Notable Women in Computing
The Charles Babbage Institute holds the collections of some notable women in the computing fields. These collections hold notes and published writings relating to their work, personal and professional correspondence, biographical information, and research materials that often contain the writings of other noteworthy women in computing. Holdings also include audio recordings and transcripts of oral histories, some of which may be available online (please consult with CBI staff or check our website for details). Not on display but in the CBI collections are also the papers of Frances E. Holberton (also known as Betty Snyder), one of the original women to work on the Eniac and a leading figure in programming language development (CBI 94).
Gertrude Blanch Papers (CBI 162) - See Collection Finding Aid
The collection includes Gertrude Blanch’s lectures given during the 1940s and 1960; published articles and notes for her two unpublished manuscripts, 1935-1994; colleagues’ and others’ writings collected by Blanch, 1895-1969; and photographs of Blanch, alone, with colleagues and friends, and at awards ceremonies, 1930s-1966. The collection also contains a small amount of biographical material, 1932-1967, including awards and citations, records relating to her employment, 1954-1967, and documentation regarding immigration and naturalization, affidavit of birth, and record of name change. Also included is a small amount of personal and professional correspondence, 1957-1994.
Margaret R. Fox Papers (CBI 45) - See Collection Finding Aid
Margaret Fox collected materials in order to document the work of the National Bureau of Standards, or NBS, where she was hired as part of the Electronic Computing Laboratory in 1951. She was appointed Chief of the Office of Computer Information in 1966, part of the Institute for Computer Science and Technology of NBS. She held the post until 1975. She was also actively involved in the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and served as the first Secretary for the American Federation for Information Processing Societies (AFIPS). The Margaret Fox Papers contain collected writings by Fox herself as well as other notable contemporary women in computing.
Claire K. Schultz papers (CBI 86) - See Collection Finding Aid
The collection documents Claire Schultz's pioneering work in automated information retrieval, the transition of information retrieval systems from punched cards to computers, and indexing practices for medical and scientific literature. The bulk of Schultz's papers served as a reference collection for her professional use and as a resource for her students. These materials include research and progress reports, journal articles, professional presentations, and product literature, including information on Schultz's role in the automation of the Armed Services Technical Information Agency (ASTIA) and the development of the National Library of Medicine's MEDLARS/MEDLINE system in the early 1960s.
Florence R. Anderson Papers (CBI 101) - See Collection Finding Aid
The Florence R. Anderson Papers is a small collection that documents her specific activity as a programming instructor for North American Aviation. The collection includes instructional materials, minutes, reports and manuals.
Grace Hopper Materials - From the Collection
From the Collection: The Reference Files contain oral history transcripts, reference photographs and audiovisual material, and reference files on a number of different topics relating to the history of computing. Files are updated as new materials are acquired.