Computer History Museum

Johnson, Ted (Theodore) oral history

Ted Johnson begins his oral history by talking about his early life in Iron Mountain, Michigan. He explains the importance of his Swedish background, his enjoyment of music and his interest in going to MIT for architecture and engineering. Thanks to a scholarship, that ambition became possible. Unfortunately, due to an illness, Johnson was able to attend MIT for only five months before moving to a sanatorium for two years to recover his health. His scholarship still intact, Johnson then decided to continue his schooling at Caltech. Johnson then explains his next step: attending Harvard Business School. He discusses his time at Harvard, where he was also able to work at Lincoln Labs, and how he first became interested in Digital Equipment Corporation. After his graduation from Harvard, Johnson began working for DEC. Throughout the interview, he tells anecdotes and stories from his time at DEC. He talks about DEC’s business strategies, their products and the important people who shaped the company. He also discusses DEC’s goals and how they changed over the time he was with them.

Item Details

Date
2010-05-14 (Made)
Type
Document
Catalogue number
102630490
Organization
Computer History Museum
People
Lauren Nelson (Editor)
Theordore (Ted) Johnson (Interviewee)
Gardner Hendrie (Interviewer)
Category
Transcript
Extent
59 p.
Place of publication
North America/USA/MA/Boston
Language
English
Acquisition number
X5815.2010
Subject
Control Data Corporation (CDC), Digital Equipment Corporation, PDP-10 (Computer), PDP-11 (Computer), PDP-6 (Computer), PDP-8 (Computer), Radio Corporation of America (RCA), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), CERN, Lincoln Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Archive collection
CHM Oral History Collection
Archive hierarchy
CHM Oral History Collection