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Biography/History
Collection Inventory
Addresses, Articles, Papers and Publications
University of Florida, College of Nursing, Gainesville, Florida
Accession from Eileen Becknell
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Dorothy M. Smith papers
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing
Smith, Dorothy M., 1913-1997
Dorothy M. Smith, R.N., M. Ed., dean and dean emeritus of the College of Nursing at the University of Florida, 1956-1973, was an internationally known nurse leader, educator and clinician. These papers span Smith's professional life and documents her educational and academic experiences as well as awards and recognition received as a nursing leader. The collection is comprised of addresses, articles, and files which reflect her association with the University of Florida; personal correspondence; and photographs.
Dorothy M. Smith papers, Barbara Bates Center for The Study of The History of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania
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Dorothy M. Smith, R.N., M. Ed., dean and dean emerita of the College of Nursing at the University of Florida, 1956-1973, was an internationally known nurse leader, educator and clinician.
Smith was born in Bangor, Maine in 1913. She graduated from Quincy City Hospital, School of Nursing in Massachusetts (1936), received her Bachelor's degree from Teachers College at Columbia University (1941), and a Masters' Degree from Harvard University (1947). After graduation from Quincy City Hospital, School of Nursing, she was employed as a staff nurse (1936-1937) and later as a head nurse (1937-1939). After receiving her masters' degree she accepted a position as a science instructor at the Margaret Pillsbury Hospital, School of Nursing, Concord, New Hampshire (1941-1942). In 1942, Smith returned to Quincy City Hospital, School of Nursing as a science instructor and assistant educational director (1942-1945) where she later assumed the position of educational director and science instructor. In 1947, she accepted the position of assistant dean in charge of curriculum, Duke University, School of Nursing, and later the position of director of the Division of Nursing education and assistant dean of the Basic Nursing Program. Smith remained at Duke University until 1952. From 1952-1954, Smith served as a consultant with the National League for Nursing, Division of Nursing Education, New York City. She became assistant director of nursing at Hartford Hospital, School of Nursing, a role which included providing consultation to faculty in curriculum and teaching from 1954 to 1956. In 1956, she became dean of the College of Nursing and professor of nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, retiring in 1976.
Smith was the founding dean of the College of Nursing, University of Florida. Along with colleagues in medicine, dentistry, and allied health she participated in the design and implementation at the University of Florida of one of the country's first de novo health science centers integrating education, research and practice across the health professions. A number of important innovations were developed and tested within this interdisciplinary environment that have been widely replicated in the U.S. and internationally. As a nursing leader she influenced the integration of nursing into the mainstream of higher education and practice, and the development of evidence-based nursing practice. Her contribution laid the groundwork for many of the most important advances in nursing education, the development of nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists as an integral component of our nation's health system.
Smith authored numerous papers. She was elected an honorary member of the American Academy of Nursing in 1979, and was named a Living Legend in Nursing by the Academy in 1996. In June 1977 she received the Mary Adelaide Nutting Nursing Award from the National League for Nursing. On August 16, 1997, at the age of 84, she died in Indian Harbour, Florida.
Finding aid prepared by Center staff, updated by Bethany Myers
Series 3 of this collection may be restricted. The accession series letters written by Dorothy Smith are restricted for a period of years. Please contact the Center for more information.
Copyright restrictions may apply. Please contact the Center with requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote or reproduce the material.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Gift of Roberta Piper and Linda Aiken.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
University of Florida. College of Nursing.
Form/Genre(s)
Faculty papers
Nursing schools--Faculty
Personal Name(s)
Aiken, Linda H.
Piper, Roberta
Series 1. Personal, 1954-1998.
Scope and Contents note
This is a small series which includes a biographical sketch, an award, correspondence, educational course papers, correspondence to family members, and Smith's obituary.
Box Folder
Biographical sketch, 1996.
Living Legend Award, American Academy of Nursing, certificate,acknowledgment, and correspondence, 1996.
Mary Adelaide Nutting Award, National League for Nursing, correspondence and medallion, 1997.
American Nurses Hall of Fame, 1998.
Correspondence, Linda Aiken and Dorothy M. Smith, incoming and outgoing.
1996 (Restricted).
Correspondence, outgoing to Carol Hayes (Christianson).
1965-1967 and 1972.
Miscellaneous Cards, undated.
Educational Course Papers, 1954.
Philosophy of Education for Human Relations.
Culture: Problem of Human Order.
Problem of Human Process.
Obituary- clippings from newspapers and journals, and correspondence to family members, August 1997.
Memorial Tribute to D.M. Smith, September 19, 1997.
Remembrance Ceremony, D.M. Smith, November 9, 1997.
Tribute to D.M. Smith, associates and friends (handwritten), 1997.
Series 2. Addresses, Articles, Papers and Publications.
In this series are the large number of addresses and papers Smith presented on numerous occasions, many articles published in various journals and a preliminary draft for a book publication.
Addresses, 1953-1993.
Clinical Teaching, What It Is. New Jersey State League for Nursing, Asbury Park, N.J., October 27, 1955.
Working With Love Alachua General Hospital, School of Nursing, graduating class, August 31, 1956.
Nurse-Patient Relationships Florida State Nurses Association Annual Convention, Private Duty section, Clearwater, Florida, October 18, 1957.
On Beyond Zebra in Nursing St. Luke's Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida, (capping exercises), February 13, 1959.
Is it Possible to Evaluate Teaching Boston, Massachusetts, 1960s.
Nursing Education- A Challenge North Carolina League for Nursing Annual Meeting, March 18, 1960.
Creative Nursing Medical College of Georgia- School of Nursing, Georgia, June 3, 1961.
Creative Nursing Arizona Conference, Opening Session, October 16, 1961.
Next Steps, November 15, 1961.
Nursing-Association in Growth, Louisiana League for Nursing, Lafayette, Louisiana, March 28, 1963.
Approach to the Organization of a Modern School of Nursing" Misericordia Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1963.
From Student to Nurse-A Role Transition National League for Nursing Convention, Atlantic City, New Jersey, May 14, 1963.
The Nursing Team - Fact or Fancy Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 21, 1963 and Delta College, Michigan, October 8, 1963.
A Method to Improve Nursing Care Lansing, Michigan, October 9, 1963; Baltimore, Maryland, October 11, 1963; and Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 22, 1963.
Curriculum Patterns in Selected Nursing Programs Vermont, May 1964.
Nursing Convocation, College of Nursing, August 3, 1964.
Remarks at a Council Meeting, October 19, 1964.
Some Thoughts About Nursing Practice Nursing Supervisors, 13th Annual Conference, Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, June 15, 1965.
Thoughts About the Utilization and Preparation of Clinical Nursing Specialists Boston College, June 22, 1965.
The Second Ten Years University of Florida, College of Nursing, Alumni Banquet, March 18, 1966.
Leadership and Change Faculty and Nurses, June 6, 1966.
The Organization of Nursing Service Conference, Health Education and Care of the Future, San Francisco Medical Center, June 18, 1966.
Boston Speech, October 14, 1966.
Employer-Employee Relationships Florida Nurses Association, October 20, 1966.
Nursing in an Explosion Area Keynote Address, Kentucky Nurses Association, Lexington, Kentucky, October 26, 1966.
The Clinical Specialist in Nursing Symposium. Columbia University and Presbyterian Hospital, School of Nursing, January 18-19, 1967; Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, undated.
Nursing Reformation Tucson and Phoenix during Arizona Nurse Week, 1968.
The 'Ladder Concept' In Nursing, May 28, 1969.
Alternatives for Nursing Vancouver, B.C., November 13, 1970.
Some Questions Relating to Responsibility and Accountability in Nursing keynote address, Pennsylvania Nurses Association Convention, Philadelphia, October 14, 1974.
Nursing Faculty Practice Conference, Phoenix, Arizona (handwritten), January 24, 1985.
Addresses, No Date or Location.
A Real laboratory Learning (How are students regarded in the clinical area, as students, or as employee?).
From Zero to Infinity (Exploring the "Why's" and "Wherefores" of Clinical Education in Nursing).
Nursing (handwritten).
Nursing Arts.
Nursing-A Nurse and a Patient.
Nursing Care-Quality and Quantity.
Nursing Skills Laboratory.
"Root of Faculty Practice" A.A.C.A, Dallas, December 3-5 (handwritten and clippings from journals, etc.).
The Relationship between Nursing Education and Nursing Service-A Dual or Separate Administration Responsibility.
The Teacher Practitioner Role Kansas City.
The Writing of Objectives as a Nursing Practice Skill.
Thoughts About an Honor Society.
Articles-preliminary draft.
A Discussion of the 'Into, Out of, Overall' Syndrome in Nursing for International Journal of Nursing Studies, August 29, 1967.
Is It Too Late for The Nursing Clinics of North America, June 1971.
Description of "very best" innovation she implemented as dean, March 21, 1989.
Articles, No Dates.
An Experiment in Change D.M. Smith, R.N., and Frank R.L. Egloff, M.D.
A History in Nursing Course-An Experiment in Motivation.
Lets Help Our Students Grow.
Nursing- A Nurse and a Patient.
Nursing Revisited for Nursing Outlook.
Psychosocial Aspects of the Health of Older People from the Standpoint of the Registered Nurse.
The 'Ladder Concept' in Nursing for The New England Journal of Medicine.
The Writing of Objectives as a Nursing Practice Skill for American Journal of Nursing, February 1971.
Books (preliminary drafts).
