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Research Notes on Herman Hollerith 2353 Geoffrey D. Austrian research notes on Herman Hollerith 2353 This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on September 14, 2021. Description is written in: English. Describing Archives: A Content Standard Manuscripts and Archives PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library Geoffrey D. Austrian research notes on Herman Hollerith 2353 Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical Note .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Scope and Content ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Arrangement ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................ 5 Related Materials ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Controlled Access Headings .......................................................................................................................... 6 Collection Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Biography note cards ................................................................................................................................... 6 Backup research files .................................................................................................................................. 6 Other research files ..................................................................................................................................... 9 - Page 2 - Geoffrey D. Austrian research notes on Herman Hollerith 2353 Summary Information Repository: Manuscripts and Archives Creator: Austrian, Geoffrey D. Title: Geoffrey D. Austrian research notes on Herman Hollerith ID: 2353 Date [inclusive]: 1860-1990 Date [bulk]: 1890-1929 Physical Description: 4 Linear Feet Language of the English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, and Russian Material: Abstract: Geoffrey David Austrian (1930-) is an author and journalist. He first became interested in the life of Herman Hollerith (1860-1929), inventor of the puched-card system of data processing, while working for the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), the firm that grew out of Hollerith's invention. This collections includes the research materials Austrian used to write the book Herman Hollerith: Forgotten Giant of Information Processing. Austrian's research includes notes from interviews with Hollerith family members and copies of materials from the IBM archives and other repositories, including the New York Public Library. ^ Return to Table of Contents Biographical Note Geoffrey David Austrian (1930-) is an author and journalist. He graduated from Harvard College in 1953 and attended Cornell Law School. Austrian was born on March 31, 1930. He worked at International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) as the Manager of Public Relations. Prior to his career at IBM, he was a reporter for The Record in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1957 to 1959. He first became interested in the life of Herman Hollerith (1860-1929), inventor of the puched-card system of data processing, while working for IBM, the firm that grew out of Hollerith's invention. Austrian stumbled across Hollerith's name during a search for background information for IBM Day in 1964. It was not until 1968, after a chance meeting with a member of the Hollerith family that Austrian began to formulate his ideas for a book. With the support of IBM, Austrian began work on his book in - Page 3- Geoffrey D. Austrian research notes on Herman Hollerith 2353 1972. Herman Hollerith: Forgotten Giant of Information Processing was published by the Columbia University Press in 1982. Austrian has published three other books: The Truth about Drugs, 1971; Dark deeds: At the U.S. Naval Observatory, They Make it their Nightly Business to Track Heavenly Bodies, 1983; and " Ben Austrian, Artist," 1997. ^ Return to Table of Contents Scope and Content This collections includes the research materials Geoffrey Austrian used to write Herman Hollerith: Forgotten Giant of Information Processing. Austrian's research includes notes from interviews with Hollerith family members and copies of materials from the IBM archives and other repositories, including the New York Public Library. The collection is arranged into three series: Biography note cards; Backup research files; and Other research files. Biography note cards are 3" x 5" note cards of Austrian's research notes arranged chronologically. Backup research files constitutes the majority of Austrian's research on the life and work of Herman Hollerith. It contains notable items such as correspondence with Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. The research notes come from the papers of Herman Hollerith in the Library of Congress, and collections at the archives of Harvard University, IBM, the National Records Center, the Taft-Peirce Manufacturing Co., the National Archives, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Western Electric Co. File folders are labeled by subject and arranged alphabetically. Other research files contains materials that were not specifically identified by Austrian as being either biography note cards or backup research files. Series includes correspondence about the progress of Herman Hollerith, material removed from a binder, photographs of Herman Hollerith, his family, and his designs, as well as additional miscellaneous material. ^ Return to Table of Contents Arrangement Austrian filed his research notes in two formats, the first on 3x5 cards, arranged chronologically. The remainder of the notes are arranged alphabetically by subject. The folder titles are those originally given by Austrian. - Page 4- Geoffrey D. Austrian research notes on Herman Hollerith 2353 ^ Return to Table of Contents Administrative Information Publication Statement Manuscripts and Archives PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library Access Restrictions This collection is open for search. Materials located in remote storage. Advance notice is required. Please allow 48 hours for delivery. Provenance Geoffrey D. Austrian, 2006 ^ Return to Table of Contents Related Materials Separated Material Geoffrey D. Austrian audio recordings on Herman Hollerith (Accession 2007.210), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library. ^ Return to Table of Contents - Page 5- Geoffrey D. Austrian research notes on Herman Hollerith 2353 Controlled Access Headings • Inventors • United States -- Census • Computer storage devices • Tabulating machines • Biography • Western Electric Company • Hollerith, Herman, 1860-1929 • International Business Machines Corporation • Peirce, J. Royden Collection Inventory Biography note cards, 1860-1929 Physical Description: 1.5 Linear Feet Scope and Content 3" x 5" note cards of Austrian's research notes arranged chronologically Title/Description Instances 1860-1911 box 1 folder 1 1912-1929 box 2 folder 1 ^ Return to Table of Contents Backup research files Physical Description: 2 Linear Feet Scope and Content Constitutes the majority of Austrian's research on the life and work of Herman Hollerith. It contains notable items such as correspondence with Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. The research notes come from the papers of Herman Hollerith in the Library of Congress, and collections at the archives of Harvard University, IBM, the National Records Center, the Taft-Peirce Manufacturing Co., the National Archives, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Western Electric Co. File folders are labeled by subject and arranged alphabetically. Title/Description Instances Auditing Machine Co (see also railroads) box 2 folder 2 - Page 6- Geoffrey D. Austrian research notes on Herman Hollerith 2353 Billings, Dr. John Shaw box 2 folder 3 Blodgett, John box 2 folder 4 Bibliographies and other Sources, 1960s-1970s box 2 folder 5 George M. Bond box 2 folder 6 Bontecou Letters, 1908 box 2 folder 7 British Company box 2 folder 8 Census, 1890 box 2 folder 9 Census, 1900 box 2 folder 10 Census, 1910 box 2 folder 11 Census Director Reports box 2 folder 12 Census Bureau Present Machines box 2 folder 13 Census Contracts Dispute W. North box 2 folder 14 Census History, 1903 box 2 folder 15 Census Lawsuit, 1909-1912 box 2 folder 16 Committee Hearings box 2 folder 17 Computing Tabulating Recording Co box 2 folder 18 Contracts with Customers (tabulating machine co.), 1903 box 2 folder 19 Dalys File machine blueprints box 2 folder 20 Durand box 2 folder 21 Edison box 2 folder 22 Flad, Henry box 2 folder 23 Flint, Charles R. box 2 folder 24 Ford, Eugene A. box 2 folder 25 Early Family History box 2 folder 26 French Company box 2 folder 27 Hollerith Background box 2 folder 28 Hollerith Bio sketches box 2 folder 29 Hollerith Letters box 2 folder 30 Hollerith Source Material box 2 folder 31 Hollerith Book, New Materials & Valuable Documents box 2 folder
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