Biographical Note:
Victor W. D. Hale worked as a code breaker at Bletchley Park, England during World War II. After the war, he was associated with Trinity College, but it is not certain in what capacity (student or professor). In the fall of 1949, he joined the Department of Mathematics at the University of Hull. In the early 1960s, he moved to York University where he was a Senior Lecturer and was head of the department from 1966 to 1967. He retired in 1987 and died in 2004.
Historical Note:
The “Conference on high-speed automatic calculating machines” took place at the Cambridge University Mathematical Laboratory June 22-25, 1949. The conference was hosted by the laboratory’s director, Maurice V. Wilkes. Approximately 100 scholars attended the four day conference. The following are some of the session presented during the conference:
o Survey of the present position of work on automatic digital computers
o The EDSAC
o Demonstration of the EDSAC
o The Automatic Relay Computer
o Cathode Ray Tube Storage
o Discussion on programming and coding
o French computing machine projects
o Some routines involving large integers
o Checking processes for large routines
o Discussion of permanent and semi-permanent storage facilities
o Discussion on checking procedure and circuits
o Computing machines: plans, projects and general ideas
Scope and Content Note:
The Victor W. D. Hale papers are grouped into two series. The Conference papers series contains papers relating to the Conference on high-speed automatic calculating machines held at the Cambridge University Mathematical Laboratory June 22-25, 1949. Of note is the information given to attendees such as a list of those attending, printouts from EDSAC, copies of papers presented in some of the sessions, and handwritten notes by Victor Hale.
The EDSAC papers series contains papers relating to EDSAC itself from both before and after the conference. Of note are handwritten notes of a routine to calculate square roots and the accompanying EDSAC coding sheets by Victor Hale, which may be the earliest coding notes and sheets for EDSAC extant, as well as blueprint diagrams of EDSAC’s order interpretation sent to Hale by Eric Mutch.
List of references handed out at the Cambridge computer conference. References are broken up into subsections: differential analyser, application of the differential analyser to partial differential equations, electrical analogue for non-steady heat flow, other analogue machines, digital machines, and general.
R. H. A. Carter gave a talk on "Checkable Addition Circuits" and distributed a copy of his paper to the attendees. This same paper appears in the conference proceedings (pages 97-102) and differes from this handout in the placement of the figures (here they are blue diazotype diagrams attached to several pages, but in the conference proceedings they are gathered at the end of the paper).
One paper by L. Kosten (a Dutch computer scientist) describe a special purpose digital calculator built in 1941 at The Hague Local Telephone Administration's Laboratory to simulate part of a telephone exchange in order to evaluate its probable performance. The other paper justifies the use of various assumptions.
One sheet has a block of square numbers, the other has a block of prime numbers along with a note reading "Calculated by EDSAC 10 May 1949." Both sheets were signed by Maurice V. Wilkes at a later date.
Letter discussing arrangements for the Conference on high-speed automatic calculating machines held in Cambridge June 22-25, 1949 along with a provisional program
Packet contains letter outlining detail of conference, a provisional program, a map of the area, and a round ID badge with the name "V. W. D. Hale" written on it. The letter instructs attendees to wear the attached ID badge.
"The Director of the University Mathematical Laboratory requests the pleasure of the company of Mr. V. W. D. Hale at a Reception to be held in the Laboratory on Wednesday 22nd June 1949 at 4:15 p.m."
Several pages of handwritten notes outlining a routine for calculating square roots by Victor W. D. Hale. It is believed that these notes are from late 1948/early 1949 (possibly before the EDSAC was operational) based on the code used. There is also a note from Eric Mutch inviting Victor Hale to play tennis.
Letter from Mutch in response to inquiry from Hale about how EDSAC intreprets an order. Mutch included The New Initial Input Orders (August 1949), The Initial Input Sub-Routine, Initial Input Orders II - Use of Close Sub-Routines, EDSAC Order Code, and EDSAC Tape and Teleprinter Code 25.10.1949
