Finding Aids at The University of Minnesota

Arnold A. Cohen Papers. Finding Aid.

Summary Information

Title: Arnold A. Cohen papers.
Dates: 1946-1988
Creator: Cohen, Arnold A.
Extent: 9 boxes (9 cubic feet)
Language: English
Collection Number: CBI 105
Abstract:
The Arnold A. Cohen Papers contain miscellaneous articles, presentations, correspondence, notes, and manuals helping to document Cohen's involvement in the computing industry.

Repository: University of Minnesota Libraries. Charles Babbage Institute.

Access and Use

Acquisition Information:
The Arnold A. Cohen Papers were donated to CBI by Arnold A. Cohen in 1988.
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:
Arnold A. Cohen Papers (CBI 105), Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Biographical Note

Arnold Cohen was a renowned physicist, recognized as a pioneer in the computing industry, who was particularly important in the design and development of digital magnetic storage. His bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (1935), and master's (1938) and PhD in physics (1947) were all from the University of Minnesota. His first professional position was at RCA, and he then became part of the founding group of Engineering Research Associates (ERA) in 1946. After ERA was acquired by Remington Rand in 1952, Cohen and Sidney Rubens co-headed the company's division that was responsible for developing computer systems for the military. Later in his career, in the 1960s and 1970s, Cohen served on the Scientific Advisory Board to the National Security Agency (NSA). Cohen was the Associate Dean of the Institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota in the 1970s and was awarded an IEEE Fellowship in 1984. Cohen was a founding member of the Charles Babbage Institute (CBI) and served on its board. He was active in the Jewish community in Minneapolis, particularly in the Adath Jeshurun congregation.

Collection Scope and Content Note

The papers contain miscellaneous articles, presentations, correspondence, notes, and manuals helping to document Cohen's involvement in the computing industry.

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.

Cohen, Arnold A.

Box and Folder List

Location Title

Box 1
TPD Court Case Information, 1976-1977 Box 1

Box 1
Univac Patents & Licensing Department Consultation, 1968-1972 Box 1

Magnetic Data Storage Systems, 1972 Box 1

Clockless I/O, 1974 Box 1

Cushman et al. Records and Billings, 1951-1952, 1977 Box 1

A. A. Cohen Papers, 1941-1952 Box 1

Review Manual for Certificate in Data Processing, 1968 Box 1

Shakespeare's Secret Cipher, 1971 Box 1

Univac Fundamentals of COBOL, 1969 Box 1

Univac Fundamentals of FORTRAN, 1968 Box 1

Univac Computer Concepts, 1966, 1988 Box 1

First Printing Calculator, 1977 Box 1

Computers, Undated Box 1

Cosmos Club Award, 1974 Box 1

NSA Scientific Advisory Board, 1973-1974 Box 1

Man of the Year, Undated Box 1

Board of Visitors, 1974 Box 1

Influence of U.S. Cryptologic Organizations on the Digital Computer Industry, 1977 Box 1

