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NAME:
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Vannevar Bush
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DATES:
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1890-1974
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ADDRESS:
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E-MAIL:
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WORKED AT:
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MIT
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OTHER INFORMATION:
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On of Bush's most important publications was "As We May Think," Atlantic Monthly, 176(1):101-108, 1945. This article defined a critical problem, the "information explosion," and it proposed a solution, using the emerging technology to combat the problem. Lilley-Trice lists Bush's most significant contribution as having inspired the formation of the Science, The Endless Frontier (1945). See Burke, Colin B. Information and Secrecy: Vannevar Bush, Ultra, and the other Memex. (Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press), 1993 for a comprehensive look at Bush.
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AWARDS:
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OFFICES:
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PAPERS AT:
LOCATION #1
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MIT, Institute Archives and Special Collections, MIT Libraries, Room 14N-118, Cambridge, MA 02139, (617)253-4444 (Hayden Library); search under: Wiener, Norbert.
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PAPERS DATES:
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1898-1966
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SIZE:
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Total collection: 22.5 linear feet
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INCLUDES:
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In papers of Norbert Wiener, there are some documents of Bush's and VonNeuman's. Archival records of MIT are restricted for 20 years from the date they were written. Researchers may request, however, to be allowed to examine specific portions of restricted collections. Researchers are encouraged to contact the archivist before visiting the Archives. Normal photoduplication services are available.
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FINDING AID:
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Unpublished finding aid with an index is available at the Archives.
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SOURCE:
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Subject Collections, 7th ed., Volume 1 A-L; Cortada, James, ed. Archives of Data-Processing History: A Guide to Major U.S. Collections. Greenwood Press, New York, NY, 1990, 79-80.
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PAPERS AT:
LOCATION #2
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MIT, Institute Archives and Special Collections, MIT Libraries, Room 14n-118, Cambridge, MA 02139, (617) 253-4444 (Hayden Library); search under Bush, Vannevar.
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PAPERS DATES:
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1921-?
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SIZE:
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29.5 linear feet
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INCLUDES:
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Includes correspondence, reports, memos, research notes, calendars, etc. primarily for the period after 1956 (but some papers date back to 1921). This collection includes a 1,120 transcript of Eric Hodgin's interview with Bush in 1964 in preparation for his autobiography Pieces of the Action. The following topics are covered: the differential analyzer (1930's), patent policy, the Raytheon Company, and radar--it is complete with index. Archival records of MIT are restricted for 20 years from the date they were written. Researchers may request, however, to be allowed to examine specific portions of restricted collections. Researchers are encouraged to contact the archivist before visiting the Archives. Normal photoduplication services are available. [Note: the Papers of Gordon Stanley Brown (also at the MIT Archives) contain correspondence with Bush; The MIT Museum located on 265 Massachusetts Avenue has material on Bush's Differential Analyzer.]
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FINDING AID:
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SOURCE:
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Cortada, James, ed. Archives of Data-Processing History: A Guide to Major U.S. Collections. Greenwood Press, New York, 1990, 77 and 79-80.
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PAPERS AT:
LOCATION #3
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Library of Congress, Manuscript Division; search under: Waterman, Alan Tower (1892-1967).
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PAPERS DATES:
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1918-1967
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SIZE:
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Total collection: 22 feet
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INCLUDES:
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Waterman was director of NSF from 1951-1963. Papers include correspondence with Bush.
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FINDING AID:
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SOURCE:
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NUCMUC, MS 71-1426.
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PAPERS AT:
LOCATION #4
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Special Collections Department, Van Pelt Library, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206; search under: Bush, Vannevar, 1890-. Letter, 1955, to Lewis Mumford.
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PAPERS DATES:
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1955
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SIZE:
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1 item (2 l.)
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INCLUDES:
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Letter from Bush to Lewis Mumford. Found in the Lewis Mumford Papers, ca. 1905-1987. Folder 681.
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FINDING AID:
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SOURCE:
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RLIN
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PAPERS AT:
LOCATION #5
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MIT, Institute Archives and Special Collections, MIT Libraries, Cambridge, MA 02139; search under: Bush, Vannevar, 1890-1974. Oral history, 1964.
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PAPERS DATES:
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1964
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SIZE:
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. 7 cubic feet (2 manuscript boxes)
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INCLUDES:
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No restrictions on access to this collection. Retrieval requires advanced notice.
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FINDING AID:
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Finding aid available.
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SOURCE:
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RLIN
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PAPERS AT:
LOCATION #6
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Oral History Research Office, Box 20, Room 801 Butler Library, New York, NY 10027 (Columbia University); search under: Bush, Vannevar, 1890-1974. Reminiscences of Vannevar Bush: oral history, 1967.
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PAPERS DATES:
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1967
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SIZE:
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58 leaves
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INCLUDES:
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Discussion of Carnegie Institution of Washington and Carnegie Corporation of New York, 1939-1955. Interviewed by Isabel S. Grossner. Forms part of the Carnegie Corporation project. Permission required to cite, quote, and reproduce. Contact repository for information. (Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York) Microfiche copy available for purchase. (Columbia University oral history collection, part VI, publishing by Meckler Publishing, Westport, CT).
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FINDING AID:
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Name and topical index available
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SOURCE:
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RLIN
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PAPERS AT:
LOCATION #7
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MIT, Institute Archives and Special Collections, MIT Libraries, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139; search under: Bush, Vannevar, 1890-1974. Papers, 1921-1974.
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PAPERS DATES:
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1921-1974
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SIZE:
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24 cubic feet (24 records cartons)
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INCLUDES:
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Papers of Vannevar Bush. No restrictions on access to this collection. Retrieval requires advance notice.
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FINDING AID:
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Finding aid available
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SOURCE:
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RLIN
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PAPERS AT:
LOCATION #8
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Papers of Vannevar Bush. No restrictions on access to this collection. Retrieval requires advance notice.
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PAPERS DATES:
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1932-1960
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SIZE:
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80,000 items
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INCLUDES:
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Personal papers, scientific and general correspondence files, subject files, speeches and articles, lab notebooks, files and notebooks concerning inventions and patents, and notes and mss. for books.
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FINDING AID:
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SOURCE:
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"Subject Collections," 7th ed., Volume 1 A-L.
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TOP OF PAGE
INDEX OF INFORMATION SCIENCE PIONEERS
INDEX OF ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN INFORMATION SCIENCE
Page updated September 30, 1997