Fortran Standardization records, 1957-2015, bulk Bulk, 1966-1999

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Summary

Title:

Fortran Standardization records

Dates:

1957-2015, bulk Bulk, 1966-1999

Creators:

Martin, Jeanne, Meissner, Loren P., and Snyder, W. Van

Abstract:

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.

Extent:

17.5 Linear feet 14 record cartons

Language:

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], [Date], Fortran Standardization records, Lots [#], Box [#], Folder [#], Catalog [#], Computer History Museum.

Note: For this collection, the lot number citation will either be X7859.2017, X7860.2017, or X7861.2017

Background

Scope and content:

The Fortran Standardization records consist of meeting documents, agendas and minutes. Three collections have been aggregated together as Martin, Meissner and Snyder gave their collected materials to CHM to document the ANSI/ ISO standardization process for Fortran. Some material had originally been collected by Frank Engel and John Reid.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:

Gifts of Loren Meissner, Jeanne Martin, and Van Snyder, 2016.

Processing information:

Collection processed by Pennington Ahlstrand, July 2020

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into three series: Series 1, Loren P. Meissner papers, 1961-2015 Series 2, Jeane Martin papers, 1957-2003 Series 3, Van Snyder papers, 1978-1991

This collection has been maintained in its original order. Unless otherwise noted, dates are inclusive.

Indexed terms

Subjects:: American National Standards Institute
FORTRAN (Computer program language)
International Organization for Standardization

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Finding aid prepared by Pennington Ahlstrand, July 2020 and Elena Colón-Marrero, August 2020
Sponsor:: Processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from the National Archives’ National Historical Publications Records Commission: Access to Historical Records grant.
Date Prepared:: August, 2020
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2020-08-31T13:57-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:: The collection is open for research.
Terms of access:: 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.