Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Guide to the Gwen Bell artifact and book collection
X6288.2012
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Gwen Bell artifact and book collection
Identifier/Call Number: X6288.2012
Contributing Institution:
Computer History Museum
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
499 items
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1800-1955
Date (inclusive): 1541-2000
Abstract: This rare and important collection comprises written works and physical objects relating to early calculating instruments
and methods. With material dated between 1541 and 2000, the collection offers researchers a unique window into the early origins
and development of history’s most significant calculating devices and methods.
creator:
Bell, C. Gordon
creator:
Bell, Gwen
The collection is open for research. However, due to the age and fragility of many of the items, if a digitized version is
available, researchers will be directed to the surrogate item.
The Computer History Museum (CHM) can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Copyright restrictions may apply and
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.
[Identification of Item], [Date], Gwen Bell artifact and book collection, Lot [#], Box [#], Folder [#], Catalog [#], Computer
History Museum.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gwen and Gordon Bell loans converted to gifts in 2012 and 2014.
Gwen Bell earned her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin in 1957 and a Master of City and Regional Planning from Harvard
University in 1959. She earned a PhD in geography from Clark University in 1967. Bell co-founded what is now known as The
Computer history Museum with her husband Gordon Bell and Ken Olson in 1975. Gwen Bell was the Museum’s first director and
was active with the Museum until 1998.
Gwen and Gordon Bell began proactively collecting pre-computing artifacts in 1975. Their first purchase was a 1903 six digit
Millionaire calculator. By the time the Digital Computer Museum opened in Marlboro, MA in 1979 they had approximately 80 books,
calculators, and navigational instruments. When The Computer Museum History Center (TCMHC) was established in Mountain View,
CA in 1996, the collection had grown to roughly 400 artifacts and books, which they had on permanent loan with TCMHC.
Scope and Content of the Collection
The collection documents the early origins and development of human measurement and computation through rare books and related
artifacts. Dated between 1541 and 2000, the collection contains over 200 books of algorithms and tables, and monographs on
measuring and computing devices, as well as nearly 300 machines and devices related to the books.
The collection is arranged into two series:
Series 1, Algorithms, tables, and history of calculation books, 1541-1995, bulk 1800-1955
Series 2, Pre-computing artifacts, circa 1600-2000, bulk 1850-1975
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Abacus
Calculators
Mathematics--Early works to 1800
Mathematics--History
Ready-reckoners
Slide-rule