John K. Swearingen papers
Scope and Content Note
The collection contains minutes, correspondence, and reports related to Swearingen's work as international vice president and president of Data Processing Management Association (DPMA) and president of Institute for the Certification of Computer Professionals (ICCP). Material relating to the DPMA includes: records about the interaction of DPMA with other computer professional associations, building committee and plans from 1962 to 1964, a proposed computer professional exchange program, a lawsuit with the Journal of Machine Accounting, Inc., the production of a computing textbook for secondary students, and the Washington Activities Committee. The Certificate in Data Processing is documented through records of council and board meetings, test committee selection proceedings, correspondence related to CDP exams, and analyses of the exam
Dates
- 1936-1993
Creator
- Swearingen, John K. (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Access to materials:
Access to the collection is unrestricted.
Copyright:
CBI holds the copyright to all materials in the collection, except for items covered by a prior copyright (such as publications). Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provisions of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).
Biographical Note
John K. Swearingen was instrumental in the development of the Certificate in Data Processing (CDP), a program to establish the professional status of data processors. Swearingen continued to be active in this program throughout his presidency with the Data Processing Management Association (DPMA) from 1964 to 1965 and the Computer Foundation Organizing Committee, a group formed by the joint action of the DPMA and the Association for Computing Machinery. The committee purchased the right to administer the CDP exam and the Registered Business Programmer exam, and in 1973 became the Institute for the Certification of Computer Professionals (ICCP), with Swearingen acting as its founding president.
Swearingen's long career in computing included his work with General Electric as manager of Business Information Systems at their Nuclear Energy Division, a position as general manager of the Ling-Temco-Vought computer operation for NASA in Slidell, LA, and his job as general manager for the Environmental Research Corporation. He was also director of Information Services for the United States Senate.
Extent
4 boxes (4 cubic feet)
Abstract
Collection contains minutes, correspondence, and reports related to John Swearingen's work as international vice president and president of DPMA and president of ICCP. Material about the ICCP and the Certificate in Data Processing includes records of council and board meetings, test committee selection proceedings, correspondence related to CDP exams, and analyses of the exam. Material relating to the DPMA includes records about the interaction of DPMA with other computer professional associations, building committee and plans from 1962 to 1964, a proposed computer professional exchange program, a lawsuit with the Journal of Machine Accounting, Inc., the production of a computing textbook for secondary students, and the Washington Activities Committee.
Arrangement of Collection
The materials in this collection are arranged into the following groups:
- Data Processing Management Association Records (DPMA), 1960-1985
- Institute for the Certification of Computer Professionals Records (ICCP), 1973-1985
Acquisition:
The records were given to the Charles Babbage Institute by John K. Swearingen in 1989 and 1997.
- Computer Foundation Organizing Committee.
- Data Processing Management Association
- Electronic data processing -- Societies, etc. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Electronic data processing -- Study and teaching -- Standards. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Electronic data processing -- Study and teaching -- United State Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Electronic data processing personnel -- Certification. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals
- Journal of Machine Accounting, Inc.
- Swearingen, John K.
- Title
- John K. Swearingen Papers, 1936-1993. Finding Aid.
- Author
- Prepared by Sara E. Strzok, March 1991; Stephanie Horowitz, February 2008.
- Date
- March 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
