June 2011 - Members - lists.sigcis.org

Information & Culture
by Bill Aspray 13 Jun '11

13 Jun '11

Dear colleagues, I am writing to encourage you to submit high-quality articles to Information & Culture: A Journal of History, of which I am now the editor. The journal is in its 46th year and is currently published under the title Libraries & the Cultural Record. The journal currently publishes in the areas of the history of libraries, archives, museums, conservation, and information science. Under the new title, which goes into effect this winter, we will expand the scope of the journal to include any historical study about information broadly conceived (as well as all the areas in which it is already publishing). The intention is not to compete with IEEE Annals of the History of Computing; for example, articles that are primarily about computing technology are better sent there. One way of understanding the scope of the journal is to say it is about the history of any topic that would be researched or taught in one of the interdisciplinary information schools. Here, for example, is the list of research areas in my information school at the University of Texas at Austin: Digital Libraries Human-Computer Interaction & Information Architecture Organization and Retrieval of Knowledge and Information Preservation and Conservation of Physical and Digital Artifacts Development, Management, and Evaluation of Collections and Services Cultural Heritage Development and History and Management of the Cultural Record Information Policy, Ethics, and Advocacy User Behavior Health Informatics Information Work and Workers Social Informatics and Digital Media Appropriate topics that might interest you are *historical* topics related to cyberinfrastructure, information work and workers, the use of information (and information technology) in organizations, information as a concept, information (and IT and Internet and digital media) policy, and the social shaping and impact of information in societies. But thre are many additional relevant topics. The journal is available through JSTOR and Project MUSE, and it is indexed by a number of the leading indexers, including the Social Sciences Citation Index; so there is wide access by academics to papers published in the journal. Typical articles are 6,000 to 8,000 words but we can accommodate shorter and longer papers as well. I am looking for manuscripts now, to balance again the backlog of library history manuscripts in hand. People who can submit early in areas of information history other than library history will get expedited treatment for their manuscripts so that we can have a balance of topics appear in the journal in 2012. The journal has been a leading journal in library history for many years, and I expect this to remain a top-quality journal. I have recently broadened the editorial board to fit with the new scope. Some of you may know some of the new board members, somme of whom are Wolfgang Coy (Humboldt University, Berlin), Paul Edwards (University of Michigan), Tom Haigh (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Richard John (Columbia), Jennifer Light (Northwestern), Bonnie Mak (illinois), Tom Misa (Babbage Institute), and Fred Turner (Stanford). The full editorial board list can be found at http://sentra.ischool.utexas.edu/~lcr/about/editors.php . The web pages still reflect the journal in its current configuration. If you have any questions about whether manuscripts you are preparing might be suitable, please be in touch with me or with the managing editor, Heather Graham, who is copied on this message. I look forward to receiving and publishing your materials. Bring those manuscripts on! Bill Aspray

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Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Available : an IT History wall from Vienna, Austria
by Brian Randell 02 Jun '11

