Alan J. Perlis Papers, 1942-1989. Finding Aid.

Summary Information

Title: Alan J. Perlis papers
Dates: 1942-1989
Creator: Perlis, Alan J.
Extent: 6 boxes (4.5 cubic feet)
Language: English
Collection Number: CBI 64
Abstract:

Collection contains correspondence, class handouts, lecture notes and visual aids, published articles and reports, subject files, audio tapes and videotapes relating to Perlis' work in computer science education, programming languages, and compiler programs.

Repository: University of Minnesota Libraries. Charles Babbage Institute.

Access and Use

Acquisition Information:

The records were given to the Charles Babbage Institute by Mrs. Alan J. Perlis in 1990 and the Association for Computing Machinery in 1990.

Access Restrictions:

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).

Preferred Citation:

Alan J. Perlis Papers (CBI 64), Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Arrangement

The materials in this collection are arranged into the following groups:

• Class Materials, 1962-1987
• Committee Records, 1976-1987
• Conference Records, 1956-1989
• Correspondence, 1969-1989
• Subject Files, 1942-1987
• Talks and Lectures, 1951-1988
• Audio Tapes and Video Tapes, undated and 1985

Biographical Note

Alan J. Perlis received a B.S. in chemistry from Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1943, and an M.S. (1949) and PhD (1950) in mathematics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). At M.I.T. he worked on Project Whirlwind from 1948-1949, and again in 1952, after a year at the Ballistic Research Laboratories, Aberdeen Proving Ground. In 1952 he became director of the Computing Laboratory and an assistant professor of Mathematics at Purdue University. In 1956 he took a position at Carnegie Institute of Technology (later Carnegie-Mellon University). There he was director of the computation center, 1956-1960; chair of the Department of Mathematics, 1960-1964; and chair of the Computer Science Department, 1965-1971. In 1971 he was appointed Eugene Higgins Professor of Computer Science at Yale, and served as chair of the Computer Science Department 1976-1980, except for the 1977-1978 year when he was the Gordon and Betty Moore Professor of Computer Science at the California Institute of Technology.

Throughout his professional life, his dominant interest remained programming languages. In the mid-1950s, Perlis began to design the IT (Internal Translator) compiler at Purdue and he completed the project after moving to Carnegie Institute of Technology. As chair of the Association for Computer Machinery committee charged to develop a common universal programming language in 1957, he worked to create ALGOL. ALGOL is a second generation language which led to PASCAL and other derivative languages and helped establish new standards for the development of programming languages. Later, Perlis worked with APL while at Yale.

Perlis wrote several articles and books on programming and compilers including an introductory text on computer programming. Perlis was active in the Association for Computer Machinery, becoming the first editor of Communications of the ACM (1958-1962), and president of the ACM from 1962 to 1964.

Perlis received the A. N. Turing Award of the ACM in 1966 and the AFIPS Education Award in 1984.

Collection Scope and Content Note

The collection contains correspondence, class handouts, lecture notes and visual aids, published articles and reports, subject files, audio tapes and videotapes relating to Alan Perlis' work in computer science education, programming languages, and compiler programs. The collection includes transcripts and recordings of classroom lectures for one course and notes for other course that Perlis taught. Committee records include minutes, correspondence, and reports from committees on which Perlis served including a number of Yale faculty committees. Perlis' M.S. thesis and Ph.D. dissertation are included in his subject files along with information on the programming languages ALGOL, APL, and LISP, and several compilers including the IT compiler. The audio tapes include a panel discussion and a discussion of the Strategic Defense Initiative. The videotapes document the fortieth anniversary of ACM and includes a segment on Perlis.

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.
• Perlis, Alan J.
• Association for Computing Machinery
• Yale University. Dept. of Computer Science
• ALGOL (Computer program language)--History
• APL (Computer program language)
• Compilers (Computer programs)
• Computer science--Study and teaching (Higher)
• LISP (Computer program language)
• Programming languages (Electronic computers)--History--Sources

