Museum Gears Up to Tell Global Computing Story

Added: (Wed Oct 18 2006)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Museum Gears Up to Tell Global Computing Story

Prominent U.K.-Based Curator Joins Silicon Valley Museum to Develop
International "Timeline of Computing History" Exhibit; Significant
International Computing Objects Added to Museum's Growing Collection

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 10/16/06 -- The Computer
History Museum announced today that renowned computing historian,
Doron Swade, has joined the Museum team as guest curator of its
"Timeline of Computing History," a hallmark exhibit scheduled for
debut in 2009 and made possible by a $15 million dollar gift from the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation late last year.

In support of its international collection and exhibit plans, the
Museum also announced that it has acquired an extensive collection
totaling seven shipping containers of computing objects salvaged from
a crumbling warehouse in Dortmund, Germany this month. The rescued
items, along with related documents and software, will augment the
Museum's existing 80,000-object collection that will be used to
populate the 2009 exhibit.

"Doron Swade is a world authority on the history and pre-history of
modern computing. His deep museum experience and understanding of our
unique collection will bring a new dimension and advance our efforts
to tell the global computing story," said John C. Toole, executive
director & CEO of the Computer History Museum. "Doron's commitment
to the Timeline exhibit, combined with recent, important additions to
the Museum's international holdings, represent key milestones in our
continuing expansion plans," said Toole.

"Electronic computers are an extraordinary invention and part of an
age of astonishing growth. We have here a wonderful opportunity to
trace their technical and cultural history -- from pebbles to
micro-chips, from antiquity to the Web -- and to make sense of its
meaning through a major exhibition. The Computer History Museum holds
a defining collection of electronic computing machines. What better
place to tell the tale," said Swade.

Swade's most recent positions were with the Royal College of Art in
London and the University of Portsmouth as visiting professor. Prior
to that, he was the assistant director and head of collections for
the Science Museum in London.

The historic collection from Germany was rescued from an open-air
warehouse that encompassed a physical area of about 12,000 square
feet. There are 112 unique manufacturers represented, including
Telefunken, Siemens, Zuse, Olivetti and Groupe Bull. European-based
manufacturers account for 50% of the acquired artifacts and another
20% in documentation and software. In addition to many rare computer
systems, the rescued items will deepen the Museum's holdings of
electromechanical-era objects, as well as mainframe documentation and
software.

About the Computer History Museum

The Computer History Museum (CHM) in Mountain View, California, a
501(c)3 public benefit organization with a 25-year history as part of
the former Boston Computer Museum, preserves and presents for
posterity the artifacts and stories of the information age. Dedicated
to exploring the social impact of computing technology, CHM is home
to the world's largest and most significant collection of historic
computer-related objects, software, documents, still and moving
images and personal stories.

The Museum celebrates computing history and its people through an
acclaimed speaker series, dynamic website and other public events. CHM
also offers self- and docent-led tours of "Visible Storage," a
display of 600 items from its collection. Its newest exhibit,
"Mastering the Game: A History of Computer Chess," opened in
September 2005, joining its other popular exhibit, "Innovation in the
Valley." Future phases will feature full exhibits and educational
programs, including the Museum's signature "Timeline of Computing
History" scheduled to open in the fall of 2009, theme galleries, a
research center, and much more. Please visit www.computerhistory.org
or call 650.810.1010 for hours of operation and tour times.
Admission is free.

For more information, contact
Robert Stetson
(650) 810-1036
stetson@computerhistory.org