C. Gordon Bell obit.
Among other accomplishments, Gordon was an early supporter of the Computer History Museum, which started at a DEC building, and began with pieces of the Whirlwind computer rescued from scrap (correct me if this is wrong). https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/technology/c-gordon-bell-dead.html
Thanks, Paul, for letting us know about Gordon's death, which definitely marks the end of one and/or many eras in computing in the U.S. I believe his wife was also involved in founding the computer museum but I have not been able to find much net based info on her. She was also a fulbright scholar in Australia when she and Gordon met. All best, Johannah On Thu, May 23, 2024 at 11:21 AM Ceruzzi, Paul via Members < members@lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
Among other accomplishments, Gordon was an early supporter of the Computer History Museum, which started at a DEC building, and began with pieces of the Whirlwind computer rescued from scrap (correct me if this is wrong).
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/technology/c-gordon-bell-dead.html _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
-- johannahrodgers@gmail.com www.johannahrodgers.net
Gwendolyn “Gwen” Bell, Gordon’s wife at the time, was a co-founder of the Museum and its first director when it was housed in Boston. Ken Olsen was also a major supporter of this and other computer history projects, notably including a series of books published by the Digital Press, including Stern’s invaluable history, From ENIAC to Univac. Despite its huge size, Whirlwind was acquired for the personal use of one of the engineers who worked on it. I do not recall whether it was dismantled and parts salvaged afterwards. Sent from Mail for Windows From: Johannah Rodgers via Members Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2024 11:42 AM To: Ceruzzi, Paul Cc: Johannah Rodgers; members@lists.sigcis.org Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] C. Gordon Bell obit. Thanks, Paul, for letting us know about Gordon's death, which definitely marks the end of one and/or many eras in computing in the U.S. I believe his wife was also involved in founding the computer museum but I have not been able to find much net based info on her. She was also a fulbright scholar in Australia when she and Gordon met. All best, Johannah On Thu, May 23, 2024 at 11:21 AM Ceruzzi, Paul via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> wrote: Among other accomplishments, Gordon was an early supporter of the Computer History Museum, which started at a DEC building, and began with pieces of the Whirlwind computer rescued from scrap (correct me if this is wrong). https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/technology/c-gordon-bell-dead.html _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org -- johannahrodgers@gmail.com www.johannahrodgers.net
One thing that sticks in my memory is that Bell used a DEUCE computer during his Fulbright period in Australia, and as he wrote to me in 1984 in reference to his own designs: "DEUCE certainly influenced my thinking -- some of it was negative because I was determined not to design a computer that was so difficult and tricky to program." I still have his original letter; it seems interesting enough that I've attached a scan. Regards Brian Carpenter On 24-May-24 03:40, Johannah Rodgers via Members wrote:
Thanks, Paul, for letting us know about Gordon's death, which definitely marks the end of one and/or many eras in computing in the U.S. I believe his wife was also involved in founding the computer museum but I have not been able to find much net based info on her. She was also a fulbright scholar in Australia when she and Gordon met.
All best,
Johannah
On Thu, May 23, 2024 at 11:21 AM Ceruzzi, Paul via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org <mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org>> wrote:
Among other accomplishments, Gordon was an early supporter of the Computer History Museum, which started at a DEC building, and began with pieces of the Whirlwind computer rescued from scrap (correct me if this is wrong).
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/technology/c-gordon-bell-dead.html <https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/technology/c-gordon-bell-dead.html> _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org <http://sigcis.org>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ <http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/> and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org <http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org>
-- johannahrodgers@gmail.com <mailto:johannahrodgers@gmail.com> www.johannahrodgers.net <http://www.johannahrodgers.net>
_______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
participants (4)
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Brian E Carpenter -
Ceruzzi, Paul -
Johannah Rodgers -
Peter Eckstein