Guide to the Henry S. Tropp papers
Finding aid prepared by Sydney Gulbronson Olson
Computer History Museum
June 2017
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA, 94043
(650) 810-1010
research@computerhistory.org
Title: Henry S. Tropp papers
Identifier/Call Number: X7693.2016
Contributing Institution:
Computer History Museum
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
26.92 Linear feet,
18 record cartons, 1 newspaper box, 1 manuscript box, 5 cassette boxes, 1 oversize folder
Date (inclusive): 1950-2000
Abstract: The Henry S. Tropp papers consist of materials related to his professional work as both a professor of mathematics at Humboldt
State University and a history of computing scholar. The collection includes correspondence, memos, research, books, audio-visual
material, and photographs ranging in date from 1950 to 2000. Much of the collection was generated through Tropp's activity
in professional associations such as AFIPS and ACM working on publications and events about computer history. There are also
research files about notable figures and moments in the history of computing, some of which pertain to the Computer Oral History
collection at the Smithsonian Institution. Finally, the collection holds documents related to Tropp's work as a professor
of mathematics and his involvement in the field through professional associations and publications.
creator:
Tropp, Henry S., 1927-2007
Collection surveyed by Sydney Gulbronson Olson, 2017.
The collection is open for research. However, the collection may require review by CHM staff before viewing.
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], Henry S. Tropp papers, Lot X7693.2016, Box [#], Computer History Museum.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Humboldt State University, 2016.
Henry S. Tropp was a professor of mathematics at Humboldt State University and a well-known computer history scholar. He is
best known as one of the creators of the Computer Oral History Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
Tropp was born in Gary, Indiana on July 15, 1927. He graduated from Froebel High School in 1943 and then attended Purdue University,
graduating in 1949. Professor Tropp earned a PhD in mathematics at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada. After graduating,
he taught at the Montana School of Mines and at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California.
Tropp was regarded as an authority on the history of the development of the computer and compiled the oral history of the
computer for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. He was in great demand as a lecturer and authored many papers
for various scientific and mathematical journals. Tropp was involved in many professional associations and publications, such
as the AFIPS History of Computing Committee and the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. Upon his retirement he was a
Guest Lecturer at Cambridge College in Cambridge, England. At the time of his death on March 24, 2007, Tropp held the position
of emeritus Mathematics faculty member at Humboldt State University.
Scope and Content of the Collection
The Henry S. Tropp papers consist of materials stored in his office at Humboldt State University ranging in date from 1950
to 2000. The collection includes correspondence, research, and computer books, covering his professional work as both a history
of computing scholar and a professor of mathematics.
Much of the collection relates to the work he did with professional associations such as AFIPS and ACM pertaining to publications
and events about computer history. For example, the collection includes information about book reviews that he wrote for the
IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, preparations for conferences such as HOPL (History of Programming Languages) and
DPMA (Data Processing Management Association), and planning for events like Pioneer Day sponsored by the AFIPS History of
Computing Committee. This portion of the collection is primarily composed of correspondence and memos. The collection also
includes research for articles and events about important people, machines, and moments in computing history. Throughout the
Tropp papers, there is correspondence with notable figures in the computing and computer history industry, some of which pertains
to the Computer Oral History collection at the Smithsonian Institution. Finally, the collection holds information related
to Tropp's work as a professor of mathematics and his involvement in the field through professional associations and publications.
In addition to paper documents, the collection includes approximately 170 cassette tapes, five beta cam tapes, two VHS tapes,
ten reel to reel tapes, and two DVDs. Most of these are either recordings of events, lectures, panel discussions, or oral
history interviews. The collection also includes a small amount of photographic prints and slides.
Ephemera, including identification badges, were separated from the main collection. To view catalog records for separated
material search the CHM catalog at
http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/search/ .
Related Collections at Other Repositories
Computer Oral History Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History,
http://sova.si.edu/record/NMAH.AC.0196.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Computers--History
History of computing
Oral history