02 Jun '11

Hi James: An anecdote about the Eames book of the History Wall to amuse you. In about 1988 out of the blue I had an email from Professor I. Bernard Cohen, of Harvard, who had been IBM's History Consultant on the History Wall Project in the 70s. He said that the first (1973) edition of "A Computer Perspective" had been long out of print, a situation that couldn't be remedied because the photographic plates (of the book's lavishly-illustrated pages) could not be found. But now that Charles and Ray Eames had both passed away, the plates had been discovered among their effects, and a new edition was going to be produced. However it would have to keep exactly the same pagination, because it would be produced from the page plates, so he was going to rewrite his introduction (in the same number of pages) to bring it up to date. And he was inviting me to rewrite the four page epilogue, though this time covering computer developments from 1950-1990, rather than 1950-1970 (but still in four pages). He said he was asking me because he'd liked a paper he'd seen of mine on roughly this topic. I replied, saying I was flattered by the invitation, but that he must be mistaken, since I'd not written such a paper. (At this time my history writings all concerned the pre-1950 period.) He replied saying it must have been a lecture he'd heard me give - I assured him this couldn't be the case either. However, I became intrigued by the challenge, and produced an incredibly tightly written piece in five sections: The 1950s, The 1960s, The 1970s, The 1980s, and The Future, all within the four page limit. Some time later, when the new (1990) edition was in press, I had dinner with Bernard in Cambridge, MA. About halfway through the dinner he confessed that he'd just found the paper that he'd recalled reading, and which had prompted his invitation to me. But to his embarrassment he'd found that it was not by me but by Maurice Wilkes! A little while later I met Maurice and started telling him the tale. Before I got to the end he interrupted and said, rather pointedly: "Yes Brian, you've written a number of such papers haven't you". I replied "Maurice, you had better let me finish the story." He took it in (fairly) good part. Cheers Brian Randell PS I just checked and was delighted to find that the 1990 edition is still in print. On 2 Jun 2011, at 14:56, James Cortada wrote: > That idea is being discussed in Armonk right now > > Dr. Jim (James) W. Cortada > IBM Institute for Business Value > 2917 Irvington Way > Madison, WI 53713 USA > jwcorta(a)us.ibm.com > 608-270-4462 > > <graycol.gif>Brian Randell ---06/02/2011 08:50:37 AM---Hi Jim: Excellent! > > <ecblank.gif> > From: <ecblank.gif> > Brian Randell <Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk> > <ecblank.gif> > To: <ecblank.gif> > James Cortada/Madison/IBM@IBMUS > <ecblank.gif> > Cc: <ecblank.gif> > members(a)sigcis.org, members-bounces(a)sigcis.org, Petri Paju <petpaju(a)utu.fi>, softeu(a)sigcis.org > <ecblank.gif> > Date: <ecblank.gif> > 06/02/11 08:50 AM > <ecblank.gif> > Subject: <ecblank.gif> > Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Available : an IT History wall from Vienna, Austria > > > > Hi Jim: > > Excellent! > > It would be nice if it were still readily available to view, even if just as an explorable virtual museum exhibit (despite the merits of the Eames book). > > Cheers > > Brian Randell > > On 2 Jun 2011, at 13:54, James Cortada wrote: > > > Still exists and the IBM Archives has it. > > > > Dr. Jim (James) W. Cortada > > IBM Institute for Business Value > > 2917 Irvington Way > > Madison, WI 53713 USA > > jwcorta(a)us.ibm.com > > 608-270-4462 > > > > <graycol.gif>Brian Randell ---06/02/2011 07:29:36 AM---Hi: Petri's message prompts the question as to whether the original superb IBM History Wall (that I > > > > <ecblank.gif> > > From: <ecblank.gif> > > Brian Randell <Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk> > > <ecblank.gif> > > To: <ecblank.gif> > > Petri Paju <petpaju(a)utu.fi> > > <ecblank.gif> > > Cc: <ecblank.gif> > > softeu(a)sigcis.org, members(a)sigcis.org > > <ecblank.gif> > > Date: <ecblank.gif> > > 06/02/11 07:29 AM > > <ecblank.gif> > > Subject: <ecblank.gif> > > Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Available : an IT History wall from Vienna, Austria > > <ecblank.gif> > > Sent by: <ecblank.gif> > > members-bounces(a)sigcis.org > > > > > > > > Hi: > > > > Petri's message prompts the question as to whether the original superb IBM History Wall (that I believe prompted the development of the Vienna wall) still exists. It was produced in the early 1970s, and is the basis of the Charles and Ray Eames book "A Computer Perspective" (Harvard Univ. Press, 1973). Many years later I saw that it was still at IBM in one of the their central Manhattan buildings, but that was a *long* time ago. > > > > Cheers > > > > Brian Randell > > > > On 26 May 2011, at 13:34, Petri Paju wrote: > > > > > > > > Dear all, > > > > > > Attached you can find information on a history wall, compiled in the 1970s, in Vienna. I understand the wall has texts in German and in English - see the docx-file for an example, in the end. > > > > > > Anyone interested and able to find a place for the history wall (they will have another copy left in Vienna) somewhere, please contact: > > > > > > Gerhard.Chroust(a)jku.at > > > > > > for more information... > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Petri > > > > > > > > > PS. The files also contain some references to Austrian history publications that might be of interest to some of you. > > > > > > -- > > > Petri Paju, tutkijatohtori, Turun yliopisto > > > -- Ph.D. Researcher, Univ. of Turku > > > http://users.utu.fi/petpaju/ (new article: Computing Close to Iron Curtain: Czechoslovakia and Finland) > > > http://www.ths.fi/bibliography.htm (new) > > > <geschwand-angebot.DOCX><$09y$40j-geschwand.PDF>_______________________________________________ > > > This email is relayed from members(a)sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/ and you can change your subscription options at http://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members > > > > > > -- > > School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, > > NE1 7RU, UK > > EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk PHONE = +44 191 222 7923 > > FAX = +44 191 222 8232 URL = http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/people/brian.randell > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > This email is relayed from members(a)sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/ and you can change your subscription options at http://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members > > > > > > > -- > School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, > NE1 7RU, UK > EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk PHONE = +44 191 222 7923 > FAX = +44 191 222 8232 URL = http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/people/brian.randell > > > > > > -- School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk PHONE = +44 191 222 7923 FAX = +44 191 222 8232 URL = http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/people/brian.randell

