Guide to the Seymour Rubinstein collection of MicroPro International Corporation records
Finding aid prepared by Adrienne Harling and Sara Chabino Lott
Processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from the Computer History Museum’s Software Industry
Special Interest Group.
Computer History Museum
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA, 94043
(650) 810-1010
research@computerhistory.org
October 2016
Title: Seymour Rubinstein collection of MicroPro International Corporation records
Identifier/Call Number: X4735.2008
Contributing Institution:
Computer History Museum
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.75 Linear feet,
3 record cartons
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1981-1986
Date (inclusive): 1978-1986
Abstract: The Seymour Rubinstein collection of MicroPro International Corporation records consists of records that Rubinstein retained
for his own use from his tenure at MicroPro International Corporation. Rubinstein was the founder and CEO of MicroPro, and
an influential innovator in the software industry. Rubinstein was the lead developer of MicroPro’s flagship product WordStar,
which was one of the first commercially successful software applications for the personal computer (then called a microcomputer).
This collection includes records about MicroPro’s financial, legal, and personnel history as well as the marketing, sales,
and development of MicroPro products, especially WordStar. It also includes a small amount of Rubinstein’s personal papers.
creator:
Rubinstein, Seymour
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
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.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], [Date], Seymour Rubinstein collection of MicroPro International Corporation records, Lot X4735.2008,
Box [#], Folder [#], Catalog [#], Computer History Museum.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Seymour Rubinstein, 2006.
Processing Information
Files were originally stored in groupings of standard file folders within hanging files. During processing, the creator’s
folder label on hanging folders, if any, was included as a prefix to the creator’s folder label on the standard folders. This
was done in an effort to preserve the creator’s original arrangement and context.
Biographical/Historical Note
Seymour I. Rubinstein, an influential innovator within the software industry, was born in 1934. He grew up in New York, received
a B.S. from City University of New York and an M.B.A. from the Baruch School of Business. Rubinstein ran his first program
on an IBM mainframe 1620 in 1963, which sparked his interest in a career in computing. In 1964, Rubinstein was hired at Sanders
Associates as their Manager of Programming Development for the Data Systems Division. At Sanders he developed a telecommunications
software interface for CRT terminals. He went on to work as a computer programming manager, and as a consultant to a variety
of firms. He designed several telecommunication software systems in the fields of banking, law firm management, and online
credit card authorization. He was also Director of Marketing for IMSAI Manufacturing Corporation, providing leadership on
management and product development strategies.
Rubinstein founded MicroPro International Corporation (MicroPro) in June, 1978. At MicroPro, Rubinstein served as President
and Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board, and later as Chairman Emeritus. MicroPro released word processing software
WordStar, one of the first commercially successful applications for the personal computer, in 1979. MicroPro had many software
products, but WordStar’s success was a primary driver of MicroPro’s $70 million valuation when the company went public in
1984.
Rubinstein led the development of WordStar, working with programmer Rob Barnaby whom he had met at IMSAI. In 1990, Rubinstein
was sued by former CEO of IMSAI, Bill Millard, who accused Rubinstein of stealing trade secrets to create WordStar. However,
Rubinstein was not found guilty.
Rubinstein claims responsibility for creating the end user software licensing agreement, a current industry standard, as well
as for innovating the practice of creating distribution agreements with foreign vendors. Both of these developments contributed
to the accelerated growth of the software industry.
Rubinstein continued to be active in the software industry until the mid 2000s. In 1987 he worked on developing a spreadsheet
called Surpass, which was later sold to Borland International and renamed Quattro Pro. In 1995, he founded a company called
Prompt Software, which specialized in internet and intranet research as well as document management tools. In 2005, Rubinstein
became the director for business development of Avatier Corporation. He also held directorships at large corporations including
IMSI, InterTrust Technologies, and Prompt Software.
Scope and Content of the Collection
The collection includes financial, personnel, and legal records pertaining to MicroPro, documentation of marketing and sales
of MicroPro products, and information about new product development. There is also a small amount of papers more specifically
pertaining to Seymour Rubinstein himself and not MicroPro as a company. This collection does not include content about Rubinstein’s
work with other companies, and contains limited information about MicroPro’s other products besides WordStar.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into 3 series: Series 1, Administrative records, 1978-1986 Series 2, Sales and product development,
1981-1986 Series 3, Personal papers, 1983-1986
Related Collections at CHM
PC Software Workshop: Word Processing, Lot X4311.2008, Catalog number 102658157.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
MicroPro International Corporation
Rubinstein, Seymour
Word processing -- Software
WordStar 2000
Administrative records, Series 1,
1978-1986
Series Scope and Content
This series contains records pertaining to financial, personnel, and legal matters having to do with MicroPro International
Corporation. Financial records include financial reports as well as in-house documents for financial planning and analysis.
