Control Data Corporation records
Scope and Content Note
The Control Data Corporation Records documents the company's operations, goals, plans, and products from its inception in 1957 to 1992, and includes information about CDC's corporate philosophy and long-time president and CEO (1957-1986), William C. Norris.
Researchers should note that when CDC donated its corporate archives to the University of Minnesota in 1991, attorneys withheld several files for further review. These remain gaps in the collection. The collection is also lacking in its documentation from the last five to ten years of the company's operation.
Dates
- 1946-1991
Creator
- Control Data Corporation (Organization)
- Control Data Corporation (Organization)
- Norris, William C., 1911-2006 (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Access to materials:
Access to the collection is unrestricted.
Copyright:
The Charles Babbage Institute holds the copyright to all materials in the collection, except for items covered by a prior copyright (such as published materials). Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provisions of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).
Historical Note
The Control Data Corporation was incorporated in Minnesota on 8 July 1957 to produce high-speed, scientific computers. The company was headed by William C. Norris, who had been central to the success of Engineering Research Associates, Inc., a St. Paul electronics firm that was responsible for producing Minnesota’s first digital computer. Control Data grew to become one of the top ten computer manufacturers in the world; it produced among the fastest computers of their day, including the CDC 6600, designed by Seymour Cray and generally considered the first supercomputer. The company became known for its agressive acquisition of other firms, culminating in the purchase of Commercial Credit Corporation in 1967. The company continued its growth until the 1980s when a number of factors began deteriorate Control Data’s position in the industry. In 1986, William Norris resigned as CEO. By 1992 the company had split into two firms: Ceridian Corporation and Control Data Systems, Inc.
Extent
350 Cubic Feet (500 boxes)
Abstract
The Control Data Corporation Records documents the company's operations, goals, plans, and products from its inception in 1957 to 1992.
Arrangement of Collection
The collection is arranged into 28 series:
- Acquisitions, Subsidiaries, and Joint Ventures, 1951-1991
- Annual and Quarterly Reports, 1958-1991
- Artifacts, circa 1960-1989
- Audio, Film and Video Collection
- Computer-Based Education (CBE) and PLATO Courseware
- Control Data Photographic Society
- CO-OP Records, 1959-1968
- Corporate Administration, 1957-1991
- Historical Archives and Company History, 1957-2000
- Corporate Identity, 1961-1987
- Engineering, Research and Development, 1957-1986
- Executive History Project Records (1980), 1957-1981
- Executive Interviews, 1980-1986
- Executive Papers, 1956-1991
- Executive Papers - William C. Norris, 1946-1991
- Facilities, 1959-1986
- Financial Records, 1957-1991
- Legal Records, 1952-1983
- Marketing, Sales and Public Relations, 1959-1989
- News Releases, 1957-1990
- Newspaper and Magazine Articles, 1955-1987
- Personnel Documents and Reports, 1957-1991
- Photographs and Slides
- Planning Documents and Reports, 1957-1991
- Product Literature, 1955-1989
- Product Manuals, circa 1957-circa 1991
- Research and Development Project Reports, 1959-1964
- Serial Publications, 1959-1991
Acquisition:
The majority of the records were given to the Charles Babbage Institute by the Ceridian Corporation in 1991.
- Chief executive officers -- United States -- Biography. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Computer Industry -- United States -- History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Computer managed instruction. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Computer-assisted instruction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Computers -- United States -- History Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Consolidation and merger of corporations -- United States -- Prevention. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Control Data Corporation
- East-West trade. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Norris, William C., 1911-2006
- Norris, William C., 1911-2006
- PLATO (Electronic Computer System) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Technology transfer. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States -- Foreign economic relations -- Japan. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States -- Foreign economic relations -- Soviet Union. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Control Data Corporation Records, 1946-1991. Finding Aid.
- Author
- Prepared by Archival Staff of the Charles Babbage Institute, 1991-1992, 2003-2006.
- Date
- July 2006
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Charles Babbage Institute Archives Collecting Area
Elmer L. Andersen Library
222 - 21st Avenue South
Minneapolis MN 55455
612-624-5050
cbi@umn.edu
