Conference on Data Systems Languages records
Scope and Content Note
Records in the collection include minutes, reports, correspondence, and, often, the Journal of Development relevant to the work of that specific committee. Most of the collection consists of photocopies. Publications related to the work of CODASYL are included, particularly those relating to COBOL as well as relevant standards publications.
In some cases, there are chronological overlaps as the records from different sources were processed at different times and contain variant material.
Dates
- Creation: 1959-1987
Creator
- Conference on Data Systems Languages (Organization)
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
Conference on Data Systems Languages (CODASYL) was a volunteer organization to promote more effective data systems analysis, design, and implementation. Its membership consisted of individuals from industry and government involved in data processing activity. The organization was formed in 1959 to guide the development of a standard programming language that could be used on many computers. This effort led to the development of COBOL.
Extent
26 boxes (24.5 cubic feet)
Abstract
Collection contains minutes, correspondence, reports, documentation for Nice Standard Control Language (NICOLA), the Journal of Development, and other publications from several CODASYL committees and task groups. Most of the collection consists of photocopies.
Arrangement of Collection
The materials in this collection are arranged chronologically into the following groups:
- Common business oriented language (COBOL) committee, 1959-1988
- Common operating system command language committee, 1971-1981
- Data base task group, 1969-1971
- Data description language committee, 1972-1985
- End user facility task group, 1974
- End user function committee, 1974-1983
- Executive committee, 1959-1988
- File processing task group, 1974-1980
- Forms Interface Management Systems Committee, 1988-1990
- Fortran-Data base processing facility committee, 1974-1980
- Intermediate Range task force, 1959
- Intermediate Range task force II, 1959
- Nice standard control language (NICOLA), 1979
- Object-Oriented COBOL task group, 1990
- Planning committee, 1972-1973
- Programming language committee, 1965-1987
- Screen management committee, 1985
- Screen management task group, 1979-1985
- Storage structure task group, 1974
- Stored data definition and translation task group, 1974
- Systems committee, 1972-1982
- Systems group, 1962
- Technical committee, 1975
With the exception of NICOLA, each group represents a specific committee or task group of CODASYL.
Acquisition:
The records were given to the Charles Babbage Institute in 1986-1987 by Jan Prokop, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Thomas Harris, in 1991 by Thomas E. Rice, and in 1996 by Charles W. Bachman.
Subject
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. COBOL Language Committee (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. Common Operating System Command Language Committee (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. Data Base Task Group (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. Data Description Language Committee (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. End User Facility Task Group (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. Storage Structure Task Group (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. Stored Data Definition and Translation Task Group (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. End User Function Committee (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. Executive Committee (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. File Processing Task Group (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. FORTRAN Data Base Committee (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. Planning Committee (Organization)
- Conference on Data Systems Languages. Programming Language Committee (Organization)
- Project NICOLA (Organization)
Topical
- Title
- Conference on Data Systems Languages Records, 1959-1987. Finding Aid.
- Author
- Prepared by Bruemmer, Hanson, and Corbitt, January 1997.
- Date
- 2004
- 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