History of academic computing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1929-1971

The narrative history of academic computing at UW-Madison was documented from archival records and personal interviews for years 1929-1971. The naturalistic inquiry method was used to discover the reasons for computing development at Madison. Four generations of evolving computing organizations are described: the Computing Service (1929-1952); Numerical Analysis Laboratory (1952-1964); UW Computing Center (1964-1971); and the Madison Academic Computing Center (1971).; Each organization had the mission of supporting the computational needs of the faculty and growth of computing was faculty driven. Computer acquisition was motivated by faculty need to use computers as tools to solve complex research problems. Computing grew on the campus to keep faculty competitive with researchers at peer institutions.; Research computing began in the late 1940s by pioneers from the Electrical Engineering Department. The first commercially built computer was acquired in 1955 by the Numerical Analysis Laboratory.; The centralized computer utility concept was studied in the late 1960s by UW System faculty and the decision was for computer decentralization. Data indicated that smaller and more powerful computers were becoming more available by the late 1960s; long distance telephone communications were too expensive; hardware and software development were slow; and there was uncertainty of adequate funding for operating a central computer utility.; Unique research needs of the faculty provided the impetus for independent acquisition of research computers. Chemists and physicists provided the funding to propel UW-Madison into advanced computing.; Results of the historical study indicated that the faculty and administration were able to adapt to changing conditions with computing technology. The administration was able to take a calculated financial risk with improvement of computer technology.; Financing of instructional computing was found to be an area where further study was needed to improve computing on the campus.