Ranging in date from 1937 to 2004, the Harry D. Huskey Papers document Huskey's work in computer science. The collection includes technical reports and papers, manuals, meeting minutes, product data sheets, newsletters, conference proceedings, correspondence, handwritten notes, a personal journal, an autobiography, and photographs.
The bulk of the collection is comprised of reports, manuals, and scholarly articles pertaining to Huskey's work on the EDVAC, Pilot ACE at the National Physical Laboratory, and SWAC between 1945 and 1955. Huskey's journal documents his daily work and the development of the National Bureau of Standards and SWAC between 1948 and 1952.
Of note are meeting minutes of the Applied Mathematics Executive Council (AMEC) from 1948 to 1952. Additionally, Huskey's 2004 autobiography Harry D. Huskey: His Story, which describes both his personal life and professional career, is included in the collection.
Photographs include portraits of Huskey throughout his career, images of SWAC components, promotional images of Huskey with SWAC, and an image of Huskey's Bendix G-15 computer at the Smithsonian.
Biographical Note
Harry Douglas Huskey was born on January 19, 1916 in Bryson City, North Carolina, and grew up in Idaho. He received a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of Idaho in 1937. Upon graduation, Huskey spent a year studying mathematics and working as a teaching assistant at Ohio University. In 1939, he accepted another teaching assistant position at Ohio State University. Huskey received his Master's and Doctorate in Mathematics from Ohio State University in 1943. From 1943 to 1946 he taught mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania while working part time on the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) and Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer (EDVAC) at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering.
In 1947, Huskey spent a year working at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, United Kingdom, where he worked alongside Alan Turning on the Pilot Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) and other projects.
In 1948, Huskey returned to the United States and began working in Los Angeles, CA, where he designed and managed the construction of the National Bureau of Standards Western Automatic Computer (SWAC). He worked at the National Bureau of Standards until 1954, when he joined the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley. While at Berkeley, he designed the G-15, which was manufactured and sold by the Bendix Aviation Corporation.
Huskey joined the faculty of the newly formed University of California, Santa Cruz in 1967. There, he dedicated a significant amount of time to bringing computer science and technology to universities in countries around the world. He also contributed to Ford Foundation and USAID-supported projects in India at I.I.T. Kanpur and Delhi University, as well as a UNESCO-funded project at Yangon University in Burma (Myanmar). Huskey retired in 1986, at age 70.
This is a color image of Harry Huskey sitting at the console of the SWAC computer. He is facing towards the left side of the image and away from the camera. He is dressed in a suit and tie and has his right hand on the console and his left hand is holding an open binder with notes. The main computer in front of him is labeled "NBS Western Automatic Computer".
This is a black and white image of the SWAC computer and main console. The image was taken with overhead lights off to highlight theconsole lights. The mainframe is backlit to provide contrast with the Williams tubes in center of mainframe.
B&W image of building of the SWAC Mainframe. Four men are in the picture, (L-R) Harry Larson, Harry Huskey, Sidney Green, David Rutland.
Verso in Ink: " SWAC 1949 Building SWAC Mainframe Arithmetic chassis on cart in foreground"
Verso black stamp: " Photography Ray Wright Chapmasn 5-2965 1361 East Colorado Blvd. Glendale 5, California Neg #"
This is a color image of the Bendix G-15 computer on display in a museum. The system includes reel to reel tape machine, typewriter console, and the G-15 computer. Light is coming from overhead and from the flash of the camera. The wall display reads "Foundations The Business of Computers".
This is a color image of Harry Huskey wearing black glasses, a coat and tie, and smiling in front of the camera. The background is mainly dark with a painting and sofa behind him. Light is coming from the direction of the camera.
This is a black and white image of three tube plug ins for the SWAC computer and a circuit board with transistors against a grayish white background. Written on verso side of image in pencil is "plug ins".
This is a black and white image of a chassis with tubes and transistors against a white background. In front of the chassis is a 12 in. ruler with metric scale. Written on the left side of the image is "#2-B".
This is a black and white image showing the rear view of a chassis with tubes and transistors against a white background. In the foreground is a 12 in. ruler with metric scale. Written on the left side of the image is "#1-B".
This is a black and white image of a chassis with tubes and transistors against a white background. In the foreground is a 12 in. ruler with metric scale. Written on the left side of the image is "#1-B".
This is a black and white image of a chassis with tubes and transistors against a white background. In the foreground is a 12 in. ruler with metric scale. Written on the left side of the image is "#1-A".
This is a black and white image of Harry Huskey sitting down in front of the SWAC computer console. This is a left side profile image of him wearing glasses, suite, and tie, and reading a notebook while his right hand is hitting a button on the console. The SWAC console has rows of lights and buttons along with two oscilloscope screens and meter dials. Light is coming from the direction of the camera. Written on verso side of image in blue pen is "UCLA".
This is a black and white image of Harry Huskey sitting down in front of the SWAC computer console. It is a left side profile shot of him wearing glasses, suite, and tie, and is holding a binder while his right hand is hitting a button on the console. The SWAC console has rows of lights and buttons along with two oscilloscope screens and meter dials. In the background is the main computer that is labeled "NBS Western Automatic Computer". Light is coming from the direction of the camera. Written on verso side of image in pencil is "SWAC and H.D. Huskey 1950" as well as "1" which is circled. There is also a stamp with reddish pink letter "20958" and "3" on verso side of image.
This is a black and white image of Harry Huskey, dressed in a coat and tie, in front of the SWAC core computer holding one of the internal modules. Light is coming from overhead and from the left side of the image. Written on the white piece of paper that is attached to the image in black ink is "17".
This is a black and white image of the SWAC computer and main console. The SWAC computer is labeled "NBS Western Automatic Computer". An IBM input machine and magnetic drum memory unit is on the left. Light is coming from overhead. Typed in text on verso side on the red border label is "FIG. 1 THE SWAC SYSTEM The SWAC computer and console center right. IBM input equipment and magnetic drum memory unit extreme left.". Also written in black pen on label is "1953". There is a "2" written in pencil and circled on verso side of image.
This is a black and white image of Harry Huskey, 2nd from left in image and in a coat and tie, watching the construction of the SWAC computer. The three men nearest to Harry Huskey, from left to right, Harry Larson, Sidney Green, and David Rutland. There is another unidentified man in the background at the chalkboard facing away from the camera. The arithmetic chassis is on a cart in the foreground. Light is coming from overhead.
This is a black and white image of Harry Huskey, wearing a coat and tie, sitting in front of his desk talking on the phone while reading notes. His desk is furnished with stapler, calender, name plate, intercom, and pen. There are some papers on his desk as well. Light is coming from overhead. Written on the white paper that is attached to the image is "14" in black pen. "UCLA" is written on the back of the photograph.
This is a black and white image of three women sitting in front of a computer and assorted equipment. All three woman are wearing dresses and staring at the camera. Light is coming from overhead. Written on verso side of image is "UCLA".
This is a black and white image of Harry Huskey, wearing glasses, suit, and tie, smiling in front of the camera. This is an outdoor shot with the light coming from the sun from the right side of the image. Written on the white piece of paper in pencil in the upper left corner is "HDH56" and in black pen on the right edge is "7."
This is a black and white image of Harry Huskey against a white background wearing glasses, suit, and tie. He is smiling and facing the camera. Written on the white piece of paper on the right side is "19".
This is a black and white image of Harry Huskey, wearing a glasses, suit, and tie, smiling in front of the camera against a white background. Written on the attached white paper is "22" and "21" is crossed off.
