Rolland B. Arndt papers
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains records from the American Federation of Information Processing Societies (AFIPS), Engineering Research Associates (ERA), and Remington Rand.
The AFIPS records include minutes, reports, correspondence, memoranda, computer printouts and handwritten notes. Treasurer's records include treasurer's reports and financial statements, budget projections on computer printouts, related correspondence, and other reference materials. Committee records include reports, correspondence, and memoranda. Subject files include general correspondence, a National Science Foundation report produced by AFIPS on the development of occupational taxonomies in computing, headquarters newsletters, and various activity and reference files. The records document the financial history and board decisions of AFIPS from 1970 through 1987, a period that immediately preceded the dissolution of AFIPS, in great detail, and the reasoning behind board decisions of this period. Other areas of AFIPS activity are documented in less detail.
The Engineering Research Associates and Remington Rand records contain engineering log books documenting the research on magnetic core storage at ERA and the NIKE-Zeus system at Remington Rand. There is also a file on the circuitry and redesign of the NIKE-ZEUS system, and one comparing coding of various computers. The records also include materials on 1101 (Atlas I), 1103 (Atlas II), a drawing and sort generator for ERA 1103, reports on mechanized computer design, patent and trade secrets of Univac, a report by Ware Myers, and correspondence.
The 2011 accession contains assorted documentation on Univac and RCA as well as Arndt's patent and supporting documentation from the 1960s.
Dates
- 1950-1991
Creator
- Arndt, Rolland B. (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 published materials). Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provisions of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).
Biographical Note
Rolland B. Arndt received his BEE from the University of Minnesota in 1948. Arndt worked as a development engineer with RCA Victor for two years before leaving to work on an MS at Stanford where he worked in the Radio Propagation Laboratory. After receiving his MS in 1952, Arndt worked for Engineering Research Associates (later acquired by Remington Rand). Arndt was active in the American Federation of Information Processing Societies (AFIPS) and he served on numerous committees and on the board of directors in the mid-1980s.
Extent
5 boxes (3.5 cubic feet)
Abstract
Collection contains AFIPS and ERA/Remington Rand records created in conjunction with Rolland B. Arndt's association with AFIPS and employment at ERA/Remington Rand. The AFIPS records include minutes, reports, correspondence, memoranda, computer printouts, financial records, subject files, and handwritten notes. The records document the financial history and board decisions from 1970-1987, the period that immediately preceded the dissolution of AFIPS. The records from ERA and Remington Rand consist of engineering log books documenting research on magnetic core storage at ERA and the NIKE-Zeus system at Remington Rand, correspondence, reports, and subject files. The 2011 accession contains assorted documentation on Univac and RCA as well as Arndt's patent and supporting documentation from the 1960s.
Arrangement of Collection
The materials in this collection are arranged into the following groups:
- AFIPS Records, 1970-1987
- Engineering Records, 1952-1986
- 2011 Accession, 1950-1991
Acquisition:
The records were given to the Charles Babbage Institute by Rolland B. Arndt.
- American Federation of Information Processing Societies
- Arndt, Rolland B.
- Computer engineering -- Research. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Computer industry -- Research. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Computer industry -- Societies, etc. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Computer storage devices -- Research. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Computers -- Research. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Engineering Research Associates
- Magnetic drums -- Research. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Remington Rand, Inc.
- Title
- Rolland B. Arndt Papers, 1950-1991. Finding Aid.
- Author
- Prepared by Pat Hennessy, February 1991; Stephanie Crowe, June 2011.
- 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
