Guide to the Barbara L. Kevles Collection of Computer Technology M1588
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2007 ; published 2018
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Barbara L. Kevles collection of computer technology
creator:
Kevles, Barbara L.
Identifier/Call Number: M1588
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear Feet
(5 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1993-2006
Abstract: Collection of operating manuals, software, and related material, assembled by journalist Barbara Kevles.
Scope and Contents
Journalist, author, and archivist Barbara Kevles used the same personal computer from 1993 through 2006. During those fourteen
years, she added only a few essential programs such as financial and security software because of the restrictions placed
by the PC’s miniscule 170 megabyte hard drive. Out of necessity, she kept her operating system, monitor, and printer manuals
as well as allied materials to operate her computer and fix periodic malfunctions as the radically changing computer world
replaced her platform, programs and eliminated support services. She recorded her user problems with an IBM compatible computer
and peripheries in detail in 12 notebooks.
As a result, The Barbara L. Kevles Collection of Computer Technology is comprised of over a hundred published and unpublished
documents, software, and miscellaneous equipment that create a marker from which to measure the rapid evolution of home computer
technology starting in the 1990s through today.
Software and documentation has been placed into boxes without folders. Post-it Notes have been left intact. Photocopies and
author's notes have been re-housed in acid-free folders, maintaining original titles. For the most detailed listing, please
refer to the "The Catalogue of the Barbara L. Kevles Collection of Computer Technology" prepared by Kevles found in Box 1,
Folder 1.
The collection includes guides, manuals, installation software, historic Norton newsletters, hand-written notebooks, correspondence,
demonstration trial software-- all for precedent-setting operating systems, early program applications, analog monitors, seminal
printers, modems, motherboards, internet service providers, financial software, and antivirus programs.
Related Materials
Stanford Special Collections also holds the Barbara L. Kevles Collection on Gordon Parks (M1409):
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/5659444
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Software is available
for visual review only.
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Barbara L. Kevles, 2007. Accession 2007-229.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Barbara L. Kevles collection of computer technology (M1588). Dept. of Special Collections and University
Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Operating systems (Computers)
Computer industry -- United States -- History
Kevles, Barbara L.
box 1, folder 1
Catalogue of the Barbara L. Kevles Collection of Computer Technology of the 1990s
box 1, folder 2
The Dallas Morning News clippings
box 1, object 3
Microsoft Office Suite
Scope and Contents
Microsoft Office Standard. Upgrade WIN/OFF Version 4.2 021-051-425 Getting Started discs #1-25, 5 packets of 5 1.44 MB floppy
discs Windows Series Version 4.2 Set up instructions Except #25 - Powerpoint Viewer
box 1, object 4
Getting Started Manual (101 pages)
box 1, object 5
Microsoft Office Standard Supplemental Offers (2 pages)
box 1, object 6
Microsoft License Agreement
box 1, object 8
User's Guide Microsoft Powerpoint (302 pages)
box 1, object 9
Important Information about your Microsoft Mail Workstation License (3 pages)
box 1, object 10
User's Guide Microsoft Query (168 pages)
box 1, object 11
Visual Basic User's Guide Microsoft Excel (344 pages)
box 1, object 12
User's Guide Microsoft Excel (786 pages)
box 1, object 13
Cardboard strips Wordperfect 5.1 showing Control, Shift, Alt shortcuts for F Function keys (2)
box 1, object 14
Cardboard strips Microsoft Word 5.0 showing Control, Shift, Alt shortcuts for F Function keys (2)
box 1, object 15
Foldout quick reference card carbon copy: mail for MS-DOS (6 pages)
box 1, object 16
Lotus 1-2-3 1.0 Qwik Reference Guide
box 1, object 17
Microsoft Word 2.0 Qwik Reference Guides (2)
box 1, object 19
Wordperfect 5.1 Quick Reference Guides (2)
box 1, object 20
Excel 4.0 Qwick Reference Guides (2)
box 1, object 21
Microsoft Excel 5.0 Qwick Reference Guide
box 1, object 22
Microsoft Word 5.0 Reference Guide
box 1, object 23
Wordperfect 5.1 Reference Guide
box 1, object 24
Microsoft Excel 3.0 Reference Guide
box 1, object 25
Microsoft Word 2.0 Reference Guide
box 1, object 26
Discover the World Wide Web with your Sportster (206 pages)
box 1, object 27
Quick Start Here Installation and Troubleshooting Sportster Modem (59 pages)
box 1, object 28
Sportster Quicklink II Fax Software Installation Guide
box 1, object 29
Quicklink II Fax and Telecommunications Windows and DOS (164 pages)
box 1, object 30
Quicklink II Fax and Telecommunications disc 1.44 MB
box 2, object 1
Wordperfect 5.1 Made Easy by Mella Mincberg (1071 pages)
box 2, object 2
Mindspring Internet Connection Kit, version 3.08 trial CD.