Personnel records include employee directories, Rubinstein’s folders containing work related to specific MicroPro employees
and colleagues (titled by person), and a substantial amount of content related to a corporate reorganization process. Within
the corporate reorganization folders are planning documents related to reorganization as well as summarized comments from
exit interviews in which recently terminated employees expressed their views about MicroPro’s management. Also in this series
are legal records including documentation about a lawsuit in which MicroPro and Seymour Rubinstein were defendants. This series
is in its original order.
102762111
Accounting : FY 86 profit plan
1986-01-31; 1986-02-04
102762112
Accounting : financial memoranda and correspondence
1985-1986
102762113
Accounting : general
1984
102762114
Accounting : memoranda and correspondence
1984-1985
102762115
Accounting : presentation to F. Adler and B. Janeway
1985-06-10
102762116
Accounting : MPI financial reports
1985
102762117
Accounting : consolidated statements of income
1986
102762118
MPI annual reports
1984-1985
102762119
MPI controllers reports
1985-1986
102762120
MPI financial planning and analysis reports
1985-1986
102762121
Operating plan - financial plan - 2nd quarter forecast
1981-02-26
102762122
Untitled revenue spreadsheet by software product name
undated
102762123
Excess space (10th bldg. & 4th)
1985-03
102762124
Excess space (10th bldg. & 4th) architectural drawing and lease
1983-12
102762125
Corporate director's guidebook
1978-01
102762126
Personnel : resumes
1980s
102762127
Personnel : general
1982; 1983; 1985
102762128
Personnel : alphabetical employee information list and list by employee number
1982; 1985
102762129
Personnel : MicroPro pixie addresses
1986
102762130
Personnel : divisional employee information list
1982-05
102762131
Personnel : compensation committee
1984-1986
102762132
Personnel : compensation committee meeting
1986
102762133
Corporate reorganization : exit interview comments
1982
102762134
Corporate reorganization : MPI guiding principles
1982-08
102762135
Corporate reorganization : general
1982-1985
102762136
Corporate reorganization : renewal of Tamsys distribution agreement
1984-09
102762137
Corporate reorganization : MicroPro Ireland Ltd.
1984
102762138
Management termination agreements
1986
102762139
Reduction study
1984
102762140
Applicants for president and CEO
1983
102762141
Review with Chip
1981
102762143
Bruce Van Natta : review with Bruce
1981
102762144
Bruce Van Natta : SynchroSound case #14
1980
102762145
Bruce Van Natta : miscellaneous
1981
102762146
Don Fluken
1981
102762147
Bob Grayson
undated
102762148
Fred Schuchardt
1981-1982
102762149
Ric Giardina
1981
102762150
Stan Reynolds
undated
102762151
William Janeway
1982-1983
102762152
Adler & Company, Institutional Investor Conference, New York
1983-06
102762153
MicroPro International Corporation debenture purchase agreement
1981-03-11
102762154
MicroPro International Corporation debenture purchase agreement with associated attachments and
exhibits
1981-03-11
102762155
Equity offering documents
1982
102762156
MicroPro board of directors resolutions
1982-06
102762157
Adler purchase agreement documents
1982-1983
102762158
David Gold, Esq.
1985-03-05
102762159
Frederick P. Furth (Furth, Fahrner, Bluemle & Mason)
1985
102762160
Legal MPI : Heller Ehrman, et. al.
1982-1984
102762161
Legal MPI : Parziale vs. MicroPro et. al.
1978-1982
102762162
Woodard, Hall & Primm
1986-08-05
Sales and product development, Series 2,
1981-1986
Series Scope and Content
This series contains records related to employee travel to conferences, MicroPro product and sales-related literature, press
releases and press coverage, data about sales activities and customers, and new product development as well as already released
products. A considerable amount of documentation about WordStar can be found in this series including information about WordStar
sales, features, releases, and more. This series is in its original order.
102762163
National computer convention June 1982 ADTTTS NCC
1982
102762165
PC expo & Europe
1984
102762166
SICOB - Paris, France
1984
102762167
SICOB Paris, France ATTTTS/S
1982-08
102762168
West Coast Computer Faire
1984
102762169
West Coast Computer Faire
1982
102762170
COMDEX, Las Vegas
1982
102762171
COMDEX, Atlantic City ADTTTS/CO
1982
102762172
COMDEX, Las Vegas ADTTTS/CO
1981
102762173
Computer adventure ADTTTS/CA
1982
102762174
Computer faire, inc.