Louis Kruh M.B.A. Thesis, 1973 Box 1

Addressing Conference Photograph, 1968 Box 1

NSA Miscellaneous Literature and Correspondence, 1968-1974 Box 1

IDA Panel, 1967-1975 Box 1

NSASAB General Correspondence, 1968 Box 1

Government Consulting, 1971-1975 Box 1

EDP Panel, 1971 Box 1

NSA Recruiting and Other Literature, 1964-1965 Box 1

NSA Scientific Advisory Board and Panels Roster, 1970-1971 Box 1

EDP Panel Spares, 1966-1971 Box 1

Side Issues Correspondence for Panel File, 1969 Box 1

For Discussion with Tap, JRJ, 1968-1970 Box 1

Box 2
Radix Conversion, 1970 Box 2

NSA Typewriter-like T/S Terminals, 1968 Box 2

NSA EDP Panel General Correspondence, 1958-1966 Box 2

Univac Computer Network Development to Achieve Resource Sharing, 1970 Box 2

Network of Computers Talk Notes, 1968 Box 2

NSA Technical Journal, 1965 Box 2

Networks of Computers Workshop General File, 1968 Box 2

Networks of Computers Notes for Critique, 1968 Box 2

Director of Defense, 1967 Box 2

NSA Consultancy, 1966-1972 Box 2

NSA EDP Panel General Correspondence, 1967 Box 2

NSA Scientific Advisory Board EDP Panel, 1968-1971 Box 2

Network of Computers, 1969 Box 2

NSA Scientific Advisory Board EDP Panel, 1959-1967 Box 2

Midwest Technical Development Corporation, 1962 Box 2

Control Data Corporation, 1957-1958 Box 2

IRE Awards, 1955 Box 2

ERA Historical, 1952 Box 2

Rand Corporation Soviet Technical Info, 1961-1962 Box 2

Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., 1964 Box 2

Queuing Theory and Simulation, 1951-1963 Box 2

Ellison and Kolman Galois Logic Design, 1970 Box 2

Computers Some History and Background, Undated Box 2

Com-Share, 1965-1966 Box 2

Applied Math, 1958-1966 Box 2

Traffic Control, 1963 Box 2

Articles, 1965-1970 Box 2

Elron/Elbit, 1967-1968 Box 2

Presentations General, 1965 Box 2

CDC 6600, 1963 Box 2

Box 3
Advanced Computer Techniques Corp., 1964-1966 Box 3

Graphics, 1967 Box 3

Information Retrieval, 1958-1964 Box 3

Univac 1106 System, 1969 Box 3

U.S. Navy COBOL, 1968-1969 Box 3

University of Minnesota News, 1971 Box 3

Rosters, Brochures, 1970 Box 3

Regents Committee, 1980 Box 3

Seymour Cray, 1975-1983 Box 3

Association for Computing Machinery, 1972 Box 3

Elmer W. Engstrom University of Minnesota Talk, 1977 Box 3

C.R. Shabetai Correspondence, 1976-1979 Box 3

Univac General Correspondence, 1971-1972 Box 3

Action Spring Joint Computer Conference, 1972 Box 3

Radisson Hotel, 1967-1975 Box 3

The Dominant Role of Users in the Scientific Instrument Innovation Process, 1975 Box 3

