I wrote about this years ago, in the Annals of the History of Computing, vol. 10/4 (1989), pp. 257-275. Paul E. Ceruzzi Chair, Division of Space History National Air & Space Museum MRC 311; PO Box 37012 Washington, DC 20013-7012 202-633-2414 <http://www.nasm.si.edu/staffDetail.cfm?staffID=24> -----Original Message----- From: members-bounces@sigcis.org [mailto:members-bounces@sigcis.org] On Behalf Of Janet Abbate Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 2:41 PM To: Martin Campbell-Kelly Cc: members@sigcis.org; David Brailsford Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Origin of "Computer Science" Martin, That's an excellent question; I am also exploring this area. Most people seem to date the term to Louis Fein's 1959 article "The Role of the University in Computers, Data Processing, and Related Fields," which uses the plural "computer sciences." The term is also used in Philip Morse's 1960 "Report on a Conference of University Computing Center Directors," which describes actual computer science programs at universities. By 1962 you start to see advertisements using the term, which may indicate broad acceptance. For example: 1962 ad in American Scientist by Research Analysis Corporation (Bethesda, MD): "New Directions in Computer Science." ... "RAC scientists, engineers, and computer analysts ... reach well beyond the existing body of knowledge in computer science. The results have been twofold-new capabilities to predict and control, and new contributions to computer science and science in general." RAC "currently offers career appointments to physicists, engineers, mathematicians, economists, and computer scientists, with graduate degrees." This mainly applies to the US. I think "information science" or "informatics" may have been more common in Europe. References: Fein, Louis. "The Role of the University in Computers, Data Processing, and Related Fields." Communications of the ACM 2, no. 9 (1959): 7-14. Morse, Philip M. . "Report on a Conference of University Computing Center Directors (June 2-4 1960)." Commun. ACM 3, no. 10 (1960): 519-21. Janet Dr. Janet Abbate Associate Professor Science & Technology in Society Virginia Tech www.sts.vt.edu/ncr www.linkedin.com/groups/STS-Virginia-Tech-4565055 www.facebook.com/VirginiaTechSTS