2010 /2011 COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE C O RE A Publication of Transforming the Museum the Computer Putting the Finishing Touches on Revolution History Museum Why History Matters COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM A DEPARTMENTS MUSEUM UPDATES EXPLORE THE COLLECTION 3 2 46 48 53 56 CEO’s Letter The Museum A Stunning New The Education Oral Histories: Recent Artifact Transformed Venue Mission On the Road Donations 61 About Us 50 58 The Web Museum Donors Experience C O RE 2010/2011 8 SPECIAL SECTION: REVOLUTION SNEAK PREVIEW 4 10 14 18 Why History Matters Why a Computer History Interpreting History Take a Walk The gaze of technology is Museum? Computer history doesn’t fi t tidy See the superstar machines Cover: Leon Liebster of Sprig Electric wires the fi xed on the future. Does that No other invention has timelines. Tens of thousands of and sample a few of the software arches in the Per- make “computer history” an altered human existence with people produced ideas and in- dramatic stories from sonal Computers gallery oxymoron? Acclaimed historian the speed and impact of the ventions simultaneously. Those Revolution: The First 2000 Years Richard S. Tedlow argues that computer. Yet there are more innovations intersected of Computing in this overview of This page: Installers secure the magnifi er on an our understanding of the pres- museums devoted to rock and in surprising ways to produce the exhibition’s exhibit that allows visitors ent and future depends on our roll than computer history. today’s technical marvels. 19 galleries. It’s a great way to see the step-by-step knowledge of history. The Museum is documenting Bringing that story to life to prepare for your visit. process which transforms a semiconductor crystal into the computer revolution as demanded innovative curatorial an integrated circuit MARK RICHARDS it unfolds. thinking and exhibit design. B CORE 2010-2011 COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM 1 Editor-in-Chief John C. Hollar CEO’S Editor-at-Large LETTER Dean Chance WELCOME TO THE Co-Editors Paul Connolly Carina Sweet Contributors Paula Jabloner REVOLUTION Jon Plutte Bob Sanguedolce This issue of Core commemorates a major What does this mean for the Museum? Dr. Leonard J. Shustek milestone in our history: the opening of With the opening of Revolution, the Museum Dr. Lauren Silver Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing. moves into the top 10 percent of museums Dag Spicer Revolution brings the history of computing to nationwide in total exhibit area. We expect to be Kirsten Tashev life in a vivid, modern exhibition designed in the top 25 percent of all u.s. museums in at- Prof. Richard S. Tedlow for technical and non-technical audiences alike. tendance and income. Our operating budget will Its opening is a transformative event in the be in the top 20 percent. These fi gures, measured Photography Museum’s life, and we’ve dedicated most of this against 17,000 u.s museums whose data are Mark Richards issue of the magazine to the subject. reported by the American Association of Design Revolution represents a signifi cant expansion Museums, refl ect the fact that the Museum has Studio1500 of the Museum. It now occupies more than come of age and is moving into the category 25,000 square feet of space never before open of “big museums” nationally. Web Team to the public. We have put more of our Our major focus, of course, is not merely facts Bob Sanguedolce physical collection on public display than ever and statistics, nor the effort that has gone into Ton Luong before. Every word, fi lm, artifact, and image the new launch of the Museum and Revolution Ganna Boyko in the physical exhibition is available on com- itself. Rather, we have done all of this work with The polished terrazzo fl oor of puterhistory.org. Most importantly, Revolution you in mind—our loyal supporters and patrons, the Museum’s new lobby is also the world’s largest punched card. has enabled us vastly to expand our interpreta- and the many thousands more we hope to attract Can you decode the message? tion of computing’s roots and history, its this year and in the future. I am convinced that MARK RICHARDS evolution into a singular force in global life, your new Museum experience will be surprising, and its ongoing social and historical impact. unexpected, and very satisfying. More than ever, As you will read in these pages, Revolution is this will be a place where you’ll want to bring the product of years of planning. Our exhibits your friends and visitors. It will be a spectacular THE MUSEUM TRANSFORMED team, led by Vice President Kirsten Tashev, new venue and, ultimately, a hub of culture and has consulted with hundreds of experts, review- education in Silicon Valley. ers, historians, and eyewitnesses around the My hope is that