Chapter 1- A View of Nursing.
Chapter- Nursing As a Practice Discipline.
Chapters and Appendix.
Outline and References.
Correspondence- book format, 1980.
Papers.
Problems and Issues Which Were Apparent, 1956.
Paper and Myself, 1961.
Position Papers.
Nursing Practice and Nursing Education, March 22, 1967.
Hospital Training Program (submitted to Health Center Council), October 6, 1969.
Undated.
Essence of Nursing.
Faculty Members and Students ??? (no title).
From Co-existence toward Collaboration.
Is It Too Late.
Health Care System (for Dr. Willard).
The Experiment at the University of Florida.
The Development of a Clinical Nursing Tool A Guide for History Tool.
What Makes Nursing Effective.
Correspondence - Publishing companies, 1980, 1992-1993.
List of Publications 1948-1964, revised 1964.
American Journal of Nursing (reprints).
Patient-Centered Teaching in Medicine and Surgical Nursing, D.M. Smith, R.N., vol. 50, No. 5, May 1950.
Evaluating Student Progress in Clinical Experience H. Nahm, R.N., and R.E. Hunter, R.N.,Vol. 50, No. 5, May 1950.
Oh No! Not Another Committee! D.M. Smith, R.N., Vol. 50, No. 12, December 1950.
National Accreditation F. Elliot, R.N., and D.M. Smith, R.N., Vol. 55, No. 4, April 1955.
Myth and Method In Nursing Practice D.M. Smith, Vol. 64, No. 2, February 1964.
Nursing Education and Nursing Service D.M. Smith, R.N., Vol. 191, No. 5, February 1965.
Focus, "Nursing Today", An interview with Dorothy M. Smith, University of Florida, Vol. 111, No.6, November-December 1961.
Hospitals, "Training Wheel Tappers" Vol. 22, September 1948.
Hospital Nursing, "Nursing Practice Within a Hospital Nursing Service" D.M. Smith, R.N., 1963.
Image, "Thoughts About Nursing" D.M. Smith, R.N., Vol. 25, No. 2, Summer 1993, and correspondence, 1993.
Nursing Clinics of North America, "Is It Too Late" D.M. Smith, M.ED., Vol. 6, No. 2, June 1971.
Nursing Outlook.
Let's Help our Students Learn and Grow D.M. Smith, R.N., Vol. 5, No. 1, January 1957.
Something New D.M. Smith and F.R.L. Egloff, Vol. 5, No. 2, February 1957.
Practice-A Part of Teaching D.M. Smith, Vol. 7, No. 3, March 1959.
Instruction in History of Nursing" D.M. Smith, Vol. 8, No. 11, November 1960.
A Real Laboratory for Learning D.M. Smith, Vol. 11, No. 4, April 1963.
From Student to Nurse D.M. Smith, Vol. 11, No. 10, October 1963.
The Integration of Nursing Education, Practice, and Research, Vol. 45, No. 5, 1998.
Nursing Education Administration "A Chain of Innovations" D.M. Smith.
State Nurses Association.
Florida Nurses Association District #10, "The Care of the Mind" D.M. Smith, Vol. 1, No. 3, February 1963.
Minnesota Nursing Accent, "A Method to Improve Nursing Care" D.M. Smith, Vol. XXXV, No. 7, December 1963.
The Center, University of Florida, "Another Look at Gaps in Patient Care" 1967.
The Florida Nurse, "From Co-Existence Toward Collaboration" D.M Smith, Vol. 16, No. 2, March-April 1968.
The Kansas Nurse, "Nursing Care-Quality and Quantity", D.M. Smith, Vol. 43, No. 5, October, 1968.
Arizona Nurse, "Nursing Reformation" D.M. Smith, Vol. 21, No. 5, November-December 1968.
The Oklahoma Nurse, "Nursing Reformation" D. Smith, Vol. XLIII, No. 10, December 1968.
Response: Faculty Practice From a 25-Year Perspective D.M. Smith, (no source or date noted).
Response to paper sent out by staff of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for October 3-5, 1979, Conference, critique.
Dorothy M. Smith's reference files for papers, lectures, and publications, including hand-written notes, 1860-1993.
6 101-108
Series 3. University of Florida, College of Nursing, Gainesville, Florida, 1958-1997.
This series documents Smith's association as dean and dean emeritus with the College of Nursing. The series is divided into the following sub-series: administration, nursing courses, and association with other colleges and universities.
Dean and Dean Emeritus.
Organizational Plan, 1969-1971.
Organization for Development and Improvement of Quality and Teaching Curriculum and Nursing Practice, undated.
Personnel Organization Chart, J. Hillis Miller Health Center, undated.
Duties of an Administrator, October 23, 1964.
Correspondence-Inter department, 1958-1962, 1968-1978.
Hospital Training Programs submitted to Health Center Council, position paper, October 6, 1969.
Academic Freedom and Responsibilities statement of Policy, December 7, 1962.
Nurse Clinician Role in Prenatal Clinic, proposal, undated.
Policy- Nursing students clinical course, in hospital laboratory, outside of laboratory hours, undated.
Position Statement- "Nursing Education Agenda for 21st century" American Association of College of Nursing, 1993.
Relationship Between the Department of Nursing of the Teaching Hospital and the College of Nursing Faculty, 1958.
Address- "Reflections", July 3, 1967.
Faculty Member Minutes.
February and June, 1958; February and September, 1962.
March and June, 1966; April and June, 1967; August, 1970.
Handwritten notes: re: faculty meetings and other nursing activities, 1960s.
Dean and section chairman meeting minutes, 1967, 1970, 1971.
Fundamentals Faculty Group, discussion and decisions, November 1961; September 1965; February 1966.
Medical-Surgical Section, meeting minutes, 1969, 1971; memo, 1971, 1972.
Curriculum Committee, 1970-1971.
Professional Colleagues, 1956-1997.
Dorothy M. Smith Fund, incoming and outgoing, 1994-1997.
General Nursing Section, undated.
Organizational Structure and Philosophy of Nursing Practice and Education in the Teaching Hospital and College of Nursing, June 1963.
Study of Effects of Different Nursing Actions (final report on G6265(A)), undated.
Seminars.
Course Planning and Evaluation, summary, September 25, 1968-December 4, 1968.
Treatment of Patients; Maria McLean, February 23, 1961.
Nursing Courses.
Nursing 200-Science Principles Applied to Nursing Practice, undated.
Nursing 301-Nursing Skills Laboratory Syllabus, Spring 1970; Summer 1973.
Critiques.
Spring 1970, August 3, 1970.
June 1970 by student in course, December 3, 1970.
Position Paper (Eileen Pearlman), undated.
Nursing 321-Nursing Skills Laboratory, position paper on Nursing 321, November 17, 1976.
Nursing 445-Nursing Aspects of Gerontology, evaluation guide for papers, January 1964.
Nursing 461-Senior Clerkship, syllabus, 1972, examination, 1973.
Nursing 692-760, Processes of Aging, announcement, brochure- Fall 1980.
Related to Nursing Courses.
Grant Proposal-outline, undated.
Models for Nursing-handwritten, undated.
Professional Nursing practice, undated.
Service Team Leader, October 29, 1963.
Significance of Project, undated.
Study of a Nursing Problem Using the Scientific Method, undated.
Case Studies-relating to patient care, 1959-1961.
Conditions Governing Access note
This file may be restricted. Please contact the Center for more information.
Reports- Dorothy M. Smith.
These files may be restricted. Please contact the Center for more information.
Patient Interviews, 1959.
Patient Experiences, 1958-1964.
Other- Relating to Nursing.
4th Annual Clinical Practice Model (CPM) National Conference, Snowbird, Utah, (announcement), 1993.
Florence Nightingale: Patient Care; Dorothy M. Smith, A System of Nursing Practice, (announcement), 1986.
Historical and Current Aspects of Clinical Nursing Practice, 5th Annual Alumni Clinical Session, University of Florida, (Agenda), 1970.
History of Nursing, Musical Narrative, D.M. Smith, May 1966.
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (word changes, nursing skit), undated.
Nurse-Doctor, student skit, undated.
The Calf Path no author or date.
The Center, "All Around the Center," (student nurses), January 1968.
Dorothy M. Smith Professionalship, proposal, University of Florida College of Nursing, 1997.
Other Colleges and Universities.
An Abstract for Action, School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, agenda, 1970.
Affairs of the Heart S.R. Gortner, M.N.F.A.A.N. The Seventh Helen Nahm Research Lecture, June 5, 1987.
Faculty Clinical Practice, AACN Workshop, Dallas, Texas, correspondence, handwritten, notes and references, December 3-5, 1979.
ICON, Demonstration Projects, Nursing Practice for the Future; Nursing Practice in Transition, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Rachel Rotkovitch, October 6, 1986.
Nurses in Leadership Positions, Continuing Education Programs, Conference, University of Oregon, and University of Washington, May 7-11, 1962.
Memoirs, Boston College, School of Nursing, 1947-1973, 1987.
Group Development- National Training Laboratory, pamphlet, 1957.
Series 4. Photographs, 1940-1995.
Here are snapshots taken when Smith attended Columbia University and with family and friends, also a portrait photo taken in 1979.
Related Archival Materials note
See also: accession 1998.05, Dorothy Smith Tribute (60-minute videocassette produced by University of Florida, 1997).
Dorothy M. Smith.
Sitting on stairway post, Columbia University, 1940s.
Pushing a broom, Columbia University, 1940s.