Meeting with E.E. Pac. CBI Chronology, 1981 Box 3

Kolthoff Dinner, 1982 Box 3

Papers Solicitation Program, 1983-1984 Box 3

Endowment, Awards, Proposals, 1972-1979 Box 3

Chronological File, 1978-1979 Box 3

Chronological File, 1971-1975 Box 3

IEEE International Conference on Communication, 1967 Box 3

Meetings, 1963-1980 Box 3

Patents and Papers, 1950-1959 Box 3

Duluth Speech, 1963 Box 3

Computer News Article, 1969 Box 3

Quality Conference, 1977 Box 3

AFIPS Directory, 1970 Box 3

Edison Medal, 1977 Box 3

Professional Staff Data Sheet, 1969 Box 3

AAC Progress Reports, 1966-1968 Box 3

Miscellaneous Personal, 1950-1969 Box 3

Box 4
Historic Photograph, 1978 Box 4

The Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator, 1946 Box 4

Non-Company People, 1968 Box 4

ERA Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1947-1980 Box 4

Engineering and Research, 1952 Box 4

Charles Babbage Institute Associate Director, 1982 Box 4

Outstanding Achievement Award Nomination Material, 1977-1979 Box 4

CBI Reprints and Biography, 1950-1984 Box 4

Tomash History ERA, 1950, 1978-1979 Box 4

Annals, Letters to the Editor, 1979 Box 4

Article Distribution by AAC, 1979-1980 Box 4

An On-Line Computing Center for Scientific Problems, 1963 Box 4

Computers and General Systems, 1960-1962 Box 4

Computer Aided Design, Undated Box 4

The Socratic System, 1963 Box 4

Distributed Communications, 1964 Box 4

Eta Kappa Nu Project, 1967 Box 4

Radio Interview Presentation, 1966 Box 4

Stanford University, 1968 Box 4

System Development Corporation, 1961 Box 4

Stanford Research Institute, 1961-1968 Box 4

Forum on Information Display, 1966 Box 4

Hospital Medical Applications, 1963, 1968 Box 4

Rand Corporation, 1961-1970 Box 4

Papers by Ted Lee, 1969-1970 Box 4

Information International, 1984-1986 Box 4

History of Computers, 1975-1986 Box 4

Box 5
High School Students, 1958 Box 5

G. Welchman Correspondence, 1983-1984 Box 5

Media, 1936-1980 Box 5

Miscellaneous History, 1947-1948 Box 5

Some Basic Problems of Number Storage, 1947 Box 5

Magnetic Drum for Computer, 1947-1948, 1977 Box 5

ERA Correspondence, 1976-1977 Box 5

Influence of U.S. Cryptologic Organizations on the Digital Computer Industry, 1977 Box 5