Box and Folder List

Location		Title
		Class Materials, 1962-1987  Note This series contains class assignments, problems, examinations, notes, and some transparencies Perlis used in his lectures.
Box 1		CS110, Fall 1985 Box 1, Folder 1-6 Note These lectures are keyed to recordings in Audio Tapes series.
		CS112a, Fall 1979 Box 1, Folder 7
		CS112b, Spring 1980 Box 1, Folder 8
		CS221, 1980-1982 Box 1, Folder 9-12
		CS221b, Spring 1980 Box 1, Folder 13
		CS421, 1986 Box 1, Folder 14-15
		GS317, 1962 Box 1, Folder 16
		S-205, May 1962 Box 1, Folder 17
		Supercomputer Language Tutorial, 1987 Box 1, Folder 18-22
		Committee Records, 1976-1987  Note These files have minutes, correspondence, and reports from committees on which Perlis served; they are arranged alphabetically by institution name.
Box 1		Advisory Committee on the Physical Sciences and Engineering, 1983 Box 1, Folder 23
		Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, 1983-1987 Box 1, Folder 24-25
		ICS Program Review Committee, UC Irvine, undated. Box 1, Folder 26
		National Academy of Engineering, 1983 Box 1, Folder 27
		National Research Council committees:
Box 1		Assembly of Engineering, 1978-1979 Box 1, Folder 28
		Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, 1983 Box 1, Folder 29-31
		National Science Foundation, 1981 Box 1, Folder 32
		Sacred Heart University Advisory Council for the Division of Mathematics and Science, 1983 Box 1, Folder 33
		Yale University committees:
Box 1		Committee on the Applied Mathematics Major, 1976 Box 1, Folder 34
		Committee on Academic Computing, 1982, 1985 Box 1, Folder 35
		Committee on Cooperative Research, Patents, and Licensing, 1986 Box 1, Folder 36
		Committee to Restructure the Graduate Studies in the Department of Computer Science, 1989 Box 1, Folder 37
		Course of Study Committee, 1986 Box 1, Folder 38
		Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, 1985, 1987 Box 1, Folder 39
		Conference Records, 1956-1989  Note These files include: proceedings, agendas, flyers, an abstract and transcript of a talk, and correspondence, all arranged chronologically by year.
Box 1		The Digital Computer program, Carnegie Institute of Technology, 1956 Box 1, Folder 40
		Computing and Data Processing Society of Canada proceedings, 1960 Box 1, Folder 41
		Conference on Computer Science Education (NSF), 1969 Box 1, Folder 42
		History of Programming Languages, ALGOL history manuscript and papers, 1978 Box 1, Folder 43
		ACM Conference on History of Workstations, 1985 Box 1, Folder 44
		First International Conference on Supercomputing Systems, 1985 Box 1, Folder 44
		Planning for Second International Conference on Supercomputing and First World Supercomputer Exhibition, 1985 Box 1, Folder 44
		Role of Language in Problem Solving, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, 1985 Box 1, Folder 45
Box 6		Second International Conference on Supercomputing and First World Supercomputer Exhibition, 1987 Box 6
Box 1		Compcon '89, 1989 Box 1, Folder 46
		Correspondence, 1969-1989  Note The correspondence is arranged in two subseries: general correspondence and subject correspondence. The latter subseries is correspondence filed by subject headings in Perlis' files. All other correspondence is arranged chronologically in the general correspondence subseries.
Box 1		General correspondence, 1971-1989. Box 1, Folder 47-52
Box 2		General correspondence, 1971-1989. Box 2, Folder 1-9
		Subject Correspondence, 1969-1989
Box 2		Abacus, 1985-1986 Box 2, Folder 10
		ACM, 1980-1985 Box 2, Folder 11-13
		AFIPS Education Award, 1984 Box 2, Folder 14
		APL, 1978 Box 2, Folder 15
		CEDAR (computer system), undated. Box 2, Folder 16
		Epigrams, 1982 Box 2, Folder 17
		Eugene Higgins Trust, 1983-1985 Box 2, Folder 18
		Evans & Sutherland, 1973 Box 2, Folder 19
		Fluent computer, 1988-1989 Box 2, Folder 20
		Future commitments, 1981-1983 Box 2, Folder 21
		International Centre for Theoretical Physics, 1989 Box 2, Folder 22
		International Summer School on Language Hierarchies and Interfaces, 1973-1975 Box 2, Folder 23