Dorothy M. Smith and Connie Lundy- on boat to Nantucket, 1940s.
Dorothy M. Smith and Rita Keler, on boat to Nantucket, 1940s.
Dorothy M. Smith and brother Bob, farm in Maine, 1948.
Dorothy M. Smith, Mother, and Bobbie Ann, Duke University, 1940s.
Dorothy M. Smith and brother Bob, Maine, September 1981.
Dorothy M. Smith, Mattie, Lois, Virgie, Edna Jones, Jen, 1990s.
Dorothy M. Smith, Christmas, 1990.
Dorothy M. Smith, chatting with friend, 1990s.
Dorothy M. Smith, Jen Wilson, Lois Knowles, Betty Hillard, Gainesville, January 1995.
Dorothy M. Smith's home-made Christmas cards- ten years display on Florence Burnett's piano, 1990s.
Dorothy M. Smith portrait, May 1979.
American Academy of Nursing Living Legend Award, November 1996.
Box Photo
D.M. Smith and Dean Kathy Lang.
Barbara Donahoe, President AAN and D.M. Smith.
Elizabeth Bear and Molly Dougherty.
D.M. Smith and friend.
B. Donahoe, D.M. Smith and Clifford Jordan.
Friend, Herb Piper, Jerry Pearlman and Dorothy Luther.
Friend and D.M. Smith.
Patricia Chammings and D.M. Smith.
D.M. Smith and Betty Bear.
B. Donahoe and D.M. Smith.
D.M. Smith and friends.
D.M. Smith, Eileen Pearlman, and Dorothy Luther.
D.M. Smith.
Barbara Donahoe and D.M. Smith.
Friend, Eileen Pearlman, Jen Wilson, and two friends.
B. Donahoe, D.M. Smith, and Jenet Heinrich.
Series 5. Artifacts, 1956-1985.
This series is comprised of memorabilia such as a scrapbook, plaques, and awards in recognition of Smith's achievement and contributions to nursing education. Her academic robe and hood is part of this series.
Gold Pin- American Academy of Nursing.
Silver Disc-engraved, University of Florida, College of Nursing, 1956-1973.
Plaques.
Recognition by former students-Ellen and Patty, August 1970.
Recognition for distinguished service- Association for Women Faculty, University of Florida, April 1985.
Paper Weight-Recognition of distinguished service- Ciuium In Moribus Rei Publicae Salus, 1971.
Pen Holder-with small plaque-Dorothy M. Smith, Dean College of Nursing, University of Florida, 1956-1971.
Academic Robe and Hood.
Scrapbook, 193?-1993.
Series 6. Becknell, Eileen R. Accession from Eileen Becknell, 1961-1997.
This series contains materials given to Eileen Becknell by Dorothy M. Smith between the 1960s and 1997.
Letters from Dorothy to Eileen Becknell, 1973-1993. Restricted.
Dorothy Articles.
Dorothy Speeches, 1961-1996.
College of Nursing, Memos from Dean Smith and related others, 1965-1998.
College of Nursing, Memos from others, 1965-1969.
Press about Dean Smith and/or College of Nursing.
Notes for book.
Research project- Dorothy Smith and Howard E. Wooden- Preliminary to Nursing History Manual, 1965.
Scientific methods.
Correspondence regarding the Manual, 1972.
Early materials for Manual.
Nursing History Manual, Second Revision April 6, 1970, Third Revision March 24, 1971.
Weed, Lawerence L. and problem oriented records.
References/Articles from Dorothy.
College of Nursing, Class materials.
College of Nursing, N301 Beginning course (N211 and N321), 1970-1973.
College of Nursing, N461 senior clerkship course, 1968-1971.
University of Florida, College of Nursing, 1969-1972.
College of Nursing, curriculum committee reports, 1970-1971.
University of Florida, College of Nursing, Self-Evaluation report for initial accreditation, August 1960.
University of Florida, College of Nursing- Professionalism, Dec 1967.
NLN Accreditation report, University of Florida, College of Nursing, Jan 1966.
Recording Tapes.
Unless otherwised noted, all recording tapes are 7" reels, 1/4 inch x 1800 feet
Mrs. Adkens (side 1)- Rickwickian Syndrome, MICU- chronic eating of tremendous quanities of food Mr. Bass April 12, 1968 (side 2)- Chronic alcoholic, C' service.
Iris Shockeley (side 1)- W-F Group March 27, 1967, April 11, 1967- repeat Arree Evans (side 2)- T-Th Group April 10, 1967.
Marion McKenna- Inservice Ambalant Weng March 25, 1969.
Mr. Walls (side 1)- 49 y.o. wmm Mr. Katz (side 2)- MICU.
C Service Mrs. Brown- 59 y.o. wf Mr. Muse 16 y.o. cm, October 27, 1969.
Clerkship Class April 2, 1968- Review of Nursing History.
Dub of Nursing tape Miss Smith.
A service (side 1)- Miss Grady 17 y.o. cf Mr. Sposite (side 2)- C service.
Mr. Miller (side 1)- 34 y.o. wm Mr. Riley (side 2).
[Dr. Vaughn Feb 8, 1965- N651] Mrs. Lamb April 25, 1969 Nursing conference with Sam Banks, Bob Statton (med student).
Mrs. Belliscio 72 y.o. ef March 15, 1968 Mr. Casper 45 y.o. wm.
Nursing 111 Jan 27th and Feb 3rd- Luther student presentations.
Side 1- renal failure- attempt to prove that renal patients are not setting good nursing care. Side 2- Mrs. Edwards 40 y.o. ef.
Side 1- Mr. Metl.
Side 1- N511 Side 2- N221 Student presenations.
Mr. Moore (side 1)- Oct 13, 1967 56 y.o. cm Mr. Stillman (side 2)- 47 y.o.
Mrs. Moore.
Luther student presentations April 12th.
Side 2- Mrs. Edwards December 18, 1967.
Reel- 1/4 in x 900 ft N602 class March 7, 1969 301 planning with Marion McKenna.
Reel- 1/4 in x 900 ft [unknown content].


Language Selection:
Welcome to the pages of the Internet exhibition on women who voluntarily served and fought in foreign military units during the Second World War in the Soviet Union, England, Yugoslavia and in the Middle East.
Our main aim has been to create a documentary record that will be useful for the needs of education and also historical research and other scientific purposes. We believe that history ought to be a public matter and so this documentary has been made as a non-profit venture and is freely accessible. We hope that the exhibition lives up to our aims.
We would be delighted if you decided to use the text presented here for scholarly, journalistic or educational purposes. Please respect authorial and reproduction rights and acknowledge our work in full whenever you use it. And please inform us when you use the text or photographs. We would also ask that in your future use of the material you respect the memory of the women to whom this exhibition is devoted.
We would like to cordially thank our sponsors for financially supporting this project. Our thanks are due above all to the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, CZ LOKO inc., The Ludvík Svoboda Society, and the Grant Fund of the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno.
Mgr. Alena Vitáková amd Miroslav Klusák
If you are one of the women veterans yourself, or your mother, grandmother or great grandmother served in the army during the Second World War and you have photos or documents at home relating to these themes and are willing to lend them to be digitized, please contact us.

Women in the Units of the Czechoslovak Army in the USSR
Czechoslovak Women in the Ranks of the National Liberation Army of Yugoslavia
Czechoslovak Women in British Auxiliary Services
Sources and Literature Used
Authorial Team
History of Exhibition
Take a look at more than 650 period photographs, most of them never published before.
Here you can find the names of all the women who joined the Czechoslovak Army during the Second World War. As of today the list contains 1,056 names of women soldiers.
In this section you can read (only in Czech) about the lives of women soldiers and their families.
© 2008 Czechoslovak Women Fighting in Foreign Military Units in World War II, All rights reserved
Production of WWW presentation WOLFWEB.CZ


Win a copy of THE EYE OF THE WORLD: The Graphic Novel, Volume 2
I'm giving away my review copy of Chuck Dixon and Andie Tong's The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel, Volume 2 to one lucky winner! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.
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With the full cooperation of the Jordan estate, The Eye of the World has been turned into a stunning comic book series. Volume One of The Eye of the World: the Graphic Novel was published by Tor in the Fall of 2011 and was a New York Times bestseller.
In The Eye of the World: the Graphic Novel, Volume Two, scripted by Chuck Dixon and illustrated by Andie Tong, Rand al'Thor, Egwene al'Vere, and their friends flee their home village in the company of Moiraine and her Warder, Lan Mandragoran. Pursued by their enemies, the group seeks sanctuary in Baerlon. Rand's nightmares grow darker. Moiraine takes Egwene under her wing. Lan warns them to trust no one, but should that distrust extend to Lan and Moiraine as well?
The Eye of the World: the Graphic Novel, Volume Two, collects six issues of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World comic book published by Dynamite Entertainment. This book will feature bonus material that gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a graphic novel.
The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "EYE." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.
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One of the big gaps in modern scientific research is that there are currently no published predictive models that provide a logical mathematical pathway between the activities of the neurons in the brain and human intelligent behaviour. This blog proposes such a pathway as a result of a re-assessment of an early experimental computer language called CODIL which never became commercially successful.