History of Digital Computers, 1964-1980 Box 5

National Security Agency and the Computer Industry, 1977 Box 5

Reports, Symposiums, Public Interest, 1947-1976 Box 5

NSASAB Notes, 1968-1974 Box 5

Senator Humphrey, 1959 Box 5

H.T. Engstrom, 1962 Box 5

G. Mellen on Cryptology, Synthesized Speech, 1973 Box 5

NSA, Correspondence, 1969-1970 Box 5

Network of Computers Proceedings, 1969 Box 5

Network of Computers Proceedings, 1968 Box 5

Publishings, Correspondence, 1966-1979 Box 5

Proposed Interdisciplinary Res. Center, 1974-1977 Box 5

KTCA Twin Cities Area Education Television Corporation, 1971-1972 Box 5

ITV System Physical and Technical, 1968 Box 5

Proposed Associate Dean Position Wkg. File, 1977-1979 Box 5

Resumes and Applications Miscellaneous, 1975-1978 Box 5

NAS Panel Study Interface Standards for ADP Systems, 1971 Box 5

CAS Advisory Board, 1970-1972 Box 5

IDA Consulting, 1975 Box 5

IDA Advisory Panel, 1976 Box 5

Systems of 1980's and IDA, 1975 Box 5

IDA Advisory Board and Study Panel, 1975 Box 5

Teleprocessing Issues in the Department of Defense, 1975 Box 5

Notes, 1948, 1962 Box 5

Travel Expense, 1978-1979 Box 5

IT Advisory Council, Engineer Shortage, 1971, 1974 Box 5

Stephanie Shelton CBS News Women in Engineering/Science, 1978-1979 Box 5

New University of Minnesota Engineering Building, Undated Box 5

Miscellaneous, 1969-1975 Box 5

Alumni News, Correspondence., 1971-1980 Box 5

ECPD Accreditation UCLA, 1969 Box 5

ECPD Accreditation Visit University of Iowa, 1965 Box 5

Engineers Council for Professional Development, 1963-1970 Box 5

Box 6
University of Minnesota Review Committee, 1969-1970 Box 6

Educational Committee, 1948-1951 Box 6

University of Minnesota, 1968-1970 Box 6

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1962-1967 Box 6

H. Opcal. Berkeley, 1970 Box 6

Reports from System Development Corporation, 1960 Box 6

Fellow Reference Working Files, 1969-1976 Box 6

IEEE Edison Medal, 1975-1977 Box 6

University of California Berkeley Campus Map, 1965 Box 6

IEEE Founders Medal Nomination, 1984 Box 6

IEEE Data Center Committee, 1966 Box 6

People: E.R. Piore, 1961-1962 Box 6

IEEE Computer Society Pioneer Award, 1984-1985 Box 6

Fellow Nomination File, 1984-1985 Box 6

ET Award, AAC Synopsis Letter, 1979-1980 Box 6

IEEE Computer Society Entrepreneur Committee, 1986-1988 Box 6

SMR Nomination, 1967-1987 Box 6

CBI Site Committee, 1979 Box 6

CBI Site Visit, 1979-1980 Box 6

AFIPS History Committee, 1978-1979 Box 6

ACM Conference Auerbach Panel, 1967 Box 6

Correspondence, 1975 Box 6

References for IEEE Senior Member Grade, 1969 Box 6

IEEE Fellow Refs Elected, 1964-1973 Box 6

HHC Nomination Working File, 1968 Box 6

IEEE Fellow Nominations Current Working File, 1969-1971 Box 6

Professional Society Directory, 1967 Box 6

IEEE Computer Conference Tanaka Panel, 1967 Box 6

Historical Miscellaneous, 1971-1977 Box 6

IEEE Communications Conference, 1974 Box 6

ICC Speaker File, 1974 Box 6

AFIPS History Committee, 1977 Box 6

AFIPS Social Implications, 1962 Box 6

International Conference on Communication, 1967, 1974 Box 6

Box 7
Essays and Miscellaneous, 1984-1985 Box 7

AFIPS, 1961 Box 7

IRE Professional Group Transactions, 1952-1958 Box 7

IRE Professional Group Transactions, 1959-61 Box 7

IRE Professional Group Transactions, 1962 Box 7

IRE Professional Group Transactions, 1962 Box 7

IRE Professional Group Transactions, 1962 Box 7

IRE Professional Group Transactions, 1962 Box 7

IRE Professional Group Transactions, 1963 Box 7

IRE Professional Group Transactions, 1963 Box 7

IRE Professional Group Transactions, 1963 Box 7

Patents, 1941-1947, 1976 Box 7

IRE Conference, 1954, 1962 Box 7

IEEE Computer Conference, 1967 Box 7

Box 8
IBM, 1965-1970 Box 8

Univac Products, 1962-1968 Box 8

Univac Products, 1968-1970 Box 8

Univac Products, 1964-1970 Box 8

Univac Products and Services, 1969-1971 Box 8

Patents, 1969 Box 8

Chronological File, 1968-1971 Box 8

EDP Analyzers, 1965-1966 Box 8

Hobbs Survey Papers, 1966-1969 Box 8

Ampex, 1965-1970 Box 8

Scientific Data Systems, 1965 Box 8

Digital PDP, 1965 Box 8

Minnesota Computer History Project, 1976-1979 Box 8

Univac Data Communications, 1962-1964 Box 8

Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, 1963-1967 Box 8

Publications, 1965-1968 Box 8

Western Union, 1964-1967 Box 8

Box 9
Data Communications, 1961-1970 Box 9

Planning for Communications, 1965 Box 9

Magnetic Recording Technology, 1967-1969 Box 9

Management Literature, 1966, 1969 Box 9

Computer System Performance Meas., 1969-1970 Box 9

Computer Privacy, Integrity, 1969-1970 Box 9

Storage, Image Type, 1969 Box 9

Archival, General, Unicon, 1969-1970 Box 9

MOS and Other Semi-Conductor Memories, 1970 Box 9

Library and Information Systems, 1962-1969 Box 9

Computer Output Microfilm, 1969-1970 Box 9

Man-Machine Systems, 1964-1969 Box 9

Signal and Speech Processing, 1964-1971 Box 9

The Digital Logic Handbook, 1966 Box 9

Computer Manual, 1968 Box 9

Exhibits to Opinion, 1976 Box 9

Patents, 1933-1966 Box 9

Digital Computers and Memory Systems, 1946 Box 9

Technitrol versus CDC, 1952 Box 9

Computing Machine to Solve Linear Algebra, Undated Box 9

Correspondence, IT Advisory Council Directory, 1979 Box 9

Small Computer Handbook, 1966-1967 Box 9