AIP International Catalog of Sources

Archives Keyword

Archival Finding Aids

History Center Home

> You're searching: AIP Niels Bohr Library

Whirlwind Computer Collection, 1945-1949.

by Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Servomechanisms Laboratory.

29 document boxes (2,516 items).

Owning Repository:

Smithsonian Institution. National Museum of American History. Archives Center. MRC 601, 12th Street and Constitution Avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C. 20560, USA

Country of Repository:

Biography/History:

Project Whirlwind was centered in the Servomechanics Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology with its original objective being the development of a device that would simulate airplanes in flight. In the course of the research, Whirlwind eventually evolved into a key element of the U.S.'s early air defense system. Since M.I.T. did not view this as an appropriate action for an educational institution to take part in, it transferred the entire project to the MITRE Corp.

Scope of Material:

Includes summary reports, correspondence, notes, memos and other reports. Project records include Summary Reports nos. 1-2 and biweekly reports for the period December 1947 to January 1959. Project Whirlwind was sponsored by the Special Devices Center of the Office of Naval Research under Contract N5 ori 60. The original objective of the project was the development of a device that would simulate airplanes in flight. As the project progressed, other applications of the computer evolved. The project was centered in the Servomechanics Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). In the course of the research, Whirlwind evolved from an aircraft simulator into a high-speed digital computer and finally into a key element of the United States' early air defense system. In 1958, M.I.T. decided that it was not appropriate for an educational institution like itself to be so heavily involved in air defense research, and the MITRE Corporation was formed to carry on the work. Most of MITRE's employees, facilities and equipment were transferred from M.I.T.

The Whirlwind I Computer Project files originated at the Servomechanics Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1945. The records were transferred in 1959 to the MITRE Corporation, where the finding aid was prepared. The records were given to the National Museum of American History in 1983. In 1987 they were transferred from the Division of Mathematics to the Archives Center.

Arrangement of Records:

Arranged in chronological order and covers the project dates of 1945 to 1958.

Finding aid with table of contents and list of topic, author, date, and identification number for all items in the collection located in box 5, 210 pp. It also lists some items, such as summary reports nos. 3-50, which were removed from the collection; also more detailed finding aid, 1 p., available in American Institute of Physics Niels Bohr Library.

Horizon Information Portal 3.05

Powered by Dynix

© 2001-2004 Dynix All rights reserved.

AIP International Catalog of Sources