The EEC ICL Story
CODIL (also known as DORIS) - the E.E.C. and I.C.L. Story
Looking towards the Next Generation of Computers
Draft Report[1] of my time working for English Electric Computers and International Computers Limited between1968 and 1970
Prepared for the Leo Computer Society Archives
Chris Reynolds, September 2018
1 Starting Work with English Electric Computers
In August 1967, after only 20 months working with computers with Shell-Mex & BP, Hemel Hempstead[2], I started working with English Electric Computers[3] on an exciting new job. My job title was Sales Consultant, but my job was to do market research into what big commercial customers would be expecting in the next generation of computers, some 5 years down the road. The team of two was headed by George Stern, a salesman who knew the company well, and also had many contacts with current and potential customers[4], while my job was to be looking at the likely changes in software and hardware technology. I started the job never thinking that my proposal for a sale contract language for Shell Mex & B.P. might prove relevant.
But before I started on the job proper I needed to learn about the current systems being markets by the company. The System 4 computer[5] (which had been turned down by Shell Mex & B P as a possible replacement to the Leo 326 computers[6]) was an IBM 360 look-alike system. The course I was on dealt with the various models but also involved programming in System 4 assembly code (identical to the IBM 360 assembly code). Up to this point in time the only computers I had known were the Leo 326 systems and I was interested in the very big differences in the instruction set, the way in which arithmetic was carried out, the use of registers, and the way memory as addressed.
What came next was interesting - because George was about to take his summer holiday. As the work was looking several years ahead there was little of immediate urgency and his idea of getting me into the job was unusual but effective. Each day several reports and other documents would arrive in his in-tray and my instructions were to read them and draft comments or a possible reply. We would then discuss them, and take appropriate action, on his return.
One of these reports was of particularly relevance to what happened later. The software development team sent some outline proposals for what I considered was a rather simple library indexing program. This linked back to the work I had been doing at the Cooper Technical Bureau a couple of years earlier where one of my tasks was manually cataloging a complex variety of research and development documents[7]. I decided that it would be useful to give an example demonstrating the kinds of complexity I had to been dealing with, using the kinds of classification terms I had used. The original note has not survived but a typical entry might have been something like this:
Animal - Cattle; Parasite - Tick; Country - South Africa; Chemical - 23Z61; Test - Cattle dip; Document Ref - SA 63-171
Subconsciously I had taken indexing terms from a manual information retrieval system and written them out in a very similar format to the sales contract rules in my Shell-Mex & B P proposals. I don't think I really spotted this as being significant at the time - but clearly the two applications were very different.
As soon as George returned work begun in earnest. This involved visiting several major computer users (both commercial and university) and discussing the problems they had with existing systems and applications and ask how they would like to see things improving in the future[8]. On the software side I was in touch with the company's own software teams and I became involved with an external group, run by Urwick Diebold, concerned with identifying data base requirements within COBOL[9], In addition I was asked to write a report on the problems of safeguarding data collected via online terminals[10]. On the hardware side I was in touch with the team responsible for computer processor design in order to discover the kind of facilities the next generation of computers might offer[11].
2 An Idea is Born
Within little more than a month I realized that my Shell-Mex and B.P proposal[12] could be generalized to cover a range of complex information processing problems which were hard to predefine precisely, and where a flexible human-computer interface was important. George suggested that I drew up a document outlining my ideas and in October 1967 I submitted the document to John Aris. The covering memo[13] included:
Attached is a draft of a preliminary report on a data processing scheme I have been working on. The basic approach is to design a system oriented towards human-computer communication (in the logic sense.) So far much more work needs to be done, both in filling in the holes and extending the idea further. However the further the idea is extended the simpler it becomes. I feel that this can be explained in that I am trying to emulate human thought by computer, while existing systems attempt to simulate it via a combination of analysis/programmer/computer.
This makes it quite clear that from the beginning I was "trying to emulate human thought by computer"[14] and it is important to put this in context. In the 1960s all kinds of new applications were being computerized for the first time - and this was seen as applied technology rather than research. Very little published research had been done on interfacing ordinary users, rather than programmers, glass teletypes were still not commercially available, and the first big man-computer conference was not held until 1970. In effect there was no-one around to tell me what I was doing was supposed to be "very difficult". As far as I was concerned all I was doing was a different (but very interesting) systems analysis job which could open up a new market for my employer.
The main text of the document included a brief statement of assumptions:
The idea is to design an information processing system for an unknown user with some data and access to an unspecified computer. Such a system should be of completely general application. It is assumed that the user wants to interrogate and amend the data. To allow him to do this efficiently he will want the data arranged in preferred orders (i.e. equivalent to conventional files and records) possibly coupled with some means of cross-referencing (for indexes) and duplication of all or part of the input statements in other parts of the system. It is also assumed that he will want the data in the system to be self-consistent and for this reason detailed facilities for comparing statements must be incorporated.
This idea of designing "an information processing system for an unknown user" with an unknown application seemed natural to me, because I had previously worked in complex manual information systems and took uncertainty for granted. As far as I was concerned users would always understand the complexity of the task they were doing better than I would. There was no point in trying to explicitly predefine a system to meet all the possible fine details of their task. In such circumstances I considered my job was to provide them with a task-independent information tools which they could use.
My note concluded by saying:
The original approach to computers was "how can we use this new equipment?" I was found that they could be used to manipulate data in various ways, but serious problems have been encountered on trying to design very sophisticated systems. In this report the problem has been reversed by returning to first principles and asking the question "what are the features required for a data processing system?" A great deal more work still needs to be done but it appears to be possible to build a system which offers great improvements in terms of flexibility and human-machine communications. This system could be run on existing computers and would show big advantages for many applications. However by modifying the hardware a saleable system would result.
A few days later my notes were forwarded to John Pinkerton[15], and in mid November John Meredith-Smith wrote a memo[16] assessing the idea. He made some comparisons with prototype systems analysis tool called "Spec" (which I had not heard of) and concluded:
Perhaps now is a suitable time to review the whole situation of system analysis languages. I do not believe that a compiler for SPEC would be valuable in its present form. It may well turn out to be ill defined , in terms of Backus, and does not seem to go far enough in specifying the system. However SPEC, DORIS and the standard data processing routines, which we are developing for System 4, do seem to constitute a useful base on which to develop a powerful system analysis tool.
Futhermore such a study could well reflect on the design of hardware. Mr. Reynolds' work on DORIS implies the use of modified list processing techniques and it would suggest that the implementation of such a system would benefit considerably by the existence of an associative memory of some 64 words.
I believe that work of this type on data structures and the derivation of systems should be followed up in the company, Not many of Reynolds' ideas are original, in fact none of them may be, but most of them are new so far as systems analysis in the company is concerned. Where effort can be found in the company I do not know. Mr Reynolds can only work on this part time, I gather less than a ¼ of his time; I do not believe we could provide any more than about a ¼ man. Mr. Gibson is enthusiastic and might provide some effort from Applied Programming; Trianing and S.P.D. development might also be able to give some support.
I did not see this memo at the time and was not aware of how far CODIL was begin backed as a systems designed tool for programmers and systems analysts to enable them to design conventional procedural programmes. Of course CODIL could be used in that way - by building a working model of the application task - but if you have a working model why convert it to a conventional COBOL program as the result be would loose the ability to tell the user what the system was doing. Such a step would mead moving from a transparent system to a black box system - and also loose the flexibility CODIL gives to change when the complexities of the real world application require thing to alter. However, to be fair, my own ideas were still pretty fluid at this early stage.
3 The First Detailed Specification
As a result it was suggested that I drafted a more detailed description of my ideas, and the project was officially given the codename DORIS (Data Oriented Information System). The following short reports were produced for a meeting held at Computer House, Euston, on 1st December, 1967,
1. DORIS. A brief Introduction. This outlined the way the central decision making algorithm worked.
2. DORIS. Data Structure. How information was stored in the system.
3. DORIS, An Introduction to Scientific Data Retrieval. Used as an example chemical data from my Ph.D.
4. DORIS. Problem Solving. Showed how a New Scientist "Tantalizer" puzzle could be coded as an example of heuristic problem solving.
5. DORIS. Sales Accounting. Based on the type of application I had worked on at Shell-Mex & BP.
6. DORIS. The Effect on Hardware.
At the meeting I presented my ideas to Stern, Lowe, Iggulden and Bye (all Marketing, Computer House), Hold (Marketing, Kidsgrove), Ball (Product Planning, Kidsgrove), Meredith Smith (Research, Minerva Road), Trott (Training, Radley House) and Hoare (Elliot Automation). At the end of the meeting the future of the idea was discussed[17]. Mr.Hoare suggested that a simple design exercise be undertake to see whether such a system could be designed in practical terms and also to see what problems would be involved. John Meredith-Smith noted[18] that "Mr. Reynolds is the best man to do this work." He added "I do not see how he could work for Mr Stern who still does not understand the idea."
As a result of this meeting I drafted two further documents, the first outlining how the preliminary investigation should be carried out, and the second relating CODIL to a data base design approach mentioned at the meeting.
· DORIS. Pilot Program Project. Terms of Reference[19].
· DORIS. A Comparison with the Relational Data File[20].
4 Seconded to Minerva Road
As a result of the above meeting[21] it was agreed that I should move to Minerva Road for 1 or 2 months, under the supervision of John Meredith-Smith with a view to answering the following questions
1. What are the basic underlying objectives of the idea?
2. How can these ideas be expressed in the clearest way?
3. Are the ideas applicable and useful in any particular case?
4. What are the prospective benefits in time, cost and convenience of organizing data and program in this special way?
5. (later) What practical proposals can be made for implementing the ideas (perhaps by stages) and what are the likely costs and benefits of each stage?