		NATO Summer Course, 1973 Box 2, Folder 24
		Office of Naval Research - Perlis/Sayward, 1980-1982 Box 2, Folder 25
		Permission to reprint, 1980-1982 Box 2, Folder 26
		Pioneer Award, 1985 Box 2, Folder 27
		Publishers/Journals: Springer-Verlag, 1969, 1973 Box 2, Folder 28
		Purdue Honorary Doctorate, 1973 Box 2, Folder 29
		Speaking engagements, 1971-1972, 1987-1988 Box 2, Folder 30-31
		Universities, 1979-1982 Box 2, Folder 32
		Utilitas Mathematica, 1971 Box 2, Folder 33
		Waterloo Mathematics Convocation (Honoris Causa Degree), 1974 Box 2, Folder 34
		Yale, 1980-1987 Box 2, Folder 35
		Subject Files, 1942-1987  Note The subject files include Perlis' M.I.T thesis and dissertation, a 1958 CMU Automatic Programming Study reports and proposal to the Army Signal Corps, published articles and reports as well as research notes and background materials. Other topics include programming languages, such as APL, ALGOL, LISP; and Carnegie Institute of Technology compilers, including TASS, THAT, GATE, GATE-20, and IT (Internal Translator).
Box 2		Algebraic Systems, undated. Box 2, Folder 36
		Algorithms for the Factorization of Sparce, Symmetric Positive Definite Matrices, undated. Box 2, Folder 37
		Alonzo language, undated. Box 2, Folder 38
		APL:
Box 2		APL, general, 1983 Box 2, Folder 39
		APL for Management Scientists, 1978 Box 2, Folder 40
		Markov compiler in APL, undated. Box 2, Folder 41
		Programming with Idioms in APL, after 1975 Box 2, Folder 42
		APL Idiom List, Yale research report #87, 1977 Box 2, Folder 43-44
		Notes, undated. Box 2, Folder 45-46
		APL Processor, circa 1975 Box 2, Folder 47
		Program notes, undated. Box 2, Folder 48
		Steps Toward an APL Compiler, NSF report #24, 1974, 1975 Box 2, Folder 49-50
		"Automatic Programming," 1972 Box 2, Folder 51
		Broadside for American Veterans Committee, 1947 Box 2, Folder 52
		Carnegie Alumnus, 1958 Box 2, Folder 53
		Carnegie Institute of Technology, remote communication system, undated. Box 2, Folder 56
		Carnegie Review, 1964/1965 Box 2, Folder 54
		China trip, 1972, 1973 Box 2, Folder 55
		CMU reports before 1971
Box 2		Automatic Programming Study 1958-1959 Box 2, Folder 57-58
		Course Notes: Algol 60, 1962 Box 2, Folder 59-60
Box 3		THAT, symbolic language for the Bendix G-20, 1961 Box 3, Folder 1
		"Computer Algebra" background materials, 1989 Box 3, Folder 2
		Computer Programming and Artificial Intelligence, 1958 Box 3, Folder 3
		Computer Science:
Box 3		"Computer Science is Neither Mathematics Nor Electrical Engineering." undated. Box 3, Folder 4
		"What is Computer Science?" undated. Box 3, Folder 4
		"What is Computer Science, again?" undated. Box 3, Folder 4
		Computers and Data Processing, Dept. of Defense Survey, 1968 Box 3, Folder 5
		"Computers in Science and Technology," circa 1975 Box 3, Folder 6
		"A Disk File Oriented Time-Sharing System," undated. Box 3, Folder 7
		GATE:
Box 3		GATE, Algebraic Compiler with Segmenting and Library Features for a Disk, by A. J. Perlis, H. R. Van Zoeren, and A. Evans, Jr., 1959 Box 3, Folder 8
		GATE, Algebraic Compiler for the Bendix G-20, 1962 Box 3, Folder 8
		GEM, after 1974 Box 3, Folder 9
		Humor, undated. Box 3, Folder 10
		An Introductory Course in Computer Programming, Braden and Perlis, 1965 Box 3, Folder 11
		IT (Internal Translator):
Box 3		"Flow Charts for the Carnegie Tech Compiler," by William C. Lynch, 1957 Box 3, Folder 12
		"Formation Rules for the Carnegie Tech Compiler (IT)," 1957 Box 3, Folder 12
		Internal Translator (IT), a compiler for the 650, by A. J. Perlis, J. W. Smith, and H. R. Van Zoeren, 1957 Box 3, Folder 12
		"On Using IT," by H. R. Van Zoeren, undated. Box 3, Folder 12
		IT to Fortran Translator, 1959 Box 3, Folder 13
		LISP, 1983 Box 3, Folder 14
		Manuscript preparation and organithms, undated. Box 3, Folder 15
		M.I.T Thesis, 1942 Box 3, Folder 16
		M.I.T. PhD. Dissertation, 1950 Box 3, Folder 17
		Math. Analysis - Notes and Problems, undated.  Box 3, Folder 18