you’ll come to the Museum Welcome to the newest edition of Core—and to the newest edition of the Computer History Museum. world. They have combed both our vast archive often, bring others along and always be proud January, 2011 marks a new beginning for the Museum with the opening of Revolution: The and many outside collections for the best arti- to say, “I support this work.” On behalf of First 2000 Years of Computing. The arrival of Revolution is accompanied by a new design for the facts, images and other representations of major everyone here, please accept my thanks and © 2010-11 Computer History Museum’s main lobby, the opening of new public spaces, and the unveiling of a new retail area. Museum. The Museum is a events in computing. They have made more than know that you now have a standing invitation But most of all, Revolution reveals the sights, sounds, objects, and stories of one of the most non-profi t 501(c)(3) organization. a dozen original fi lms and produced media to the Revolution every day. compelling ideas of our time. Computing has transformed modern life and changed the way we think All artwork is copyright of the for more than 100 areas of the exhibition. It has about the potential of the future. We feel its ongoing impact every day. Revolution captures that Computer History Museum been a vast undertaking—one worthy of the Yours sincerely, unless otherwise credited. For transformation and puts it into a social and historical context. reprints and permissions, kind of place the Museum seeks to be, and the A large team of content experts, advisors, artists, fi lmmakers, builders, and historians has worked contact [email protected]. kind of place you have long envisioned. for years to launch this new endeavor. A large community of trustees, donors, and supporters has en- Subscriptions are a member benefi t. To purchase additional abled it to spring into life. On behalf of all of them, we hope you enjoy this commemorative edition copies of this issue of Core, of Core, and enjoy the new Museum experience. please visit: magcloud.com. Address changes and other written correspondence may JOHN C. HOLLAR be sent to: Computer History Museum, Public Relations PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER email: [email protected] 2 CORE 2010-2011 COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM 3 Adam Ries, Rechnung auff der Linihen und Feder, 1533. This 15th century illustration shows a table-abacus competing against longhand calculations using “Arabic” numer- als, which were still new in Europe ESSAYWHY HISTORY MATTERS Finding inspiration in looking back BY RICHARD S. TEDLOW 4 CORE 2010-2011 COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM 5 objective historical information. I can tell you Once you get past this sense of amazement, that Confederate batteries opened fi re on Fort you fi nd yourself facing another, bigger ques- Sumter on April 12, 1861. That is an objective, tion. How did all this really happen? Does verifi able fact. But as soon as we get a little past technology drive history? Or is it the other way that level, objective truth is lost. The man around? Answer-less questions such as this can who claimed to have fi red the fi rst shot, a claim be discussed with a new depth and sophistication that is still widely believed, apparently did not. thanks to the outstanding work of the Computer Did he lie on purpose? Was he merely mistaken? History Museum. We don’t know. And this is nothing compared to the really One last thought big questions. For example, we know when the Permit me to make a point about history by Civil War took place. But we do not know what going a little far afi eld before returning to the caused it. We can provide educated guesses. history of technology specifi cally. Back in 1940, However, what we are left with is nothing ap- the outstanding historian Garrett Mattingly proaching a consensus, but, rather, competing had the idea of writing a book on the attempt points of view. of the Spanish Armada in 1588 to invade England. He concludes this marvelous volume by observ- History is not engineering. It is not science. ing that, “Meanwhile, as the episode of the Historians cannot provide mathematical proofs Armada receded into the past, it infl uenced his- for their views on big issues. Great history, such tory in another way... It raised men’s hearts in as is represented by the outstanding exhibition dark hours, and led them to say to one another, at the Computer History Museum, will provide “ ‘What we have done once, we can do again.’ ” many facts by which we will be greatly informed The magnifi cent achievements chronicled and and which will enable us to discuss the really big catalogued by the Computer History Museum questions with as much accuracy and nuance as leave us who see them with the same observa- they deserve.