Description
The Fortran Standardization records are primarily made up of the documents used by groups creating and proposing standards
for the Fortran computer programming language as used in the United States (ANSI) and internationally (ISO). This collection
also includes Fortran publications such as a near-complete run of the newsletter Fortran Forum, and textbooks and other monographs
about Fortran. These records are from Loren P. Meissner, Jeanne Martin, and Van Snyder.
Background
Fortran Standardization: By the early 1960s, many computer vendors had implemented a Fortran (from FORmula TRANSlation) compiler
which included special features not found in the original IBM compiler. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) began
a project of standardizing many aspects of data processing, including standardizing programming languages, so a committee
was formed to develop a standard for Fortran. The first standard was adopted in 1966. The language continued to develop after
1966, along with general knowledge in the areas of programming, language design, and computer design. A new version-- Fortran
77-- was adopted in 1978 by ANSI. The International Standards Organization (ISO) began to mature in the computing language
area and subsequently adopted Fortran 77 as an international standard. The next revision, Fortran 90, was an ISO standard
first, and then adopted, word for word, as an ANSI standard. Fortran 95 is a minor revision to Fortran 90. Jeanne Martin was
Convenor of ISO WG5 from 1982 until 1994, and she performed a leading role in the inclusion of International concerns during
Fortran language development. Loren P. Meissner served for more than 20 years as a U.S. delegate to the international committee
for Fortran language standardization. Meissner produced Fortran community newsletters from 1975 to 2015. Van Snyder has served
as a delegate to and officer of the ANSI and ISO Fortran committees since 1997.
Extent
17.5 Linear feet
14 record cartons
Restrictions
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.
Availability
The collection is open for research.