Warren G. Simmons Papers, 1953-2002. Finding Aid.

Summary Information

Title: Warren G. Simmons papers.
Dates: 1953-2002
Creator: Simmons, Warren G.
Extent: 1 box (1 cubic foot)
Language: English
Collection Number: CBI 204
Abstract:

Collection contains correspondence, reports, notes, printouts, mailing and telephone lists and other reference material relating to COBOL, the United States Steel Corporation and the Conference on Data Systems Languages (CODASYL).

Repository: University of Minnesota Libraries. Charles Babbage Institute.

Access and Use

Acquisition Information:

Papers were donated by Gail Simmons in 2008.

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:

Warren G. Simmons Papers (CBI 204), Charles Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Biographical Note

Simmons became one of the first programmers at the United States Steel Corporation when it installed a UNIVAC I in 1954. He became active in the company's efforts to standardize its programming efforts at its various divisions. Simmons was active in various capacities in CODASYL starting in 1960. He served on the Executive Committee as secretary, as well as chairman of the Planning Committee and the List Processing Task Force, which later became the Data Base Task Group.

Collection Scope and Content Note

Collection contains correspondence, reports, notes, printouts, mailing and telephone lists and other reference material relating to COBOL, the United States Steel Corporation and the Conference on Data Systems Languages (CODASYL). Among the documents are: Report to the CODASYL COBOL Committee: COBOL Extensions to Handle Data Bases, a report prepared by the Data Base Task Group (1968), CODASYL Symposium on COBOL Compiler Building Techniques, proceedings (1972), The History of the CODASYL Data Description Language Committee, as well as several drafts of Simmons' personal anecdotal memories of his work with CODASYL and U.S. Steel. The collection also includes news clippings about CODASYL, COBOL and Admiral Grace Hopper.

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.
• Simmons, Warren G.
• United States Steel Corporation
• COBOL (Computer program language)
• Conference on Data Systems Languages

Box and Folder List

Location		Title
Box 1		United States Steel Corporation.  Box 1, Folder 1
		U.S. Steel - Central Operations - Integrated Data Processing Through Common Language Machines, 1953. Box 1, Folder 2
		United States Steel Corporation - communications, correspondence and memoranda, 1960-1983. Box 1, Folder 3
		United States Steel - travel summaries and expense reports, 1961-1963. Box 1, Folder 4
		United States Steel - mailing lists and telephone directories, 1968-1979. Box 1, Folder 5
		United States Steel - legal agreements, 1978, 1981. Box 1, Folder 6
		Conference on Data Systems Languages (CODASYL), 1966-1985. Box 1, Folder 7
		CODASYL mailing and telephone lists, 1964-1971. Box 1, Folder 8
		Computer program printouts and notes, 1980s. Box 1, Folder 9
		Simmons' COBOL and CODASYL histories, 1967, 1999. Box 1, Folder 10
		"The Early Years of UNIVAC: An Anecdotal History" by Steve Wright, 1981. Box 1, Folder 11
		Correspondence, 1985-1989. Box 1, Folder 12
		Correspondence with Layton Geddis, 1988-1991. Box 1, Folder 13
		Pittsburgh Chapter Data Processing Management Association, April 1970 newsletter, 1970. Box 1, Folder 14
		Newspaper and magazine clippings, mid 1950s-2002. Box 1, Folder 15
		Photocopies.  Box 1, Folder 16
		Manuals and instructional material.  Box 1, Folder 17
		Ring Binder - Data Base Task Group.  Box 1