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Guide to the Einar K. Anderson collection
X8462.2018
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Title: Einar K. Anderson collection
Identifier/Call Number: X8462.2018
Contributing Institution:
Computer History Museum
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
7.75 Linear feet,
4 record cartons, 1 periodical box, 1 newspaper box, and 2 manuscript boxes.
Date (inclusive): 1971-1995
Abstract: The Einar K. Anderson collection, which ranges in date from 1971 to 1995, contains material related to working with microcomputers,
with a quarter of the collection consisting of an Alpha Micro documentation library. About half of the collection is made
up of various published materials used primarily for reference, such as books about microcomputers and assorted computer operating
systems, manuals for software such as SuperCalc, DESQview, BioStat, Kermit, and General Ledger, and periodical compilations.
The final fourth of the collection is made up of mixed text, software, and audiovisual materials, including subject files
on tide prediction, technical reports, floppy disks, and VHS tapes.
Collection surveyed by Sydney Gulbronson Olson, 2018.
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], Einar K. Anderson collection, Lot X8462.2018, Box [#], Computer History Museum.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Faylla Chapman, 2018.
Einar K. Anderson was a biologist and environmental scientist who conducted field and lab research in California. He was born
May 8, 1937 and attended high school in Hanford, CA. After graduating from Pomona College in 1968 with a BS in Biology, Anderson
went to work for Wheeler J. North, a well-known marine biologist at Cal Tech. During this time, Anderson was located at Kerckhoff
Marine Laboratory in Corona del Mar, California, where he researched Macrocystis, a type of kelp. He then moved to Hopkins
Marine Station of Stanford University in Pacific Grove, where he was a researcher as well as chief dive officer. While at
Hopkins Marine Station, Anderson was an independent biological consultant for Wheeler J. North and worked with him on surveys
for Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) power plants and private biological studies.
In 1975 Anderson was hired as a consultant by PG&E to establish a thermal effects program to study the impact of the Diablo
Canyon Power Plant on Diablo Cove. He set up the field study for both intertidal and subtidal data collection, and he developed
the temperature monitors and solar monitors for both above and below water. Anderson continued in this position until 1986.
Additionally, he was responsible for preparing the Wheeler J. North Ecological Studies at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
(1969-1987) report to PG&E. Anderson continued to consult for PG&E and other companies until about 1995, when he fully retired.
Scope and Content of the Collection
The Einar K. Anderson collection, which ranges in date from 1971 to 1995, contains manuals, published material, software,
and media related to working with microcomputers such as the 1042 Alpha Micro. Anderson used computers for processing biological,
temperature, and solar data, most of which was collected during a study at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant area.
A quarter of the collection is made up of an Alpha Micro documentation library, which Anderson used along with his 1042 Alpha
Micro. About half of the collection is made up of various published materials used primarily for reference. Examples of materials
in this portion of the collection include reference books about microcomputers, AutoCAD, and assorted computer operating systems,
manuals for software such as SuperCalc, DESQview, BioStat, Kermit, and General Ledger, and periodical compilations, such as
Dr. Dobbs Reference Library, Best of Creative Computing, and Best of Byte Magazine. The final fourth of the collection is
made up of mixed materials, such as subject files on tide prediction, technical reports, software, and VHS tapes. A technical
report of particular note is one written by Anderson and several other authors reporting on their ecological studies at Diablo
Canyon Power Plant from 1969 to 1987. Additionally, this portion of the collection holds about 40 floppy disks, most of which
are published versions of software such as Microsoft Windows version 3.0, SuperCalc 5.0, DESQview, and BioStat version three.
About five floppy disks have handwritten labels and possibly contain data from Anderson's research. Also included in this
part of the collection are eleven VHS tapes ranging in date from 1984 to 1995, with a mix of published and handwritten labels.
Most of the tapes appear to be related software, with titles pertaining to Kermit, AM100T system, AMOS, and AutoLog.
Physical objects were separated from the main collection. To view catalog records for separated material, search the CHM catalog
at
http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/search/ .
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Alpha Microsystems.
Biological data
Microcomputers
Tide-predictors