50 Years of Computing @ MSU

50 Years of Computing

April 25th, 1955 was much like any other spring day. The winter frost had melted and the daffodils bloomed in MSU gardens and along the Red Cedar River. On this day, seven university employees embarked on a long drive. They left Michigan empty handed, but returned with the fuel that would change the face of the University forever.

Dr. J. Sutherland Frame, Dr. Kenneth Arnold, John Hoffman, Francis Martin, Dr. George Swenson Jr., Dr. Lloyd Turk, and Dr. Charles Wells traveled to the University of Illinois in April of 1955 to examine the ILLIAC, one of the few university-operated digital computers in the country. Upon their return, they recommended that the University act quickly to build its own computing facility. MSU President John Hannah and the Board of Trustees quickly approved funding, hardly a month after the investigation committee's return.