As part of the Cyberfest '97 celebrations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University Archives prepared an exhibit of original documents and photographs illustrating the development of computing at the University of Illinois from the 1890s to the present. "A Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" highlights the engineering components, development of digital computers, computer science, and the impact of computing on the University. We are pleased to re-create a portion of this exhibit as part of the Champaign Cultural Memory project.
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Label: Professor Louis N. Ridenour, 1947 Year: 1947 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 26/4/1) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Professor William L. Everitt, September
23, 1948 Year: 1948 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 39/2/26) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Vermilion radio telescope, Danville,
Illinois Year: 1950 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: University of Illinois Electrical
Engineering Building (renamed Everitt Laborartory) with
log periodic antenna Year: 1950 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Edward C. Jordan explaining antennas
developed at the University of Illinois Year: 1950 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Paul Mayes (right) and Robert Carrel
developed the log-periodic antenna. It became the most
popular antenna for television reception and is one
example of a by-product from military research conducted
at the university. Year: 1950 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: William J. Fry operating the
neuroscience surgery unit. Year: 1950 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Digital Computer, "electronic
brain" at University of Illinois Year: 1952 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 39/2/20) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: John Bardeen displays an oscillator
containing his Nobel Prize winning invention, the
transistor. Year: 1956 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: John Bardeen accepts the 1956 Nobel
Prize in physics for achievement in the area of
microelectronics. Sweden's Crown Prince Carl Gustaf, heir
to the throne, represented his ailing grandfather, King
Gustaf IV Adolf, in this ceremony on December 10. Year: 1956 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Photograph, September, 1957, Professors
Gerald P. Kruger (left), Donald W. Kerst (center), and
James N. Snyder (right) examine ILLIAC (1) computations Year: 1957 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 39/2/20) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: University of Illinois Digital Computer
Laboratory Year: 1958 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 39/2/20) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: The Gaseous Electronics Laboratory in
1958 Year: 1958 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: A large-aperture radio direction
finding system known as a Wullenweber array at the
Bondville Road Field Station, Octobor 1960. Operating at
a frequency range from 4 to 16 MHz, the array uses 120
antennas and is 1000 ft in diameter Year: 1960 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Experimental printed circuit board Year: 1960 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: "IBM 7090 Computer" Year: 1960 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: "The IBM 1401 Computer is used
largely as an input-output device for the IBM 7090
Computer." Year: 1960 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: One of two magnetic drums for ILLIAC II Year: 1960 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: IBM 1604 punch cards Year: 1960 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (Felix and donatella Adler Papers, 1939-86, RS 11/10/37) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Computer operator loading paper tape
reader Year: 1960 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Model of ILLIAC II. Year: 1960 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Musicwriter Year: 1960 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 39/2/20) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Digital Computer Laboratory library Year: 1960 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Professor Bruce H. McCormick,
Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois,
c. 1960 Year: 1960 Credit: University of Illinois Archives. "The Department of Computer Science" departmental history by John Pasta, 1968. (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: This photograph, taken in 1961, shows a
student using the PLATO system. Year: 1961 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: University of Illinois campus, 1962 Year: 1962 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: ILLIAC II without covers, October 1962 Year: 1962 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: "Graduate Study and Research in
the Digital Computer Laboratory, Graduate College,
University of Illinois, Urbana, 1963, University of
Illinois Bulletin" Year: 1963 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: ILLIAC 2; University of Illinois Year: 1965 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 39/2/20) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Coordinated Science Laboratory, 1967 Year: 1967 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 39/2/20) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: "Emerging Concepts in Computer
Graphics, Digital Computer Laboratory, University of
Illinois, November 5,6,7,8, 1967" Year: 1967 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: "Pertinent Concepts in Computer
Graphics, University of Illinois, March 31, April 1, 2,
1969" Year: 1969 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 11/15/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: University of Illinois Digital Computer
Laboratory, computer room, ca. 1970 Year: 1970 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 39/2/20) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Smash ILLIAC IV; University of Illinois Year: 1970 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS41/66/969) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Photograph, 1971, Donald Bitzer,
Director of the Computer-based Education Research
Laboratory from 1967 to 1989 and inventor of the PLATO
system. Year: 1971 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 39/2/26) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: George W. Swenson, Jr., Professor of
Electrical Engineering, 1978 Year: 1978 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 39/2/26) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Public Access to Library Automation
April 20-23 1980; Seventeenth Annual Clinic Library
Applications of Data Processing; University of Illinois Year: 1980 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 18/1/807) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Professor William Kubitz, Computer
Science, 1985 Year: 1985 Credit: Univeristy of Illinois Archives (RS 39/2/20) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Beckman Institute for Advanced Science
and Technology, University of Illinois, ca. 1992 Year: 1989 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (Courtesy of the Office for Capital Programs) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Student, Solid-State Instructional
Laboratory Year: 1990 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Value Added Resource Systems
Encyclopedia, Departmental Supplement; Central Stores
Computer Center, University of Illinois Year: 1990 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (RS 24/12/810) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Students, Electrical and Computer
Engineering Year: 1990 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Japanese delegation visiting NCSA Year: 1990 Credit: University of Illinois Archives. NCSA Access newsletter, February 1990. (RS 7/5/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Student, Solid-State Instructional
Laboratory Year: 1990 Credit: University of Illinois Archives Centennial History of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1891-1991, compiled by Edward C. Jordan et al. (RS 11/6/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Digital Computer Laboratory addition,
University of Illinois, ca. 1991 Year: 1991 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (Courtesy of the Office for Capital Programs) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Computer and Systems Research
Laboratory, University of Illinois. ca. 1992 Year: 1992 Credit: University of Illinois Archives (Courtesy of the Office for Capital Programs) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: NCSA's Software Development Group, 1993 Year: 1993 Credit: University of Illinois Archives. NCSA Access Summer 1994 (Photo by Wilmer Zehr Photography). (RS 7/5/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: Champaign, Illinois, school children
using computer Year: 1994 Credit: University of Illinois Archives. NCSA Access Summer 1994 (Photo by Thomas-McClellan Photography). (RS 7/5/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual
Environment) Year: 1994 Credit: University of Illinois Archives. NCSA Access Summer 1994, image copyright 1992 Lewis Siegel and Kathy O'Keefe, EVL/UIC; (RS 7/5/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: FMC Corporation researchers Mike
Skriener, left, and Ernie Plummer, right, display their
Grand Challenge Awards presented by NCSA Director Larry
Smarr, center. Year: 1994 Credit: University of Illinois Archives. NCSA Access Summer 1994 (Photo by Wilmer Zehr Photography). (RS 7/5/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |
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Label: NCSA Audio Development Group Year: 1994 Credit: University of Illinois Archives. NCSA Access Summer 1994 (Photo by Thomas-McClellan Photography). (RS 7/5/801) from "Byte of History: Computing at the University of Illinois" exhibit, March 1997 ______________________________________________ |