Cunningham Township in Urbana in Champaign County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Early Computers

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 28, 2023

1. Early Computers Marker

Inscription. Combining the administrative and computer experience of Louis N. Ridenour, the mathematical ability of Abraham H. Taub, and the electrical engineering background of Ralph E. Meagher, in 1952 the Digital Computer Laboratory developed ILLIAC I. The first digital computer built and owned entirely by an educational institution, it weighed five tons and contained 2,800 vacuum tubes. The ILLIAC series continued with ILLIAC II, a transistorized computer, and culminated in the mid-1960s with the ILLIAC IV supercomputer, the largest and fastest in the world.

Erected by University of Illinois.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the University of Illinois series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1952.

Location. 40° 6.785′ N, 88° 13.63′ W. Marker is in Urbana, Illinois, in Champaign County. It is in Cunningham Township. Marker can be reached from West Springfield Avenue, 0.1 miles east of South Wright Street, on the left when traveling east. Marker is on the west side of the Digital Computer Laboratory Building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1304 W Springfield Ave, Urbana IL 61801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

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. Computer-Based Education (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Quantum-Well Laser (about 600 feet away); Theory of Superconductivity (about 700 feet away); Web Browser (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sound on Film (approx. 0.2 miles away); Multiphase Fluid Dynamics (approx. 0.2 miles away); Understanding Photosynthesis (approx. ¼ mile away); Natural History Building (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Urbana.

Regarding Early Computers. ILLIAC was shorthand for Illinois Automatic Computer.

Also see . . .
1. Early Computers. Short video elaborating on the marker subject. (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) (Submitted on June 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. ILLIAC and ORDVAC. Computing at the University of Illinois began in 1949, when the research board under Graduate College Dean Louis Ridenour sent a proposal to University President George Stoddard recommending that the university construct a copy of John von Neumann's proposed machine. (Illinois Distributed Museum) (Submitted on June 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 28, 2023

2. Early Computers Marker

Louis N. Ridenour (1911-1959) image. Click for full size.

Unknown via National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Public Domain)

3. Louis N. Ridenour (1911-1959)

He was dean of the Graduate College of the University of Illinois from 1947-1950. While there, he was instrumental in establishing the Control Systems Laboratory, the Digital Computer Laboratory, and the Radio Carbon Laboratory, as well as a microbiology group and solid state group.

Abraham Haskel Taub (1911-1999) image. Click for full size.

George Bergman via Wikimedia Commons (GFDL 1.2), 1968

4. Abraham Haskel Taub (1911-1999)

In 1948, Taub joined the University of Illinois as the chief mathematician on the project that developed ILLIAC I. He was head of the Digital Computer Laboratory at Illinois 1961-64, then became director of the University of California, Berkeley's Computer Center.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 46 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3, 4. submitted on June 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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