Guide to the Paul Perkovic papers
Finding aid prepared by Sydney Gulbronson Olson
Computer History Museum
December 2017
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA, 94043
(650) 810-1010
research@computerhistory.org
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.
Collection surveyed by Sydney Gulbronson Olson, 2017.
The collection is open for research.
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.
[Identification of Item], [Date], Paul Perkovic papers, Lot X7907.2017, Box [#], Computer History Museum.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Paul Perkovic, 2012.
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