After about 2 months I returned to Computer House[22], and the final version of may main report - A Description of DORIS. A Data Oriented Information System was issued from Advanced Systems, Marketing Division,under a "Highly Confidential" tag on 2nd April. The abstract reads as follows:
This report examines the problems of data processing and suggests that many of these arise from the limitations of existing programming techniques. To circumvent these difficulties a radically new approach is suggested. DORIS, a Data ORiented Information System, combines a decision making algorithm with a specially designed file structure" By incorporating a file control package and links to a library of standard subroutines it is possible to have a general purpose data processing program which could be permanently resident within the compufer system. As seen by the non-specialist user DORIS makes decisions in a way similar to a human clerk, using a series of easily understood statements to control its its work. The statements are held so as to give flexibility, comprehensibility and economy in file size There is no equivalent in the DORIS system to the conventional application program and a successful implementation of the system might eventually lead to the virtual demise of the commercial programmer. However conventional files and programs can be used within the system if required,
Because of the wide implications of the system it is inappropriate to try and describe all aspects of this subject in a single report. This report describes the basic decision making algorithm and the associated data file. It also describes the far reaching economic implications of the system and, in general terms, the work needed to implement it. A second report describes a number of applications which can be implemented using DORIS" These include scientific data retrieval, invoicing and problem solving. Housekeeping matters concerned with file organization and input/output are also considered" A brief note is included on the way in which DORIS should make large scale Integrated Management Information Systems a realistic proposition.
This report was followed by two further lengthy reports - An Some Examples of the Use of DORIS Outline Specification of the DORIS Pilot Program[23] and[24]. This last report included a section specifically on complex systems[25]:
SOME PROBLEMS OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS
When specifying conventional programs the systems analyst has to consider ail possible interactions between variables and hence define the "lowest common multiple" of the system. As the problem increases in size and complexity the difficulty in defining it increases at an even faster rate. As a result the system becomes logic bound and improvements are only made by increasing expenditure on specialist staff and equipment.
The approach when using DORIS is completely the opposite. His [The systems analyst] job is to provide a basic skeleton for the system (a highest common factor) and the flesh is added by the appropriate 'specialist' in the application being tackled. This suggests that for a given degree of systems effort the size of problem that can be tackled using DORIS should be very much bigger than would be the case if conventional coding is used.
This immediately suggests that DORIS should be of great value in systems such as the much talked about Integrated Management Information System. Attempts to design such systems using existing techniques run into many troubles and there is no doubt that many data processing managers in this country believe that the IMIS is a fictional beast. Because of the interest in such situations. It is hoped to produce a full report on the subject later this year.
5 Work on the Pilot Program
As the above mentioned reports started to appear in their final form things were starting to happen at a high level in the company. On 21 March 1968 George Stern wrote[26] to John Pinkerton, Research Director of EEC, about "Patent Cover for DORIS." Interestingly the letter was signed by David Caminer , Marketing Director of EEC, so must have had his approval.
As you know, DORIS, if fully successful, could give a saving to the computing community of the world measurable in hundreds of millions sterling p.a. For this reason we have to give thoughts to protecting the rights of E.E.C. ...
If I remember correctly the figure was a back of an envelope calculation along the following lines.
1. The potential market for large commercial computers in 5 years time (1973) could well be approaching a billion pounds a year.
2. One of the big problems in using such systems using conventional software is that they tend to be inflexible and unfriendly.
3. DORIS is being designed to provide a flexible and human-friendly interface.
4. If it works it is not unreasonable to think it could help the company capture 10 or 20% of the market.
5. The calculation did not explicitly consider the possibility of many online terminals (there were virtually none in 1968 commercial systems) and the fact that a user-friendly language could be very important as a terminal interface.
While the basis of the calculation was quite crude, it was not unreasonable, and with the benefit of hindsight might be considered quite conservative. After all if the work had not been dropped by ICL, the early 1980 personal computers might have ended up with a user-friendly CODIL-like operating system, rather than MS-DOS.
I don't know when the decision was actually taken (presumably at Board level) to make DORIS a properly supported project with a budget of, I think, £50,000, but on 3rd May 1968 John Aris, Manager, Applied Systems, circulated senior managers within E.E.C. telling them about DORIS[27], and pointing out that it should not be discussed outside the company. He described it as follows:
DORIS, a 'Data Oriented Information System', is an original and radically new approach to the systems/programming of computers, devised by Dr. C. Reynolds, of this Department. It involves holding a large proportion of the decision-making logic, normally built into user programs, as part of the data files, and analysing it not with a variety of special application programs, but with one general purpose decision making routine. If this proves viable it could result in the virtual demise of the conventional application program in many fields, replacing it by the said general purpose routine and groups of calculation routines. Its data structure, being closer to the ordinary modes of human thought than computer files generally are, could allow the ultimate user far greater freedom to use the computer as an information handler in a familiar way, and without the need for expensive commercial programmers. This would, among other advantages, ease the implementation of management information systems. A further important consequence could be a new approach to CPU design.
In June a meeting[28] was held to discuss DORIS and Caminer was convinced there was something worth following up. In August there was a meeting[29] at Stevenage to discuss possible links between CODIL and the work of J K Iliffe on the Basic Language Machine[30].
Two shorter reports followed later in the year. They were A Comparison between DORIS and Conventional Techniques and The Limitations of Existing Computer Techniques[31]
There was a management change on the 8th September, when the project officially became part of the Research and Advanced Development Organisation. Effectively I moved from Marketing, under George Stern, and reported to John Meredith Smith, who was based at Minerva Road. In addition I gave a presentation to Basil de Ferranti. The programming of the project was well underway and by the end of the year Stage 1 of the implementation had been completed - which involved setting up the file handling software and producing some example files.[32]
For various reasons the name DORIS was considered unsuitable and from the 1st January 1969 the project became CODIL - for COntext Dependent Information Language. Later in the month a report briefly describing the project was issues, and revised versions, with updates, were produce later in the year[33]. To back up the October reissue a demonstration run was prepared simulating an online session[34] in which a series of very different CODIL test applications were demonstrated[35]. This was followed in November 1969 by a computer produced "An Introduction to CODIL"[36] which included small demonstration application relating to Houses for Sale, Railway Timetable, The Forsyte Family Tree, Scientific Data Retrieval and other data retrieval problems, problem solving (a New Scientist Tantalizer), Simple Calculations, Pricing Orders, and Systems Control.
6 The Project within ICL closes down
Initially I was not aware of the danger that the CODIL project was in as a result of the merger to form ICL, possibly because I had remained working in Computer House, Euston, after I had officially become part of the Programming Research group based at Minerva Road. What was happening at the top of the newly formed company was a dispute about the way forward. At the time of the merger English Electric Computers had a full order book and International Computers & Tabulators (ICT) was struggling. The new board decided that the ICT 1900 series of computers should be phased out in favour of the EEC System 4 computer - but reversed their decision, possibly as a result of government pressure, and most of the original EEC board, which had supported CODIL, resigned. While the new director of research was Basil de Ferranti he had been managing director of ICT and, in retrospect, the downgrade of his status was a strong hint that he should take his services elsewhere, and he ceased being a director sometime after I had left ICL.
I was initially reassured that the project would continue in some form, but the danger signs were there to see. One important event was a formal presentation that Basil de Ferranti asked me to give to the other directors on the company board. This was prepared - but the only director to turn up was Basil himself. One director had someone to represent his division and at least some of them had the decency to send their apologies. Clearly this was a very clear thumbs down from the ICL Board and almost certainly was intended as a sign to Basil that "his bright ideas were not wanted." I am sure that this rejection had nothing to do with the merits or demerits of CODIL, but was more to do with company internal politics and the decision to throw everything behind the 2900 series of computers.
In September 1969 Basil wrote to P D. Hall and L. Lightfoot[37] saying:
One of the significant projects which was under way at Minerva Road, and which came to the Research Department originally from the EE Sales side, was based on a new approach to modularizing customer software.
Called CODIL the technique has a number of supporters and would appear to be not only a useful product in certain well defined areas, such as oil product distribution centres, but also to carry an underlying principle which could be applied in many areas, The key figure in the development of CODIL was Dr. Reynolds and the question really is whether or not we wish to retain his service. Clearly if there is merit in CODIL we would wish to but if the company doesn't wish to take it up I think it improbable that he would wish to stay.
I have seen nothing to suggest that anything was done at the time to follow this up but in February 1970 two very short reviews (both on the same side of a single page of A4) assessing CODIL were written - but which I did not see at the time. Both were by people who I had never heard of and who had not contacted me for further information (I would have only been an internal phone call away). I have no idea what CODIL documentation had been passed to them, but it is obvious they had not seen the report "A Comparison between DORIS and Conventional Techniques". Neither of them seemed to have understood that CODIL was set up as a research project and not a "nearly ready for the market" package..
The first report[38] , by G. C. Sibthorpe, starts "Although I am not very familiar with CODIL ..." and then inappropriately compares it with a system specification language called SPECOL, because he failed to realize that CODIL was aimed at users, rather than systems analysts and programmers. The second review[39], by A. F. Besley, also compares it with what I assume was a systems development aid - and again failed to recognize the nature of the users for which it was designed, or to understand the complex problems it had been designed to tackle. However he recommended publication as "The CODIL project has achieved some practical results and I am sure we would loose nothing by airing these in an article." As far as I can see these two superficial reviews were the final nail in CODIL's coffin, as far as continuing the research at ICL.
