Aiken, Howard H. (Howard Hathaway), 1900-1973

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Howard H. Aiken, applied mathematician and computer scientist, was born on March 8, 1900 in Hoboken, New Jersey. He received his B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1923. After working as an electrical engineer, Aiken studied physics at the University of Chicago from 1931-1932. He then entered Harvard, receiving his S.M. in 1937 and his Harvard Ph.D. in 1939. Aiken served as Instructor in Physics and Communication Engineering from 1937-1939, as Faculty Instructor in Physics from 1939-1941, as Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics from 1941-1945, as Professor of Applied Mathematics from 1946-1961, and as Director of the Computational Laboratory from 1946-1961. He is best known for designing an electromechanical machine for performing mathematical operations known as the Harvard Mark I computer, which was completed in 1944. Aiken retired from Harvard in 1961, and died on March 14, 1973, while traveling in St. Louis, Missouri.

From the description of Letter from Howard Aiken to Neal Atkins, May 25, 1968. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 727480906

Aiken taught physics and communication engineering, and applied mathematics at Harvard,

From the description of Papers of Howard H. Aiken, 1937. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 76972971

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Hawkins, Robert L.,. Oral history interview with Robert L. Hawkins, 1984 Feb. 20. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Auerbach, Isaac L. (Isaac Levin), 1921-1992. A survey of large scale computing machines, 1947 [Photoprints]. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Sperry Rand Corporation. Univac Division. Honeywell vs. Sperry Rand Records, 1935-1973. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Yuter, Seymour C.,. Technitrol, Inc., lawsuit records, 1945-1976. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Kennelly, Arthur E. (Arthur Edwin), 1861-1939. Papers of Arthur Edwin Kennelly, 1911-1941 (inclusive). Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Computer & Communications Industry Association (U.S.). IBM antitrust trial records, 1969-1982. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Hopper, Grace Murray. Oral history interview with Grace Murray Hopper, ca. 1976. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Stanford University Press archival book copies, 1900-2012 Cecil H. Green Library. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Harvard University. Cruft Memorial Laboratory. Photographs from the Harvard University Cruft Laboratory Photographic Department, ca. 1937-ca. 1959 / Armond J. Dionne, photographer. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Aiken, Howard H. (Howard Hathaway), 1900-1973. Letter from Howard Aiken to Neal Atkins, May 25, 1968. Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Campbell, Robert V. D. Oral history interview with Robert V. D. Campbell, 1984 Feb. 22. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Foster, Caxton C., 1929-. Student notes for Applied Math 218, Large Scale Calculating Machinery, 1953. Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Harvard University. Computation Laboratory. Records of the Computation Laboratory, 1944-1961 (inclusive). Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Aiken, Howard H. (Howard Hathaway), 1900-1973. Papers of Howard H. Aiken, 1937. Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Hopper, Grace Murray, 1906-1992, interviewee. Oral history interview, 1979 July 20th [tape]. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Bloch, Richard M. (Richard Milton),. Oral history interview with Richard M. Bloch, 1984 Feb. 22. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Harvard University. Cruft Memorial Laboratory. Photographs from the Harvard University Cruft Laboratory Photographic Department, ca. 1937-ca. 1959 / Armond J. Dionne, photographer. Harvard University Archives.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Atkins, Neal D. person
associatedWith Auerbach, Isaac L. (Isaac Levin), 1921-1992. person
associatedWith Bloch, Richard M. (Richard Milton), person
associatedWith Campbell, Robert V. D. person
associatedWith Computer & Communications Industry Association (U.S.). corporateBody
associatedWith Foster, Caxton C., 1929- person
associatedWith Harvard University corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University. Computation Laboratory. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University. Cruft Memorial Laboratory. corporateBody
associatedWith Hawkins, Robert L., person
associatedWith Hopper, Grace Murray person
associatedWith Hopper, Grace Murray, 1906-1992, interviewee. person
associatedWith Kennelly, Arthur E. (Arthur Edwin), 1861-1939. person
associatedWith Sperry Rand Corporation. Univac Division. corporateBody
associatedWith Stanford University. Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Yuter, Seymour C., person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Calculators
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1900-03-09

Death 1973-03-14

Americans

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