The Henry S. Tropp papers consist of materials stored in his office at Humboldt State University ranging in date from 1950 to 2000. The collection includes correspondence, research, and computer books, covering his professional work as both a history of computing scholar and a professor of mathematics.
Much of the collection relates to the work he did with professional associations such as AFIPS and ACM pertaining to publications and events about computer history. For example, the collection includes information about book reviews that he wrote for the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, preparations for conferences such as HOPL (History of Programming Languages) and DPMA (Data Processing Management Association), and planning for events like Pioneer Day sponsored by the AFIPS History of Computing Committee. This portion of the collection is primarily composed of correspondence and memos. The collection also includes research for articles and events about important people, machines, and moments in computing history. Throughout the Tropp papers, there is correspondence with notable figures in the computing and computer history industry, some of which pertains to the Computer Oral History collection at the Smithsonian Institution. Finally, the collection holds information related to Tropp's work as a professor of mathematics and his involvement in the field through professional associations and publications.
In addition to paper documents, the collection includes approximately 170 cassette tapes, five beta cam tapes, two VHS tapes, ten reel to reel tapes, and two DVDs. Most of these are either recordings of events, lectures, panel discussions, or oral history interviews. The collection also includes a small amount of photographic prints and slides.
Biographical/Historical Note
Henry S. Tropp was a professor of mathematics at Humboldt State University and a well-known computer history scholar. He is best known as one of the creators of the Computer Oral History Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
Tropp was born in Gary, Indiana on July 15, 1927. He graduated from Froebel High School in 1943 and then attended Purdue University, graduating in 1949. Professor Tropp earned a PhD in mathematics at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada. After graduating, he taught at the Montana School of Mines and at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California.
Tropp was regarded as an authority on the history of the development of the computer and compiled the oral history of the computer for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. He was in great demand as a lecturer and authored many papers for various scientific and mathematical journals. Tropp was involved in many professional associations and publications, such as the AFIPS History of Computing Committee and the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. Upon his retirement he was a Guest Lecturer at Cambridge College in Cambridge, England. At the time of his death on March 24, 2007, Tropp held the position of emeritus Mathematics faculty member at Humboldt State University.
Date
1950-2000
Extent
26.92 Linear feet, 18 record cartons, 1 newspaper box, 1 manuscript box, 5 cassette boxes, 1 oversize folder
The Henry S. Tropp papers consist of materials stored in his office at Humboldt State University ranging in date from 1950 to 2000. The collection includes correspondence, research, and computer books, covering his professional work as both a history of computing scholar and a professor of mathematics.
Much of the collection relates to the work he did with professional associations such as AFIPS and ACM pertaining to publications and events about computer history. For example, the collection includes information about book reviews that he wrote for the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, preparations for conferences such as HOPL (History of Programming Languages) and DPMA (Data Processing Management Association), and planning for events like Pioneer Day sponsored by the AFIPS History of Computing Committee. This portion of the collection is primarily composed of correspondence and memos. The collection also includes research for articles and events about important people, machines, and moments in computing history. Throughout the Tropp papers, there is correspondence with notable figures in the computing and computer history industry, some of which pertains to the Computer Oral History collection at the Smithsonian Institution. Finally, the collection holds information related to Tropp’s work as a professor of mathematics and his involvement in the field through professional associations and publications.
In addition to paper documents, the collection includes approximately 170 cassette tapes, five beta cam tapes, two VHS tapes, ten reel to reel tapes, and two DVDs. Most of these are either recordings of events, lectures, panel discussions, or oral history interviews. The collection also includes a small amount of photographic prints and slides.