Up till about this time my position was difficult, especially as the research group at Minerva Road had been disbanded and staff (including my programmers) were leaving the company or moving to other duties. Basil de Feranti had said he wanted the research to continue, and John Pinkerton (now no longer a director) clearly considered it would be a great shame if the reseach was abandoned. If a new home could be found within ICL I would have been very happy.
While I realized the research was interesting, I had only worked with very large commercial computer systems and was not really able to assess the importance of the project on a wider industry basis, or its relevance to academic studies relating to the theories underlying computer science. In addition details of the project was supposed to be confidential, at least until the patent had been finalized, and if I tried to move the research elsewhere there could be real difficulties as to who owned the rights. These factors made it difficult for me to just up sticks and continue the research elsewhere. The fact that publication would be possible clearly eased the situation
When John Pinkerton suggests that I write up a paper for publication, and it might be possible to move the project (unfunded) to a university (but not a rival computer manufacturer) I was very interested[40] and happily went along with the publication plan. Work started immediately and it was arranged that I should give a talk to the British Computer Society Advanced Programming Group on 14th May 1970, and the handout I prepared was reprinted in the Computer Bulletin[41].
A more detailed paper[42] was prepared for submission to the Computer Journal, concentrating on CODIL as a programing language and how it was implemented. Detailed discussion about the factors underlying the design of the human interface or references to the original design study at Shell-Mex and BP was ruled out for commercial reasons. The reasons for there being a hardware patent were also played down. Basically the paper was written in a way that did not make claims that could embarrass ICL's decision to close the project down.
Over the last few months at ICL I made sure that I had computer listings of all the relevant programs and test applications, while technically reporting to a manager at Stevenage who, I think, I never actually met. However there was one very significant incident during my last month. I got an invitation to give a talk on CODIL to an internal seminar on research on unusual computer processor research, the other presentation being by J K Iliffe on the Basic[43] Language Computer research at Stevenage. The meeting was in a Ferranti research laboratory at Bracknell on the day before I was due to leave ICL so I agreed to go.
The seminar was very interesting and my talk caused a lot of interest as it was the first time anyone had actually made proposals for modifying a central processor to make it easier for normal human users, as in the past all processors had been designed to make them easier to write procedural language programs. There was also surprise as to how and why the CODIL project had been abandoned why their research division had not been told it was under threat. I was also very interested in hearing about the Basic Language Computer research, as while the approach was very different, some of the hardware solutions could also be relevant to CODIL, and I left the meeting full of ideas about how the CODIL patent could be made very much stronger.
Just over a week later I was free of ICL and presenting a paper on CODIL[44] at the Conference on Man-Computer Interaction at Teddington.
A follow up document is being prepared about the transfer of the project to a University environment
[1] The report (dated 30th September 2018) has been written as a first draft for the Archives of the LEO Computer Society. The source (in addition to memory) are the folders of published reports which I hold, supplemented by correspondence relating to the establishment of the CODIL project in the ICL Archives held in the Science Library, Swindon. If appropriate, information from other bulky correspondence files, working notes, and original program listings can be added, with further links to digitized copies of the original documents.
[2] An account of my activities, The SMBP Story, at Shell-Mex & BP, including details of the work that triggered the ideas behind CODIL, has been prepared for the archives of the LEO Computer Society.
[3] At the time I joined English Electric Computers in 1967 it was a merger of a number of different computer companies, as English Electric Leo Marconi, and in 1968 it merged with International Computers and Tabulators (ICT) to become International Computers Limited (ICL).
[4] George Stern has never understood CODIL (or DORIS as it was first called) but was very important in the early days of the project as I am not particularly good at networking - and if I had a problem he knew exactly who within EEC I should contact. This help ceased once the two companies merged and I officially reported to John Meredith Smith, at Minerva Road, while I was still based in Computer House.
[5] The System 4 computers had the same instruction set as the IBM 360 computer series.
[6] The Leo 326 was the top of the range Leo computer, the Leo I being recognised as the first prupose-built commercial computer.
[7] One of my tasks related to filing and indexing internal company documents relating to possible chemical agents for use in veterinary practice throughout the world. This was potentially very complex as it was not clear how files would develop. Each project started off as a small folder which expanded until it was considered non-commercial (usually very quickly) or could become very larger. In one case where a project went to market world wide I estimated the number of documents would occupy several filing cabinets. I spent some time looking at how this might be handled
[8] What was interesting was how little data processing managers had thought about the future. It was clear that they were all struggling to get the best out of the present batch systems and that was their priority. The stock answers were all bigger and more powerful computers, with better high level languages and operating systems. Some recognised that computer terminals and online operations might become possible but had not thought about it in any detail. The most noticeable exception was Wesley M. Davies, of the Steel Company of Wales, Ltd., who was concerned with interfacing complex real world problems with computers (in their case payroll and complex "who does what" trade union contracts)
[9] I was part of the IMIS subcommittee of the Diebold Research Program and my files showed that I contributed the data dictionary subsection to the Common Data Base Report which was published in the later part of 1969. The work was linked to some of the work of the CODASYL committees in the United States.
[10] Real Time Data Logging and the Security of Information. Systems Techniques Notes No 2, by Dr C Reynolds, English Electric Computers, 9th January 1968.
[11] Some questions on a visit to the Engineering side at Kidsgrove about the System 4 processor hardware made me realise that associative addressing - rather than addressing by numerical position - was possible. This lead to further questions about how the instruction set was implemented.
[12] The SMBP Story
[13] Memo: Reynolds to Aris, Doris (Data Oriented Information System), 19th October 1967
[14] The last thing in my mind when I wrote this would have been brain science, artificial intelligence, or psychology. I was simply being a systems analyst faced with a problem - Humans appear to do things this way, so if you want to build a system that works with people build a system in a way that they will find it easy to interact with.
[15] Memo: Stern to Pinkerton, DORIS, 25th October 1967
[16] Memo: Meredith-Smith to Pinkerton, DORIS, 14th November, 1967
[17][17] Diary Note: By d. Loewe, Notes of a meeting at Computer House on 1st December, 1967, 6th December, 1967
[18] Memo: Meredith to Pinkerton, DORIS, 4th December, 1967
[19] "DORIS. Pilot Program Project. Terms of Reference" 13 December, 1967 - a one page summary outlining how the material in the reports written for the 1st December meeting could be implemented.
[20] "DORIS. A Comparison with the Relational Data File" 12 December, 1967 - This commented on the paper "A Computer System for Inference Execution and Data Retrieval" by R. E Levin and M E Maron, Comm. ACM Volume 10 pp 715-721, November 1967. The note points out "The R.D.F. is used for storing information in retrievable form, and unlike DORIS uses conventional programs to read it." It should be noted that there was no similarity between the R.D.F> and Codd's Relational Data Base.
[21] Memo: Stern to Pinkerton "Terms of Reference for Study of DORIS", 4th January 1968 (misdated 1967)
[22] There is no doubt that I found it very difficult to commute to Minerva Road, and the fact that I did not return there when I was finally transferred full time to Research was because a decision had been made to close down the site.
[23] "An Outline Specification of the DORIS Pilot Program" 22 May, 1968. This contained a specification for a program to test that the ideas underlying CODIL actually worked, and a 4 stage implementation program. By the time the project was finally closed down all stages in the implementation program had been completed satisfactorily.
[24] "Some Examples of the Use of DORIS" 28th June, 1968. The report included examples of scientific information retrieval, commercial data processing and problem solving. It also discussed t he internal management and input/output of data.
[25] It is relevant to note that I was employed by English Electric Computers to do market research on future requirements of very large commercial customers, and this work involved talking to senior management in large existing installations so I was well aware that the problems I had seen at Shell-Mex & BP were not unique.
[26] Memo: Stern to Pinkerton, Patent Cover for DORIS, 21st March, 1967.
[27] Memo: John Aris to long circulation list: DORIS, 3rd May, 1968
[28] Memo: Stern to Pinkerton, DORIS, 14th June, 1968
[29] Memo: Stern to circulation list, Meeting at Stevenage to discuss DORIS, 13th August, 1968
[30] See J K Iliffe, Elements of BLM, The Computer Journal, Volume 12, Issue 3, 251-258, August 1969
[31] DORIS: The Limitations of Existing Computer Techniques: Selected Quotations, ?, 1968. See also How far has computing advanced in the last 50 years?
[32] Progress Report on Work of the Programming Research Group, Acton Laboratories: Report on CODIL. January 1969
[33] CODIL. A Language for Handling Complex Data Processing Problems. Initially issues 30the January 1969, 3rd issue 6th October 1969.
[34] I had no access to computer terminals of any kind, and simulation runs assumed a teletype terminal.
[35] Photocopy of computer listing headed CODIL Job: Simulated Run using Printer and Card Reader, dated 26th September.
[36] Photocopy of computer listing headed An Introduction to CODIL, dated 9th November, 1911
[37] Memo: de Ferranti to Hall & Lightstone, [re CODIL], 8th September, 1969
[38] Short note by Sibthorpe, CODIL, 4th February, 1970
[39] Short note by Besley, CODIL, 6th February, 1970
[40] It is planned to write a follow up memoir dealing with the move to a University.
[41] "CODIL," The Computer Bulletin Volume 14, pp 244-245, July 1970.
[42] Published (with some amendments) as "CODIL: Part 2: The CODIL Language and its Interpreter", Computer Journal Volume 14,pp 327-332, November 1971.
[43] Not to be confused with the programming language BASIC.