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Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Available : an IT History wall from Vienna, Austria
by Brian Randell 02 Jun '11

02 Jun '11

Hi Jim: Excellent! It would be nice if it were still readily available to view, even if just as an explorable virtual museum exhibit (despite the merits of the Eames book). Cheers Brian Randell On 2 Jun 2011, at 13:54, James Cortada wrote: > Still exists and the IBM Archives has it. > > Dr. Jim (James) W. Cortada > IBM Institute for Business Value > 2917 Irvington Way > Madison, WI 53713 USA > jwcorta(a)us.ibm.com > 608-270-4462 > > <graycol.gif>Brian Randell ---06/02/2011 07:29:36 AM---Hi: Petri's message prompts the question as to whether the original superb IBM History Wall (that I > > <ecblank.gif> > From: <ecblank.gif> > Brian Randell <Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk> > <ecblank.gif> > To: <ecblank.gif> > Petri Paju <petpaju(a)utu.fi> > <ecblank.gif> > Cc: <ecblank.gif> > softeu(a)sigcis.org, members(a)sigcis.org > <ecblank.gif> > Date: <ecblank.gif> > 06/02/11 07:29 AM > <ecblank.gif> > Subject: <ecblank.gif> > Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Available : an IT History wall from Vienna, Austria > <ecblank.gif> > Sent by: <ecblank.gif> > members-bounces(a)sigcis.org > > > > Hi: > > Petri's message prompts the question as to whether the original superb IBM History Wall (that I believe prompted the development of the Vienna wall) still exists. It was produced in the early 1970s, and is the basis of the Charles and Ray Eames book "A Computer Perspective" (Harvard Univ. Press, 1973). Many years later I saw that it was still at IBM in one of the their central Manhattan buildings, but that was a *long* time ago. > > Cheers > > Brian Randell > > On 26 May 2011, at 13:34, Petri Paju wrote: > > > > > Dear all, > > > > Attached you can find information on a history wall, compiled in the 1970s, in Vienna. I understand the wall has texts in German and in English - see the docx-file for an example, in the end. > > > > Anyone interested and able to find a place for the history wall (they will have another copy left in Vienna) somewhere, please contact: > > > > Gerhard.Chroust(a)jku.at > > > > for more information... > > > > Thanks, > > Petri > > > > > > PS. The files also contain some references to Austrian history publications that might be of interest to some of you. > > > > -- > > Petri Paju, tutkijatohtori, Turun yliopisto > > -- Ph.D. Researcher, Univ. of Turku > > http://users.utu.fi/petpaju/ (new article: Computing Close to Iron Curtain: Czechoslovakia and Finland) > > http://www.ths.fi/bibliography.htm (new) > > <geschwand-angebot.DOCX><$09y$40j-geschwand.PDF>_______________________________________________ > > This email is relayed from members(a)sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/ and you can change your subscription options at http://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members > > > -- > School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, > NE1 7RU, UK > EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk PHONE = +44 191 222 7923 > FAX = +44 191 222 8232 URL = http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/people/brian.randell > > > > > _______________________________________________ > This email is relayed from members(a)sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/ and you can change your subscription options at http://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members > > -- School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk PHONE = +44 191 222 7923 FAX = +44 191 222 8232 URL = http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/people/brian.randell

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Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Available : an IT History wall from Vienna, Austria
by Petri Paju 02 Jun '11

