Guide to the Henry S. Tropp papers

Finding aid prepared by Sydney Gulbronson Olson
Computer History Museum
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA, 94043
(650) 810-1010
research@computerhistory.org
June 2017


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

Processing Information

Collection surveyed by Sydney Gulbronson Olson, 2017.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research. However, the collection may require review by CHM staff before viewing.

Publication Rights

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.

Preferred Citation

[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.

Biographical/Historical Note

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.

Separated Material

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