Hello, Around 1951, Welchman taught what is said to be the first course on digital computer in MIT's electrical engineer department. I am wondering if anyone on this list has more information or a pointer to more information regarding Welchman and this course. From Brian Randell, I already have a statement by Welchman that he taught the course. I have sent a query to the MIT Archives. I have sent a query to Joel Greenberg (via the Bletchly Park website -- a direct email address will be appreciated) who wrote the recent biography of Welchman and Ultra to see if he (Greenberg) has anything about this course in the documents he obtained from the Welchman family. I will also ask Bob Everett or Jay Forrester if they know anything about the course. Best regards, Dave -- home address: 12 Linden Rd., E. Sandwich, MA 02537 home ph=508-888-7655; cell ph = 503-757-3137 (often don't carry it) email address: dave@walden-family.com; website: <http://www.walden-family.com/bbn/>http://www.walden-family.com/
Dave et al, You can search the MIT catalogs online (http://dome.mit.edu/handle/1721.3/81660). The MIT Presidents Reports are also a wealth of information (http://web.mit.edu/annualreports/). We do not have a specific biographical file on him in the museum's collection. Good luck, Debbie On Jan 17, 2015, at 2:51 PM, Dave Walden <dave.walden.family@gmail.com<mailto:dave.walden.family@gmail.com>> wrote: Hello, Around 1951, Welchman taught what is said to be the first course on digital computer in MIT's electrical engineer department. I am wondering if anyone on this list has more information or a pointer to more information regarding Welchman and this course.
From Brian Randell, I already have a statement by Welchman that he taught the course. I have sent a query to the MIT Archives. I have sent a query to Joel Greenberg (via the Bletchly Park website -- a direct email address will be appreciated) who wrote the recent biography of Welchman and Ultra to see if he (Greenberg) has anything about this course in the documents he obtained from the Welchman family. I will also ask Bob Everett or Jay Forrester if they know anything about the course.
Best regards, Dave -- home address: 12 Linden Rd., E. Sandwich, MA 02537 home ph=508-888-7655; cell ph = 503-757-3137 (often don't carry it) email address: dave@walden-family.com<mailto:dave@walden-family.com>; website: <http://www.walden-family.com/bbn/>http://www.walden-family.com/ _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members@sigcis.org<mailto:members@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://sigcis.org/pipermail/members/ and you can change your subscription options at http://sigcis.org/mailman/listinfo/members Deborah G. Douglas, Ph.D. • Director of Collections and Curator of Science and Technology, MIT Museum • Room N51-209 • 265 Massachusetts Avenue • Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 • ddouglas@mit.edu<mailto:ddouglas@mit.edu> • 617-253-1766 telephone • 617-253-8994 facsimile • http://web.mit.edu/museum • http://museum.mit.edu/150
Dear Debbie, Thank you very very much. There are items in both the catalogs and the president's reports which appear to provide context for Welchman's teaching this course (although the catalogues do not list instructors for courses). Best regards, Dave At 09:33 AM 1/18/2015, Deborah Douglas wrote:
Dave et al,
You can search the MIT catalogs online (<http://dome.mit.edu/handle/1721.3/81660>http://dome.mit.edu/handle/1721.3/81660). The MIT Presidents Reports are also a wealth of information (<http://web.mit.edu/annualreports/>http://web.mit.edu/annualreports/). We do not have a specific biographical file on him in the museum's collection.
Good luck,
Debbie
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Dave Walden -
Deborah Douglas