box 2, object 3
America Online Installation disc
box 2, object 4
Norton Antivirus 3.0
Scope and Contents
in box: 1.44 MB floppy discs (3) version 3.0 (installation discs), 1.44 MB floppy discs, version 3.0 2/96 (3), 1.44 MB floppy
discs Virus Definitions, Summer, 1997 (2), 1.44 MB floppy discs Virus Definitions, Fall, 1997 (2), , User's Guide Symantec
Norton Antivirus 3.0
box 2, object 5
Hewlett Packard recycling information
box 2, object 6
CPA Vision (Compact Disc)
box 2, object 7
Compuserve Gold 250 hours (Compact Disc)
box 2, object 8
Symantec Norton Antivirus 4.0
box 2, object 9
1.44 MB virus definitions for Norton Antivirus, Winter, 1997 (3)
box 2, object 10
America Online 7.0 1025 hours free trial (Compact Disc)
box 2, object 11
American Online 7.0 1000 hours free trial (Compact Disc)
box 2, object 13
Norton Antivirus Emergency Boot disc
box 2, object 14
Symantec: Installing new virus definitions: guide (8 pages)
box 2, object 15
1.44 MB virus definitions Norton Antivirus, Spring, 1998 (4)
box 2, object 16
Symantec: Installing new virus definitions: guide (9 pages)
box 2, object 17
Symantec Ad for Earthlink
box 2, object 18
Symantec business reply by mail
box 3, object 1
Microsoft Works 2.0
Scope and Contents
1.44 MB discs for setup, help, clip art (5), 1.44 MB program discs (2), 5 1/4" program discs (4)
box 3, object 2
Getting Started Microsoft Works 46 pages
box 3, object 4
Prodigy 1 month free trial
box 3, object 5
UM 486V A10 User's Manual for motherboard
box 3, object 6
US 3486 User's Manual for motherboard
box 3, object 7
Truecolor Video Board Compudyne (manual)
box 3, object 8
MIO - 400KF Rev. F All-In-One Input/Output User's Manual
box 3, object 9
Compudyne KD - 1450T Color Monitor Operation and Installation Guide (14 pages)
box 3, object 10
Compudyne Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 5 1/4 "floppy discs, with License Agreement (2)
box 3, object 11
Video Drivers VC 500 Utility diskette Version 1.43, 1.44 MB (2)
box 3, object 12
Compudyne True Color Utility/Driver (5 1/4" floppy disc)
box 3, object 13
Compudyne True Color Windows 3.0/3.1 (5 1/4" disc)
box 3, object 14
America Online Version 2.5 10 hours free (trial 1.44 MB disc)
box 3, object 15
Compudyne Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 concise edition (170 pages)
box 3, object 16
Juno: free internet trial (email service, 1.44 MB disc)
box 3, object 17
Ad: Imation Super (120 MB disc)
box 3, object 18
Quicken 2001 deluxe (Compact Disc)
box 3, object 19
America Online 9.0 1045 hours free (trial Compact Disc)
box 3, object 20
America Online 9.0 1099 hours free (trial Compact Disc)
box 3, object 21
America Online 6.0 700 hours free (trial Compact Disc)
box 3, object 22
America Online 7.0 1000 hours free (trial Compact Disc; 2)
box 3, object 23
Verizon Online DLS demonstration discs (2)
box 3, object 24
American Online 6.0 700 hours free (trial Compact Disc; 7)
box 3, object 25
Microsoft Windows Operation System Version 3.1 1.44 MB installation discs.
