Huskey (Harry D.) papers, 1937-2004, bulk Bulk, 1945-1955

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Summary

Title:

Harry D. Huskey papers

Dates:

1937-2004, bulk Bulk, 1945-1955

Creators:

Huskey, Harry D., 1916-

Abstract:

Harry D. Huskey was a mathematician who became a pioneer in the field of computer science. During his career, he worked on early and important computing systems such as the ENIAC, EDVAC, Pilot ACE, and SWAC. He also dedicated a significant amount of time to establishing and promoting computer education in both the United States and abroad. Ranging in date from 1937 to 2004, the Harry D. Huskey Papers document Huskey's work in computer science, with the bulk of the collection pertaining to the EDVAC and SWAC. The collection includes technical reports and papers, manuals, meeting minutes, product data sheets, newsletters, conference proceedings, correspondence, handwritten notes, a personal journal, an autobiography, and photographs.

Extent:

2.54 Linear feet, 4 manuscript boxes, 1 flat box

Language:

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], [Date], Harry D. Huskey papers, Lot X[#], Box [#], Folder [#], Catalog [#], Computer History Museum.

Note: For this collection the lot number citation will either be X3247.2006 or X3462.2006.

Background

Scope and content:

Ranging in date from 1937 to 2004, the Harry D. Huskey Papers document Huskey's work in computer science. The collection includes technical reports and papers, manuals, meeting minutes, product data sheets, newsletters, conference proceedings, correspondence, handwritten notes, a personal journal, an autobiography, and photographs.

The bulk of the collection is comprised of reports, manuals, and scholarly articles pertaining to Huskey's work on the EDVAC, Pilot ACE at the National Physical Laboratory, and SWAC between 1945 and 1955. Huskey's journal documents his daily work and the development of the National Bureau of Standards and SWAC between 1948 and 1952.

Of note are meeting minutes of the Applied Mathematics Executive Council (AMEC) from 1948 to 1952. Additionally, Huskey's 2004 autobiography Harry D. Huskey: His Story, which describes both his personal life and professional career, is included in the collection.

Photographs include portraits of Huskey throughout his career, images of SWAC components, promotional images of Huskey with SWAC, and an image of Huskey's Bendix G-15 computer at the Smithsonian.

Biographical / historical:

Harry Douglas Huskey was born on January 19, 1916 in Bryson City, North Carolina, and grew up in Idaho. He received a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of Idaho in 1937. Upon graduation, Huskey spent a year studying mathematics and working as a teaching assistant at Ohio University. In 1939, he accepted another teaching assistant position at Ohio State University. Huskey received his Master's and Doctorate in Mathematics from Ohio State University in 1943. From 1943 to 1946 he taught mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania while working part time on the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) and Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering.

In 1947, Huskey spent a year working at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, United Kingdom, where he worked alongside Alan Turning on the Pilot Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) and other projects.

In 1948, Huskey returned to the United States and began working in Los Angeles, CA, where he designed and managed the construction of the National Bureau of Standards Western Automatic Computer (SWAC). He worked at the National Bureau of Standards until 1954, when he joined the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley. While at Berkeley, he designed the G-15, which was manufactured and sold by the Bendix Aviation Corporation.

Huskey joined the faculty of the newly formed University of California, Santa Cruz in 1967. There, he dedicated a significant amount of time to bringing computer science and technology to universities in countries around the world. He also contributed to Ford Foundation and USAID-supported projects in India at I.I.T. Kanpur and Delhi University, as well as a UNESCO-funded project at Yangon University in Burma (Myanmar). Huskey retired in 1986, at age 70.

Acquisition information:

The Harry D. Huskey papers were donated by Dr. Huskey to the Computer History Museum in two donations. Lot number X3247.2006 was donated in August 2005 and contains photographs, manuals, technical reports, and Dr. Huskey’s autobiography. Lot number X3462.2006 was donated by Huskey in February 2006 and contains his personal journal dating from 1948 to 1952, as well as materials related to the National Bureau of Standards and the development of the Standards Western Automatic Computer.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into 2 series:

Series 1, Printed Materials, 1945-2004, bulk 1945-1955

Series 2, Photographs, 1937-2001, bulk 1949-1954

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: ACE (Automatic Computing Engine)
AMEC (Applied Mathematics Executive Council)
Bendix Corporation
EDVAC (Computer)
ENIAC (Computer)
National Bureau of Standards (U.S.)
National Physical Laboratory (Great Britain)
Swac computer

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Finding aid prepared by Sherwin Sabado and staff
Date Prepared:: 2006, revised 2011 and 2015
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2016-06-30T09:20-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:: The collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: 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.