[44] "CODIL," Conference on Man-Computer Interactio Teddington, 2-4 September, 1970. In proceedings, "IEE Conference Publication No 68, pp 211-216. 1970
Summary of "An Evolutionary Model of Human Intelligence"
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Ivan Obolensky
On January 29, 1886, Karl Benz patented the Motorwagen. It was an automobile fueled entirely by gasoline. Less known is that Bertha Benz, his wife and business partner, also played a significant part. After all, it was Bertha who created one of life's finest diversions: the road trip.
In 1888, Bertha Benz, unbeknownst to her husband, travelled from Mannheim to Pforzheim and back again in his invention. She was accompanied by her two teenage sons, who may, or may not, have had something to do with it. Ostensibly, she wanted to visit her mother, but what she really wanted to do was generate publicity for her husband's recently patented automobile. She was wildly successful. The family business evolved into the Mercedes-Benz of today, illustrating once again that behind many a successful man is an equally successful woman (who can also act as a mechanic when needed).
Benz's invention has had an extraordinary impact, yet its success was not particularly envisioned by the population of the late 19th century.
In the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, various leading lights attempted to predict life one hundred years in the future - in 1993. Although they correctly anticipated much more powerful weapons and the proliferation of global communication, none of them anticipated the extraordinary rise of mass transportation that the automobile would eventually bring about. Like most things, the growth of the car began slowly at first before it exploded upward.1
For example, in 1895, there were exactly four passenger vehicles in the United States, but by 1900 that number had increased to 8,000. By 1929, the number of passenger cars had rocketed to 29 million. In 1990, this figure topped 133 million. 2
If the growth of the number of passenger vehicles in the United States were plotted on a graph, it would look like an S, with the top of the S flattening since the year 2000.
This leads to an interesting question: can automobile growth be sustained? Will the number of vehicles collapse, or will it stay flat going forward?
To examine this question, we need to go back some forty years before Karl Benz received his patent.
In 1798, Thomas Malthus published An Essay on the Principle of Population. In it he stated,
"The power of population is so superior to the power of the earth to produce subsistence for man, that premature death must in some shape or other visit the human race."
Malthus gave birth to the Malthusian Controversy: the idea that population growth is geometric while resource growth is linear. Visually, a graph of the human population over time looks similar to the graph of the number of cars on American roads through 1929. It starts slowly and grows faster and faster. Imagine available resources as a straight line with a fixed upward slope placed higher up the graph. When the two lines cross, which eventually they must, the result is a cataclysm: the collapse of the human race due to famine.3
So far this has not happened, but the possibility continues to haunt the human psyche as a dark possibility that manifests in various films and stories of a dystopian future where human existence has devolved to a dirty hand-to-mouth scramble, set against a dark landscape of a once-proud civilization that has crumbled into dust. Was Malthus wrong in his concept of growth?
Partly in response to this controversy, a Belgian mathematician by the name of Pierre Verhulst came up with another solution called the logistic equation,* which underlies the logistics growth model. Rather than a collapse of the population, the model calls for eventual slower growth in the form of a plateau.
The model incorporates the exponential rise of a population in its initial phase where resource availability is not a factor. Over time, available resources start to act as a constraint causing a slow-down. The result is a graph that looks like an S.4
Population growth studies, whether of humans, companies, bacteria, or otherwise, seem to invariably follow this S pattern.**
The plateauing of the S curve illustrates the problem confronting all countries, corporations, species and life forms: how is it possible to move beyond the eventual limits of resources as reflected at the top of the S curve?
To illustrate this, imagine you are in an airport and step onto a moving walkway. Now imagine you only notice the walkway is moving in the opposite direction because a poster to your right seems to be keeping pace with your progress in spite of your steady walking. Realizing you are on the wrong walkway, you have a choice. You either stop moving, let the walkway bring you back to the beginning, and get on the one going in your direction, or you increase your speed to make it to the other end. 5
This analogy illustrates many parts of the S curve dilemma. The walkway moves in the opposite direction at a constant speed similar to the straight line constraint of available resources. We can imagine accelerating to a higher speed so we progress faster than the walkway. We can decide to run. But if the walkway is infinitely long, we will make progress until we tire, and once again we are just keeping pace. Welcome to the S curve.
How do we get off this treadmill?
Analyzing this predicament leads to several interesting and useful observations.
If an organization, or an individual, can transform itself internally faster than the environment can change, it is possible to create a new S curve on top of the existing S curve and reach a new higher level of performance.
Even if we succeed in creating a new S curve on top of the existing one, new resource constraints will once again show up to create a new plateau.
Most people and organizations find themselves at a fixed level of performance where they have to run just to stand still. The solution is to create resources that will do the running for them.
Transitioning to a higher plateau is rarely a function of the environment decreasing its pressure, or new resources appearing out of nowhere. We must create them, or at least recognize an opportunity when we encounter it.
Growth as defined by following a new higher S curve is ultimately the result of internal transformation rather than external factors, although sometimes life gives us a pass in the form of additional resources. Winning the lottery might fall under this category, but the chances of winning are slim and unreliable.
Resources are always scarce and the walkway never stops. If we are lucky, it might slow down, but that is all.
We can recognize and utilize new resources to create a new higher S curve, but only if we change how we view the world so we can recognize opportunities as opportunities and new resources as resources when we meet them.
We do have the option to give up, go back to the beginning, and attempt to get on the right walkway, but the laws of the universe militate against ever finding one that constantly provides for us. Resources in the form of free energy are scarce, or soon will be. Regardless, we will once again visit the limits of growth but in a different guise. Such pockets of respite eventually die or dry up.
If we cannot change and internally transform, the environment will intercede, and not necessarily in a way we would like.
Requiring fewer resources, or creating resources that continually provide for us, still requires seizing the opportunity once presented.
Life is a constant process of renewal, observation, awareness, and choices. It can be likened to a treadmill, but none of us would miss it for the world. Life is full of opportunities. We just have to recognize them as such.
Road trip?
*For those mathematically inclined. The Logistic equation (also called the Verhulst model or logistics growth curve) is a differential equation with a solution sometimes known as the sigmoid function, better known as the S curve.6
**The environment can always intercede in the S Curve growth pattern. For instance, one can drop the petri dish and the bacteria is spilled all over the floor. It's either a disaster for the bacteria... or an opportunity.
Tenner, E. (1996) Why Things Bite Back. New York, NY: Vintage Books.
A. (N.D.) Bureau of Transportation Statistics Publications, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Table 1-11: Number of U. S. Aircraft, Vehicles, Vessels, and Other Conveyances. Retrieved February 2, 2016 from .
JOC/EFR (January, 2014) Pierre François Verhulst. Retrieved February 2, 2016 from .
Administrator (July, 2013) Malthusian Controversy. Retrieved February 2, 2016 from .
Obeng, E. (February, 2013) Advice from the Red Queen. Edie Obeng's Blog. Retrieved February 2, 2016 from .
Wolfram Research (2016) Logistic Equation. Retrieved February 2, 2016 from
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Categories: Articles, Articles (General) Tags: Ivan Obolensky
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SILVIA 02-06-2016
Interesting article as usual.
After reading it all I felt is better to let life flow; sometime we can worry a lot if there will be enough food in the future, if world finances will collapse out of the blue, or similar.
Nature has a balance, always have and I believe always will; as simple example, if the leaves fall off the trees in autumn is for a nature's reason; if there are ants making holes here and there, it does have a nature's reason.
However, if we as humans ignore nature and don't let it be, then, no matter how many Ss we built, we will experience a backfire.
Thank you again Ivan as your articles always make me think and look at things.
Thanks for your optimistic and well-considered thoughts on the future of the human race. Now, everyone join me in that old Doris Day favorite Que Sera, Sera...Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Que Sera, Sera...


YOU ARE HERE: intergroup"Solutions through innovation - What role for the bioeconomy in the next MFF?
Solutions through innovation - What role for the bioeconomy in the next MFF?
On Tuesday 22 May 2018, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri MEP, Chair of the "Bioeconomy" Working Group of the European Parliament Intergroup on"Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development" hosted the event in the European Parliament on: "Solutions through innovation - What role for the bioeconomy in the next MFF?".
The European Union is at a crossroad. While it needs to define the allocation of its financial resources and overarching priorities beyond 2020, a number of undertakings initiated under the current term will also extend and develop over the next one. The further development and expansion of the circular bioeconomy is one of them, which was the focus on this event where the following key questions were discussed:
How will the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework provide for enough dedicated resources for innovation and the bioeconomy?
To what extent will the next EU framework programme (FP9) allocate the relevant space and means to biomass producers and bio-based industries to further develop innovative solutions to key societal challenges such as climate change and delivery of the UN SDGs?
Can a mission-oriented Research and Innovation policy for the EU embrace and recognise the merits of the circular bioeconomy and make it evolve "from niche to norm"?
Will the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and Action Plan currently under revision capitalize on its successes so far to further boost bio-based solutions for a more sustainable and competitive European economy?


Home Latest News Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam will not participate in Charter Day amid blackface...
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam will not participate in Charter Day amid blackface scandal
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam swears in College President Katherine Rowe in a July ceremony. President Rowe announced Monday morning that Northam would no longer attend upcoming Charter Day ceremonies. COURTESY PHOTO / WM.EDU
As politicians, state leaders and community actors called for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to resign, members of the College of William and Mary community joined the conversation. Northam was set to participate in the inauguration of College President Katherine Rowe Friday, Feb. 8. However, after students signed petitions and expressed their concerns, Rowe announced the morning of Monday, Feb. 4 that Northam would no longer participate in the Charter Day ceremony.