1985
102762175
Hanover faire ADTTTS
1982
102762176
IBM PC faire San Francisco ADTTTCO/IBM
1983
102762177
NCC Chicago
1985
102762178
The international software update II
1985
102762179
Product literature
1984
102762180
MicroPro press information
1983
102762181
MicroPro promotional packet for OEMs and value added distributors
1981
102762182
MicroPro news releases
1986
102762183
MicroPro Editorial Coverage
1986
102762185
User interface proposals
1985
102762186
Sales report actual vs. forecast
1985-03-11
102762187
Competitive information
1986-03
102762188
Sales & backlog analysis
1985-1986
102762189
Cancelled orders domestic & international
1982-1983
102762190
Software sales orders & booking status
1982-1983
102762191
Value added dealers plan
1985
102762192
Sales address list
1986-03-04
102762193
East coast customer visits
1985-02
102762194
Executive account visits
1984-10-16
102762195
OEM agreement
1985
102762196
WordStar 4.0
1984-1985
102762197
WordStar 4.0 recommendations
1985
102762198
Rob Barnaby
1984-06-11
102762199
MicroPro vs. Microprose
1986-08-07
102762200
Company memos - chronological
1983-1986
102762201
Unix - chronological
1986
102762202
Ventura 4
1985-1986
102762204
Project testing
1985
102762205
New product plan proposal
undated
102762206
Working papers
1984
102762207
Database info.
1984-12
102762208
Integrated products
1984
102762210
New product development
undated
102762211
MicroPro strategic planning
1986
102762212
Mark Meyer's proposal to develop applications using InfoStar
1983-07-14
102762213
Weekly reports WS2000
1985
102762215
WS 2000 awareness tracking study
1985
102762216
InfoCorp report - WS2000 Rel 2 vs competition
1986-01-14
102762217
Bound reports on WordStar 2000
1984-1985
102762218
Project planning overview - WS 2000
1985-03-05
102762219
WordStar 2000 product development
undated
102762220
R & D
1986-03-14
102762221
WS 2000 publicity
1985
102762222
WordStar 2000 Press Packet
1984
102762223
WS2000 roadshow
1984-10
102762224
WordStar 2000 press announcements
1984-1985
102762225
Press releases
1985-1986
102762226
WordStar 2000 general : memorandum
1985-1986
102762227
WordStar 2000 general : copy protection
1983-1986
102762228
WordStar 2000 general : correspondence
1985
102762229
WordStar 2000 general : printer info
1985
102762230
WordStar 2000 general : sales
1984-11
102762231
WordStar 2000 general : upgrades
1984-1985
102762232
WS2000 prelaunch : IVAN pre-launch PDNP/i
1983-1984
102762233
WS2000 prelaunch : WordStar 2000 publicity
1984-1985
Personal papers, Series 3,
1983-1986
Series Scope and Content
This series includes records pertaining more specifically to Seymour Rubinstein rather than MicroPro as a company. There is
some documentation related to conflicts between Rubinstein and venture capitalist and MicroPro shareholder Fred Adler. Public
addresses given by Rubinstein can be found in this series, as well as personal legal matters. In addition, this series contains
records of Rubinstein’s testimony for a court case in which he was a witness, and some material regarding his own lawsuit
in which he was sued for theft of trade secrets (but found not guilty). This series is in its original order.
102762234
Notes & memoranda
1985
102762235
Thoughts on withdrawl
undated
102762236
SIR proposed communications
undated
102762237
SIR chairman emeritus professional biography
undated
102762238
SIR speaking engagements
1983-1986
102762239
Itineraries - SIR
1985
102762240
Insurance forms - SIR
1986
102762241
Legal - personal : change of name
1983
102762242
Legal - personal : Harvey Goldfine
1985
102762243
Legal - personal : Seymour Rubinstein deposition : Killian, Van Natta vs. Millard, et. al
.
1986
102762244
Legal - personal : Bancroft, Avery, McAlister, Killian, et. al. vs. Millard et. al.
1983; 1985-1986
102762245
Legal - personal : SIR testimony - corrected pages, selected exhibits, AJK, BUN vs Millard et. al
.
1983; 1986
102762246
Legal - personal : Levi & Jones, Accountants, Inc.
1984-1985
102762247
Legal - personal : SIR
1984-1986
102762248
Photograph of unidentified woman
undated
