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University of Utah School of Computing audio-visual collection

 Collection
Identifier: A1088

Scope and Contents

The University of Utah School of Computing audiovisual collection (1970-1979) consists of 4 betacam tapes with many student and faculty projects related to computer science. These projects mark the beggining of computer animation studies and how it evolved through the 1970s.

Dates

  • Majority of material found within 1970-1979

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical / Historical

Computing research at the University of Utah started in 1965 when former university president James Fletcher recruited Berkeley professor David C. Evans to return to his home state to establish a computer science division within the electrical engineering department. Evans graduated from the University of Utah in 1953 with a Ph.D. in physics. Before returning to Utah, Evans developed computing systems, first at Bendix as project manager of the commercially successful G-15 computer and follow-on G-20 (1955-1962). While at Berkeley from 1962-1965, Evans and G-15 architect Harry Huskey initiated Project Genie, which led to innovations such as the Scientific Data Systems 940 time-sharing operating system.

Upon his return to the University of Utah, Evans wanted to cultivate a culture of creativity. He hired faculty with diverse experiences and backgrounds and encouraged interactive use of computing for a variety of creative pursuits.

Evans was immediately awarded a large ARPA grant from Robert William Taylor, then Director of the ARPA IPTO office, to create a center of excellence in computer graphics. Evans believed that small, interactive computers should be developed to augment human creativity, and he planned to use the ARPA award to pursue this line of research. Leveraging the multimillion-dollar funding from ARPA, Evans was able to harness the absolute state-of-the-art in equipment needed to advance this area.

The University of Utah was one of the original four nodes of ARPANET, the world's first packet-switched network and embryo of the current worldwide Internet.[3] In late 1969, the U's computer graphics department was linked into the node at Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, California to complete the initial four-node network.

This computer science division at Utah became its own department in 1973.

Extent

4 Betacam

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The University of Utah School of Computing audiovisual collection consists of 4 Betacams with computer graphics projects from students and professors, mostly from the 1970s.

Arrangement

The materials kept their original order.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Jimmy Miklavcic in 2012.

Separated Materials

See also the David C. Evans audiovisual collection A0159.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections Staff in 2023.
Title
University of Utah School of Computing audio-visual collection
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid written by Special Collections Staff.
Date
2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
The finding aid was written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863