Eureka Senior High School in 1945, he attended Stanford University where he played
percussion in the Symphony Orchestra. He received an MBA from the University of Chicago in
1949. He served in the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers during the Korean War. Upon graduating
with a doctorate from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1959, he moved to Menlo Park,
California where he lived for the rest of his life. Although he worked at Stanford Research
Institute (now SRI International) for 10 years, for the bulk of his career he was an
independent consultant operating InfoSci Inc. At age 60, he took a job as Professor, and
later Professor Emeritus, of Information Systems in the California State University
system.
Dr. Ned Chapin was a leader in the field of Computer Science, particularly the discipline
of Software Maintenance, from its infancy. Over his 61-year career, he published more than
250 papers and conference proceedings and wrote 8 books including "An Introduction to
Automatic Computers" in 1955 (the second general purpose commercially published book on
computers) and "Computers: A Systems Approach" in 1971. He was the founding editor of the
"Journal of Software Maintenance and Evolution". He remained active in the field to the end
of his life. For example, he was a panelist at the International Conference on Software
Maintenance and Evolution in Victoria in October 2014.
He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Dr. June R. Chapin, and is survived by his two
daughters, Suzanne and Dr. Elaine Chapin, and one grandchild, Kiel Chapin-Riddle. His
hobbies included reading science fiction novels, listening to Jazz vocals, hunting for
mushrooms, and advocating a manned mission to Mars.
Dr. Ned Chapin was a founding member of the Computer History Museum.
[identification of item], Ned Chapin papers (SC1237). Dept. of Special Collections and
University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
This collection primarily consists of conference materials, manuscripts, minicartridges,
floppy disks, publications, and computer printouts relating to the courses and system
development primarily created by Chapin during his tenure at Stanford University.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must
be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, California 94305-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special
Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s) or assigns. See:
http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish.
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of
digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Computer science.
Computer science -- Study and teaching
APL (Computer program language)