John P. Nash Papers, 1949-1957. Finding Aid.

Summary Information

Title: John P. Nash papers
Dates: 1949-1957
Creator: Nash, John P. (John Purcell), 1915-
Extent: 1 box (0.1 cubic feet)
Language: English
Collection Number: CBI 14
Abstract:

Collection contains reports relating to the ILLIAC, ORDVAC, and the Digital Computer Laboratory, mimeographed lecture notes, a small amount of correspondence, and articles, all relating to the University of Illinois' computing activities. The articles and reprints include a two-page article on an ILLIAC-generated music composition, a review of computer progress for 1955 (by Nash), and an article with information about the ILLIAC written in Japanese. Also included are ONR Task 30 records and ORDVAC progress reports.

Repository: University of Minnesota Libraries. Charles Babbage Institute.

Access and Use

Acquisition Information:

The records were given to the Charles Babbage Institute by Kenneth W. Kolence in 1984.

Access Restrictions:

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).

Preferred Citation:

John P. Nash Papers (CBI 14), Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Biographical Note

John P. Nash was a faculty member of the University of Illinois' Digital Computing Lab, which oversaw the development of the university's first two computers, the ORDVAC and ILLIAC. Nash received a Ph.D. in mathematics at Rice University (1940), taught at Notre Dame, and worked as a physicist for the Kimberly-Clark Corporation before coming the University of Illinois in 1950.

Work on both Illinois computers had begun in 1949. The ORDVAC was constructed under contract for the U.S. Army to be located at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. The ILLIAC remained at Illinois and was the focus for work at the Digital Computing Laboratory. Nash served as an applied mathematician for the lab, and supervised research in numerical analysis under contract for the Office of Naval Research. Nash also taught early computer courses, including Mathematics 385, "Digital Computer Programming," an introductory course that utilized the ILLIAC.

Nash left the university in 1956 to join Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, where he eventually served as vice president and assistant general manager of the Research and Development Division.

Collection Scope and Content Note

The collection contains reports relating to the ILLIAC, ORDVAC, and the Digital Computer Laboratory, mimeographed lecture notes, a small amount of correspondence and articles, all relating to University of Illinois computing activities. In addition, there are articles and reprints on: ILLIAC-generated music composition, a review of computer progress for 1955, and an article with information about the ILLIAC written in Japanese. A file on the Digital Computer Laboratory includes reports and on the curriculum, staffing, use, and facilities of the lab, as well as information about the use, order code, and operation of the ILLIAC. Mathematics 385 materials include lecture notes that are mimeographed, as well as typed hand-outs on different aspects of computer programming. ONR Task 30 materials contain progress reports and an application for extension of a research project in numerical analysis that was supervised by Nash. ORDVAC Progress Reports contain information about the general status, design, testing, and personnel of the Army project.

Subject Terms

Index Terms

• This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
• Nash, John P. (John Purcell), 1915-
• University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign campus). Digital Computer Laboratory.
• United States. Office of Naval Research.
• Computation laboratories--Illinois.
• Computer music.
• Computers.
• Illiac computer.
• Ordvac computer.

Box and Folder List

Location		Title
Box 1		Articles and Reprints, circa 1956. Box 1, Folder 1
		Digital Computer Laboratory, 1953-1957. Box 1, Folder 2
		Mathematics 385 Lecture Notes, undated. Box 1, Folder 3
		Office of Naval Research Task 30 (Numerical Analysis), 1950-1955. Box 1, Folder 4
		ORDVAC Monthly Progress Reports, Nos. 1-29, 1949-1951. Box 1, Folder 5