Description
The Alfred E. Brenner papers, ranging in date from 1962 to 2010, contain technical and business documents pertaining to high
performance computers collected during Brenner's career at institutions such as Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the
Consortium for Scientific Computing, and the Institute for Defense Analyses. The majority of the collection was published
between 1980 and 2000 and consists of product brochures, data sheets, and product summaries. Other materials in the collection
include press releases, annual reports, news clippings, scholarly articles, technical reports, catalogs, presentation materials,
correspondence, and manuals. In addition to information about high performance computers and manufacturers, there are several
subject files on Soviet computing during the 1970s and 1980s.
Background
Alfred E. Brenner is a physicist and specialist in high performance computing who worked at institutions such as Fermi National
Accelerator Laboratory, the Consortium for Scientific Computing, and the Institute for Defense Analyses over the course of
his career. Brenner earned a bachelor's degree in physics and a PhD in experimental high-energy physics, both from MIT. He
served on the physics faculty of Harvard University for eleven years, after which he became a Senior Scientist and Head of
the Computing Department at the Department of Energy's premier particle physics laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
(Fermilab) for fifteen years. He was the first president of the Consortium for Scientific Computing, the corporate parent
of the John von Neumann Center. Brenner joined the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) as the Director of Algorithms and
Applications Research at the Supercomputing Research Center, now the Center for Computing Sciences. He also served as both
a Project Leader and the Deputy Directory in the Information Technology and Systems Division at the IDA.
Extent
5.63 Linear feet,
4 record cartons, 1 legal manuscript box, 1 half manuscript box
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. Please note that the collection may require review by CHM staff before viewing.