		Minker - Perlis Paper, "Optimizing Boolean Expressions for Compilers and Data Retrieval," 1977 Box 3, Folder 19-20
		Notes, undated. Box 3, Folder 21
		Poetry, 1980 Box 3, Folder 22
		"Programming Languages," 1980 Box 3, Folder 23
		Programming languages, "A Survey of Programming and Programming Languages," after 1970 Box 3, Folder 24
		"Publication System for the ACM," circa 1967 Box 3, Folder 25
		Reviews, 1979-1987 Box 3, Folder 26-27
		Semantics, after 1969 Box 3, Folder 28
		Social Processes and Proofs of Theorems and Programs, 1976 Box 3, Folder 29
		Software Dynamics, undated. Box 3, Folder 30
		Subroutines, circa 1955-1956. Box 3, Folder 31
		"Symbolic Tools in Computer Programs and Their Influence on Language Design," undated. Box 3, Folder 32
		TASS (Tech Assembly System), by A. J. Perlis, J. W. Smith, and A. Evans, Jr., 1959 Box 3, Folder 33
		Technology and Education, circa 1971 Box 3, Folder 34
		Text Editing, circa 1970 Box 3, Folder 35
		Yale - Introductory Courses Information, 1987 Box 3, Folder 36
		Talks and Lectures, 1951-1988  Note This series consists largely of overhead transparencies. There are also some notes and transcripts of speeches, and Aberdeen Proving Grounds BRL Lecture notes from 1951. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.
Box 4		Aberdeen Proving Grounds BRL lecture notes, 1951 Box 4, Folder 1
		APL, undated. Box 4, Folder 2
		APL and Formatting., undated. Box 4, Folder 3
		APL -- Ladders and APL Machines., undated. Box 4, Folder 4
		APL '83, circa 1983 Box 4, Folder 5
		APL vs. LISP, undated. Box 4, Folder 6
		Bologna talk, Italy, 1963 Box 4, Folder 7
		CBMS panel, 1970 Box 4, Folder 8
		CMU 10th Anniversary Symposium, 1977 Box 4, Folder 9
		CMU and MIT Lectures, undated. Box 4, Folder 10
		Computer Museum Lectures, circa 1984 Box 4, Folder 11-15
		Computer Science Overview, undated. Box 4, Folder 16-17
		Computing in the '50's, (Nashville), 1980 Box 4, Folder 18
		Conversational languages, circa 1970 Box 4, Folder 19
		Crystal City Workshop, 1988 Box 4, Folder 20
		EJCC, 1961 Box 4, Folder 21
		EJCC, 1969 Box 4, Folder 22
		5th Generation Computing (Xerox Seminar), undated. Box 4, Folder 23
		General Computing, undated. Box 4, Folder 24
		Gradients, undated. Box 4, Folder 25
		KWIC (Fairchild), undated. Box 4, Folder 26
		LISP/FP, undated. Box 4, Folder 27
		Mathematical Formatting, undated. Box 4, Folder 28
		Operating Systems, undated. Box 4, Folder 29
		Operating Systems, notes, undated. Box 4, Folder 30
		Programming Lecture, undated. Box 4, Folder 31
		Sacred Heart Honorary Doctorate speech, 1979 Box 4, Folder 32
		Software Systems, undated. Box 4, Folder 33
		Software Systems, (for Xerox, includes "A Lisp Shell" ) by John R. Ellis, undated. Box 4, Folder 34
		University of Texas Lectures, undated. Box 4, Folder 35
		VLSI Technology (ITT), 1982 Box 4, Folder 36
		Yale Alumni Talk, 1982 Box 4, Folder 37
		Unidentified, undated. Box 4, Folder 38-41
		Audio Tapes and Video Tapes, undated, 1985  Note This series includes audio recordings of a panel discussion involving Perlis, a discussion of the Strategic Defense Initiative, a series of lectures given by Perlis on translators and assembly systems, and class lectures keyed to Perlis' lecture notes in the first series. The original recordings of Perlis' class lectures were made on microcassettes at half speed. Dubbing the poor sound quality originals to standard cassettes has lessened the clarity of the lectures. The video tapes are of the ACM fortieth anniversary celebration which includes a segment on Alan Perlis.
Box 5		ACM "Informat," [VHS cassette tape] undated. Box 5
		CS110 lectures (keyed to class notes), Fall 1985.  Box 5 Note [29 lectures on 20 audio cassette tapes]
		Panel discussion with Alan Perlis, Gerald Sussman, and Vlad Terski, undated. Box 5
		Translators and assembly systems lectures, 29 June-10 July 1959.  Box 5 Note [10 lectures on 5 audio reel to reel tapes]
		SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative) discussion, undated. Box 5