International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Woodland, N. Joseph, 1921-2012
setName: label: See more items in
content: N. Joseph Woodland Papers
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1951 - 2006
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.1433, Series 2
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Woodland joined IBM in 1951. An early inventor in optical bar code technology, his patent (US 2,612,994) covers a bar code symbol for automation of supermarket checkout.  This series contains correspondence, memoranda, patents, notes, published materials, and lectures and presentations primarily about the development of the barcode (later referred to as the universal product code), created during Woodland's tenure at IBM. Other work undertaken by Woodland at IBM is also included here. 

The development of standardized product codes was underwayfor many years but was uncoordinated.  Various manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and industry organizations made efforts to establish barcodes that could be used to track products.  Efforts failed because participants could not resolve conflicts about the size of the barcode, compatibility with exiting product codes, and costs. In 1970, the Grocery Industry Ad Hoc Committee formed to study and report on the economic potential of the universal product code (UPC) along with any obstacles. In April 1970, the committee concluded that the UPC should be adopted with the understanding that the UP should have broad application, not just for checkout systems. From 1972 to 1973, work continued on symbol standardization. In March 1973, the decision to adopt the rectangular symbol was announced.

There are materials post 1987, the year Woodland retired from IBM.  These materials include lectures, presentations, and seminars about the barcode.  The materials for 25 Years Behind the Bars exhibit include an audio interview with Woodland conducted on August 23, 1999 by curator David Allison of the National Museum of American History. The exhibit was located in the Museum's Information Technology and Society section and showed the development of the original symbology, its integration into the grocery industry, its massive effects on business, and the future uses of the famous black and white bars.