02 Jun '11

Thank you Brian and Jim, this was news to me. (And sorry for the double post to the list.) Cheers, Petri > Still exists and the IBM Archives has it. > > Dr. Jim (James) W. Cortada > IBM Institute for Business Value > 2917 Irvington Way > Madison, WI 53713 USA > jwcorta(a)us.ibm.com > 608-270-4462 > > > > > From: Brian Randell <Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk> > > > > To: Petri Paju <petpaju(a)utu.fi> > > > > Cc: softeu(a)sigcis.org, members(a)sigcis.org > > > > Date: 06/02/11 07:29 AM > > > > Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Available : an IT History wall from > Vienna, Austria > > > Sent by: members-bounces(a)sigcis.org > > > > > > > > > Hi: > > Petri's message prompts the question as to whether the original superb > IBM > History Wall (that I believe prompted the development of the Vienna wall) > still exists. It was produced in the early 1970s, and is the basis of > the > Charles and Ray Eames book "A Computer Perspective" (Harvard Univ. Press, > 1973). Many years later I saw that it was still at IBM in one of the their > central Manhattan buildings, but that was a *long* time ago. > > Cheers > > Brian Randell > > On 26 May 2011, at 13:34, Petri Paju wrote: > > > > > Dear all, > > > > Attached you can find information on a history wall, compiled in the > 1970s, in Vienna. I understand the wall has texts in German and in English > - see the docx-file for an example, in the end. > > > > Anyone interested and able to find a place for the history wall (they > will have another copy left in Vienna) somewhere, please contact: > > > > Gerhard.Chroust(a)jku.at > > > > for more information... > > > > Thanks, > > Petri > > > > > > PS. The files also contain some references to Austrian history > publications that might be of interest to some of you. > > > > -- > > Petri Paju, tutkijatohtori, Turun yliopisto > > -- Ph.D. Researcher, Univ. of Turku > > http://users.utu.fi/petpaju/ (new article: Computing Close to Iron > Curtain: Czechoslovakia and Finland) > > http://www.ths.fi/bibliography.htm (new) > > <geschwand-angebot.DOCX><$09y > $40j-geschwand.PDF>_______________________________________________ > > This email is relayed from members(a)sigcis.org, the email discussion > list > of SHOT SIGCIS. The list archives are at > http://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/ and you can change your subscription > options at http://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members > > > -- > School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, > NE1 7RU, UK > EMAIL = Brian.Randell(a)ncl.ac.uk PHONE = +44 191 222 7923 > FAX = +44 191 222 8232 URL = http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/people/brian.randell > > > > > _______________________________________________ > This email is relayed from members(a)sigcis.org, the email discussion > list of > SHOT SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/ > and you can change your subscription options at > http://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members >

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Available : an IT History wall from Vienna, Austria
by Petri Paju 02 Jun '11

02 Jun '11

Dear all, Attached you can find information on a history wall, compiled in the 1970s, in Vienna. I understand the wall has texts in German and in English - see the docx-file for an example, in the end. Anyone interested and able to find a place for the history wall (they will have another copy left in Vienna) somewhere, please contact: Gerhard.Chroust(a)jku.at for more information... Thanks, Petri PS. The files also contain some references to Austrian history publications that might be of interest to some of you. -- Petri Paju, tutkijatohtori, Turun yliopisto -- Ph.D. Researcher, Univ. of Turku http://users.utu.fi/petpaju/ (new article: Computing Close to Iron Curtain: Czechoslovakia and Finland) http://www.ths.fi/bibliography.htm (new)

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Available : an IT History wall from Vienna, Austria
by Petri Paju 01 Jun '11

01 Jun '11

Dear all, In the address below, you can find information (two files) on a "history wall", compiled in the 1970s, in Vienna - supported by IBM Austria etc. It's a history exhibit of its time. http://users.utu.fi/petpaju/history-wall/ I understand the wall has texts in German and (perhaps some) in English - see the the end of the docx-file for an example. Anyone interested and able to find a place for the history wall (they will have another copy left in Vienna) somewhere, please contact: Gerhard.Chroust(a)jku.at for more information... Thanks, Petri PS. The files also contain some references to Austrian history publications that might be of interest to some of you. -- Petri Paju, tutkijatohtori, Turun yliopisto -- Ph.D. Researcher, Univ. of Turku http://users.utu.fi/petpaju/ (new article: Computing Close to Iron Curtain: Czechoslovakia and Finland) http://www.ths.fi/bibliography.htm (new)

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