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Guide to the Paul Perkovic papers
X7907.2017  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Processing Information
  • Access Restrictions
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Biographical/Historical Note
  • Scope and Content of the Collection

  • Title: Paul Perkovic papers
    Identifier/Call Number: X7907.2017
    Contributing Institution: Computer History Museum
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 4.5 Linear feet, 3 record cartons and 1 periodical box
    Date (inclusive): 1967-1988
    Abstract: The Paul Perkovic papers range in date from 1967 to 1988 and consist of technical reports, memos, notes, and published manuals. About a third of the collection consists of documentation related to the Harvard University Center for Research in Computing Technology. The papers also hold reports, specifications, and memos related to the Chicago Tribune publishing systems, including materials on newspaper layout systems as well as computer terminal management. The rest of the collection consists of published materials, internal memos, and handbooks from Software House and CompuServe Data Technologies, as well as a small amount of specifications and manuals published by Xerox, Scientific Data Systems, Computer Sciences Corporation, and Digital Equipment Corporation.

    Processing Information

    Collection surveyed by Sydney Gulbronson Olson, 2017.

    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], Paul Perkovic papers, Lot X7907.2017, Box [#], Computer History Museum.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Paul Perkovic, 2012.

    Biographical/Historical Note

    Paul Perkovic was a manager and analyst who worked at a number of Silicon Valley companies, including Software House, CompuServe, Informix Software, and Oracle.
    Perkovic, a native of Cincinnati, obtained a degree in applied mathematics from Harvard University in 1971. He worked in technical marketing at Software House and CompuServe in the mid to late 1980s. Perkovic then relocated to California, taking a job as a Standards Manager at Informix Software from 1989 to 1992. He also worked as a Senior Competitive Analyst at Oracle from 1995 to 1999.
    In addition to his work for software companies, Perkovic was active in local politics, serving on the Midcoast Community Council as well as the board of the Montara Water and Sanitary District. In 2012, Perkovic died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 63.

    Scope and Content of the Collection

    The Paul Perkovic papers range in date from 1967 to 1988 and consist of documentation related to his studies at Harvard University as well as his early career. The papers include technical reports, memos, notes, and published manuals. About a third of the collection is made up of materials from between 1968 and 1974, including technical reports published by the Harvard University Center for Research in Computing Technology as well as notes and documentation related to programs that Perkovic worked on at Harvard. Another third of the papers consists of documentation related to the Chicago Tribune publishing systems, including materials on newspaper and advertisement layout systems as well as computer terminal management. This portion of the papers also includes internal memos, notes, and reports about Chicago Tribune publishing and computer use. Most of the remainder of the papers pertains to Perkovic's work at Software House and CompuServe Data Technologies. Examples of materials include management and supervision handbooks, manuals for the CompuServe System 1032, and binders with status reports from 1983 to 1986 distributed by the Software House technical marketing group. Finally, the papers include a small amount of specifications and manuals from the early 1970s published by Xerox, Scientific Data Systems, Computer Sciences Corporation, and Digital Equipment Corporation.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Chicago tribune
    CompuServe Incorporated
    Harvard University. Center for Research in Computing Technology
    Software House