Friday, Feb. 1, Big League Politics, later confirmed by The Virginian-Pilot, broke the news that photos in a 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook featured two men, one in blackface and one in a Ku Klux Klan hood and robe, on Northam's page. Northam initially said that he was in that photo, but in a press conference Saturday, Feb. 2, he denied appearing in the picture. However, he did admit that during another party he had dressed in partial blackface to portray Michael Jackson. While many have called for Northam to resign, he has said that it would be the easy way out and he would prefer to make things right from the gubernatorial office.
"On Friday, like others in our community, I was appalled and saddened by the revelation of the racist image on Governor Ralph Northam's medical-school yearbook page," Rowe said in her campus-wide statement.
"On Friday, like others in our community, I was appalled and saddened by the revelation of the racist image on Governor Ralph Northam's medical-school yearbook page," Rowe said in her campus-wide statement. "The behavior depicted in that photo is a painful reminder of the hate, divisiveness and racism that so many in this country have sought for generations to overcome."
According to College spokesperson Suzanne Clavet, the President's Office communicated with Northam's office over the weekend.
These conversations culminated in the announcement that Northam would not participate in the Charter Day or Inauguration ceremonies. It is not clear whether the College disinvited him or if his office decided that he would not participate.
"As you will see in [Rowe's] message, it became clear over the weekend the Governor's presence would fundamentally disrupt the sense of campus unity we aspire for with the Inauguration/Charter Day event this week," Clavet said in an email. "We have conferred with the Governor's office and he will not be attending."
As of Feb. 4, the President's Office had not announced who would replace Northam's role in the ceremony. Charter Day Chair and Inauguration Committee member Connor Glendinning '19 said he felt confident that in the coming days, a new speaker who had connections to Virginia and the College would be announced.
"I had heard on Saturday from the President's Office that clarity would come after the weekend," Glendinning said. "I think it was a really well put together statement. I wholeheartedly support her. It makes a lot of sense, politics aside, to disclude [sic] any narrative of hate from our campus. I do think it would have really detracted from the event being about William and Mary and the introduction of Rowe to that community. That event is not about that controversy and it would have detracted from the work we have done over the months. That is where my support comes in."
Over the weekend, student groups also drafted letters and petitions asking for Northam to resign and to ensure that he would not attend the Charter Day and Inauguration ceremonies. Two groups, the College's chapters of the Young Democrats and the Young Democratic Socialists of America, drafted a joint letter in response.
"In addition to our calls for his immediate resignation, we are also asking the College of William & Mary to formally uninvite Governor Northam from this year's Charter Day celebration," the groups said in the letter. "We also request that the College does not grant Governor Northam an honorary degree. As an institution, we cannot support these offensive acts out of respect to not only our students, but also our own personal values. His presence will detract from the experience of the student body, faculty, and staff."
Last year, following a tradition to honor newly inaugurated Virginia governors, the College had Northam serve as the keynote speaker at Charter Day and conferred an honorary degree. At the time, Northam commended the College's recognition of the 50th anniversary of African-American students in residence and spoke about issues of socioeconomic diversity at public universities in Virginia. Over the summer, Northam also participated in Rowe's swearing in.
Rowe also emphasized in her statement that Northam's behavior would not be acceptable in today's world and was also not acceptable in 1984.
In preparation for Tuesday night's Student Assembly senate meeting, Class of 2020 President Kelsey Vita '20 and Sen. Anthony Joseph '21 have drafted a resolution titled The Expectations of Gubernatorial Leadership. Sen. Cody Mills '20, Sen. JonDavid Nichols '20, Sen. Zie Medrano '19 and Sen. Alexis Payne '19 have also signed on as sponsors. In addition to these sponsors, several other senators, SA secretaries and SA undersecretaries have signed on to the resolution.
This resolution, which has not officially been discussed on the floor at an SA Senate meeting, acts to condemn Northam while simultaneously supporting his dismissal from Charter Day and demanding his immediate resignation. Since the resolution's introduction, Northam has already been removed from Charter Day.
"If passed, we intend to disperse this resolution to the student body via email, deliver it to the Board of Visitors, and send it to other student governments of Virginia public institutions," Vita said in a written statement.
Vita said that she hoped that if passed, this resolution would have a larger impact in uniting universities across the state in condemning Northam and calling for his resignation.
One point of the resolution calls to have Virginia Lieutenant Gov. Justin Fairfax replace Northam as a guest speaker at Charter Day. However, allegations have surfaced that Fairfax committed sexual assault in 2004 at the Democratic National Convention. Vita and Joseph said that they were unaware of these allegations at the time they wrote and shared the resolution, but they will research in time for Tuesday's meeting.
William and Mary Students United posted on their Facebook page about these allegations. Dalton Jared '20, one student who organizes with Students United, said that he was proud of students who spoke out against Northam. He also said that he hoped future conversations about Fairfax would be led by sexual assault survivors.
"We must trust the individual who has come forward and follow their lead regarding proper reparations  -  if that is their wish," Jared said in a written statement.
"... We must trust the individual who has come forward and follow their lead regarding proper reparations  -  if that is their wish," Jared said in a written statement. "... Survivors should always be central to discussions such as this, so we should all strive to be good listeners rather than commanding the situation or absolving Fairfax of his violence simply because we may agree with his politics. Therefore it would be appropriate for the College to distance itself from Fairfax as well."
The resolution will be officially discussed Tuesday, Feb. 5, during the SA Senate meeting at 7 p.m. This meeting, like other SA meetings, will be open to the public.
Charter Day
Eastern Virginia Medical School
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Sarah Smith '19 served as The Flat Hat's Editor-in-chief From January 2018-February 2019. Previously she served as news editor and associate news editor, and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists for her work with in-depth reporting. Smith is a government and gender, sexuality, and women's studies double major from Ashburn, Virginia.
'You have to have a real crazy belief in yourself': Glenn Close '74 on life as an actress, dealing with uncertainty


Chiesetta di San Rocco
The church of San Rocco is located in via Don Luigi Maletta , in the historic center of Cosenza, near the banks of the river Crati.
The church of San Rocco was built after the historical plague epidemic that struck Cosenza in 1656. The city had already been hit in 1576 by an equally serious epidemic and from which the cult of the Madonna del Pilerio was born. The date of construction of the church is shown in the inscription engraved on the architrave of the portal of the same:
"ERECTA TEMPORE PESTIS A.N.D. 1656 "
which unfortunately is not clearly visible today.
The same name of the building at San Rocco recalls its origin as "ex voto" linked to the disease. At the time of its construction the area was almost deserted. It was therefore initially used as a simple chapel and later became the seat of one of the various city confraternities, such as the confraternity of the Saints Crispino and Crispiniano. As evidence of this, in the arch on either side of the niche are the two saints, who were initially confused with the saints Cosma and Damiano.
Today the church assumes a mere symbolic value and is no longer used for liturgical celebrations.
THE FACADE
The building has a simple structure. The exterior is characterized by a rectangular portal in tufa, surmounted by a small window, coeval to the foundation as indicated by the inscription on the architrave, no longer visible, but flanked by two angel heads that still appear in good condition.
There is a small bell gable, also in tuff.
The facade of the church
The interior of the church, with a rectangular plan, appears to be very small.
On the ceiling there is a painting of the Immaculate, which, from an unreadable inscription, seems to date back to 1837.
Painting of the Immaculate
DESCRIPTION OF THE PAINTING
The painting on the altar depicting San Rocco is a recent work, which in 1977 took the place of the original fresco of 1813, unfortunately disappeared around the '30s.
Foreground of the fresco
THE STATUE
San Rocco is also depicted in a small nineteenth-century painting on the front of the wooden pulpit on the left wall and in a statue in the niche of the right wall.
Statue of San Rocco
The statue shows the Saint in pilgrim's clothes with a dog with bread in his mouth next to his iconographic attribute. The marble altar is also relatively recent, since, until 1936, there was a fixed gold-colored altar. There are also other statues representing icons related to the local cult.
1. Parola di Vita, Lorenzo Coscarella (Novembre 2014)
Photos and main text by Nicolò Malato moc.liamg|9976otalamolocin#| and Antonio Pucci moc.liamg|2oinotnaiccup#| (December 2018).
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Wolfe on the Space Race
22 July 2009 grant b Science 0
That fella who wrote The Right Stuff got into the New York Times this week and allowed to do a little ranting about the big picture of humans in space:
Unfortunately, NASA couldn't present as its spokesman and great philosopher a former high-ranking member of the Nazi Wehrmacht with a heavy German accent.
As a result, the space program has been killing time for 40 years with a series of orbital projects ... Skylab, the Apollo-Soyuz joint mission, the International Space Station and the space shuttle. These programs have required a courage and engineering brilliance comparable to the manned programs that preceded them. But their purpose has been mainly to keep the lights on at the Kennedy Space Center and Houston's Johnson Space Center  -  by removing manned flight from the heavens and bringing it very much down to earth. The shuttle program, for example, was actually supposed to appeal to the public by offering orbital tourist rides, only to end in the Challenger disaster, in which the first such passenger, Christa McAuliffe, a schoolteacher, perished.
The whole piece is a little full-steam-ahead and kind of cranky-sounding, but I can't shake the feeling he's telling the truth. NASA needs philosophers.
... and Jupiter, while we're at it.
SONG: Like Salamanders Do