Item Details

Description

The Einar K. Anderson collection, which ranges in date from 1971 to 1995, contains manuals, published material, software, and media related to working with microcomputers such as the 1042 Alpha Micro. Anderson used computers for processing biological, temperature, and solar data, most of which was collected during a study at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant area. A quarter of the collection is made up of an Alpha Micro documentation library, which Anderson used along with his 1042 Alpha Micro. About half of the collection is made up of various published materials used primarily for reference. Examples of materials in this portion of the collection include reference books about microcomputers, AutoCAD, and assorted computer operating systems, manuals for software such as SuperCalc, DESQview, BioStat, Kermit, and General Ledger, and periodical compilations, such as Dr. Dobbs Reference Library, Best of Creative Computing, and Best of Byte Magazine. The final fourth of the collection is made up of mixed materials, such as subject files on tide prediction, technical reports, software, and VHS tapes. A technical report of particular note is one written by Anderson and several other authors reporting on their ecological studies at Diablo Canyon Power Plant from 1969 to 1987. Additionally, this portion of the collection holds about 40 floppy disks, most of which are published versions of software such as Microsoft Windows version 3.0, SuperCalc 5.0, DESQview, and BioStat version three. About five floppy disks have handwritten labels and possibly contain data from Anderson’s research. Also included in this part of the collection are eleven VHS tapes ranging in date from 1984 to 1995, with a mix of published and handwritten labels. Most of the tapes appear to be related software, with titles pertaining to Kermit, AM100T system, AMOS, and AutoLog. Biographical/Historical Note Einar K. Anderson was a biologist and environmental scientist who conducted field and lab research in California. He was born May 8, 1937 and attended high school in Hanford, CA. After graduating from Pomona College in 1968 with a BS in Biology, Anderson went to work for Wheeler J. North, a well-known marine biologist at Cal Tech. During this time, Anderson was located at Kerckhoff Marine Laboratory in Corona del Mar, California, where he researched Macrocystis, a type of kelp. He then moved to Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University in Pacific Grove, where he was a researcher as well as chief dive officer. While at Hopkins Marine Station, Anderson was an independent biological consultant for Wheeler J. North and worked with him on surveys for Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) power plants and private biological studies. In 1975 Anderson was hired as a consultant by PG&E to establish a thermal effects program to study the impact of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant on Diablo Cove. He set up the field study for both intertidal and subtidal data collection, and he developed the temperature monitors and solar monitors for both above and below water. Anderson continued in this position until 1986. Additionally, he was responsible for preparing the Wheeler J. North Ecological Studies at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant (1969-1987) report to PG&E. Anderson continued to consult for PG&E and other companies until about 1995, when he fully retired.

Level of description

Collection

Date

1971-1995

Extent

7.75 linear feet in 4 record cartons, 1 periodical box, 1 newspaper box, and 2 manuscript boxes

Subject

Microcomputers

Collection title

Einar K. Anderson collection

Credit

Gift of Faylla Chapman

Catalogue number

102784939

Lot number

X8462.2018