Paul R. Pierce collection of IBM documentation, 1956-1970

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Summary

Abstract:
The Paul R. Pierce collection of IBM documentation contains manuals, bulletins, diagrams, and parts catalogs ranging in date from 1956 to 1970. Paul Pierce, a computer collector, gathered this documentation to accompany the physical machines that he also collected. The materials are related to the IBM 7094, 7090, 709, and 650 systems and their peripherals. Additionally, there is one publication for the Bendix G15.
Extent:
9.6 Linear feet, 3 record cartons and 5 newspaper boxes
Language:
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], [Date], Paul R. Pierce collection of IBM documentation, Lot X7694.2015, Box [#], Computer History Museum.

Background

Scope and content:

The Paul R. Pierce collection of IBM documentation contains manuals, bulletins, diagrams, and parts catalogs ranging in date from 1956 to 1970. The materials are related to the IBM 7094, 7090, 709, and 650 systems and their peripherals. Additionally, there is one publication for the Bendix G15.

Below is a basic inventory of the collection.

Box 1:

  • 717 printer, 1959
  • 757 printer control unit, 1959
  • 9M71/76B, 1963 (2)
  • 9M81A, 1964
  • 7094 II documentation and diagnostic program releases, 1964 (4)
  • 7094 Data Processing System customer engineering instruction-reference manuals and supplements, 1962

Box 2:

  • 7302 Core Storage, 1961-1962 (2)
  • Diagnostic programs for 7090-7094 systems, 1960-1964
  • 7094 Arithmetic simulator program, 1964
  • 7094-related notes and correspondence, 1968-1970
  • Parts catalogs, 1960-1962 (2)
  • Bendix G15D Programmers Reference Book, 1959
  • Small amount of loose material related to the IBM 650 Program Library, 1956-1959

Box 3:

  • 7909 data channel manual and parts catalog, 1962-1963
  • 7090/7094 modification letters, 1965

Box 4:

  • IBM 2302 diagrams, ca. 1970 (2)

Box 5:

  • IBM 709 central processing unit system diagrams and pluggable unit diagrams, 1956-1959 (3)

Box 6:

  • IBM 709 central processing unit system diagrams and pluggable unit diagrams, 1956-1959 (3)

Box 7:

  • IBM 709 central processing unit system diagrams and pluggable unit diagrams, 1956-1959 (2)
  • 7302 A Magnetic Core Storage Unit Vol. 1, 1961-1962

Box 8:

  • 7302 A Magnetic Core Storage Unit Vol. 2, 1961-1962
  • 3 binders of IBM 7631 Data Processing System diagrams and card circuit diagrams, 1969 (3)

Biographical / historical:

Paul R. Pierce is a computer collector who lives in Portland, Oregon. He began his collection with the Packard Bell PB-250 while attending college in Wisconsin. Initially, Pierce thought that he would collect a few minicomputers for fun and to experiment with keeping them working. Over time, he grew concerned that few large machines were being saved by museums, so he began collecting machines like the IBM 1401. The goal of his collection was to preserve examples of major successful machines, as well as their complete documentation, software, and auxiliary equipment, in hopes that they could someday be restored. In 2014, Pierce donated an IBM 709, IBM 7094, IBM 650, and several other machines from his collection, as well as their accompanying documentation, to the Computer History Museum.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Paul Pierce, 2015.
Processing information:

Collection surveyed by Sydney Gulbronson Olson, 2018.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

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.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], [Date], Paul R. Pierce collection of IBM documentation, Lot X7694.2015, Box [#], Computer History Museum.

Location of this collection:
1401 Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA 94043, US
Contact:
(650) 810-1010
research@computerhistory.org
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