Scope and Contents
Disc#7 labeled Windows Driver (7)
box 3, object 26
1.44 MB disc Copy of Artisoft (program to connect 2 computers) 6 executable program files
box 3, object 27
1.44 MB disc Copy of Prodigy 15 program files
box 3, object 28
1.44 MB disc Copy of Check It 15 program files
Scope and Contents
Copy of DA 5 7 program files
box 3, object 29
1.44 MB disc Copy of DA 5 6 program files
Scope and Contents
Copy of Mouse 15 program files, Copy of Norton 3 program files including one from 1/1/1980, Copy of Winpak 5 program files
box 3, object 30
1.44 MB disc from Computerprep with training for Microsoft Word for Windows Version 6.0 Module 1 Rev1.1
box 3, object 31
1.44 MB disc Microsoft Word Version 6.0 Lessons 22 items
box 4, folder 1
HP3P form, tests, fonts, cleaning paper
box 4, folder 2
Wordperfect 6 Windows (299 pages)
box 4, folder 3
Compudyne Microsoft Windows 3.1: concise edition (1997 pages)
box 4, folder 4
Computerprep, Inc.: instructions to merge documents, create/use tables (fax pp2-30) 10/2/95
box 4, folder 5
Norton form letters to customers signed Peter Norton (4)
Scope and Contents
Norton to customers reporting the number and increased frequency of new viruses discovered daily and the switch from a quarterly
to a monthly release of new antivirus definitions, 14" Ultra VGA Color Monitor User's Manual (18 pages, Xeroxed; Signed by
Korean Quality Control Manager), Letter from Intuit signed Intuit management: Scott Cook, et al., Virus, before and after
box 4, folder 6
Clippings re: Computers, Summer and Fall, 1996
box 4, folder 7
Word 6.0 for Windows The Visual Quick Reference
box 4, folder 8
Norton Antivirus for Windows 3.X/Dos User’s Guide (4)
box 4, folder 9
Handwritten notes by Kevles
Scope and Contents
"Norton Antivirus installation and scans of three 1.44 MB discs with negative results."
box 4, folder 10
Symantec AntiVirus News Update (3)
box 4, folder 11
Hewlett Packard LaserJet IIIP Printer User's Quick Reference Guide (8 pages)
box 4, folder 12
Hewlett Packard LaserJet IIIP Printer Getting Started Guide (32 pages, first edition)
box 4, folder 13
Hewlett Packard LaserJet IIIP Printer User’s Manual
box 4, folder 14
Hewlett Packard LaserJet II/IIID/IIIP Printer Software Application Notes (Chapters 1-5)
box 5, folder 1
Handwritten Notebooks by Kevles (11 pages)
Scope and Contents
topics include: program registration; addition of icon to toolbar; Norton reinstallation and virus scan; retrieval of lost
c drive financial data from a drive; printer noises; blurred print, repairs, and replacement; deletion of hidden, but unnecessary
files from c drive for net gain of nearly 9 million bites; information on printer, monitor, font drivers; directions to copy,
delete directories, files, program icons, discs; use of fax modem; installation of new motherboard; method to retrieve hidden
files in DOS; complete list of first computer equipment bought 1/13/93; various monitor problems and replacement; DOS code
for time; 1995 installation MS Office (76 MG), Quicken; listed size of each program on computer; power surge repercussion.
box 5, object 2
TurboTax Head Start version and Quicken 4
Scope and Contents
Original box for Quicken Version 4 and Turbo Tax head Start Version 94.0 with Quicken requirements of minimum computer speed,
version of Windows, memory capacity, hard drive space, and monitor level; Mail-in card for final version of Turbo Tax containing
IRS forms for filing; Ads for Turbo Tax (6 pages), for Quicken Online (4 pages), for Intuit checks, Quicken electronic bill
payment (10 pages), Quicken Visa card (4 pages), mailer for Quicken 4 Windows 5 1/4" discs; Turbo Tax for Windows Personal/1040
Head Start Tax Year 1994 Version 94.0 1.44 MB discs (4)
box 5, object 3
Xerox TabWorks Brochure (1.44 MB trial demonstration disc)
