New Collection Guide for the Office of Information Technology Records Now Available

This blog post is co-authored by Clancy Hecht-Nielsen.

The Special Collections Research Center is proud to announce that a new collection guide for the North Carolina State University, Office of Information Technology Records is now available online.  The collection comprises about 24 linear feet and dates from 1963 to 1999.

Photograph of Computing Center van, circa 1974. From folder titled "Computing Center History (1 of 2)," Box 43, Folder 13
Photograph of Computing Center van, circa 1974.  From folder titled "Computing Center History (1 of 2)," UA 007.001, Box 43, Folder 13

The Office of Information Technology was formerly known as the Computing Center and then the Information Technology Division (ITD). NCSU's Computing Center formed a key part of the Triangle Universities Computation Center (TUCC) and also played a central role in the development of supercomputing in North Carolina.  North Carolina State University first opened its Computer Center in 1962, and the organization supported mainframe computers used primarily for what was then leading-edge scientific and research computing. In the 1970s, the organization supported mainframe computers used for research and scientific supercomputing.   In the 1980's and into the 1990's, the organization was instrumental in the development of North Carolina's Supercomputing Center and its acquisition of the CRAY T916, which significantly expanded North Carolina's research capabilities and business growth. On November 1, 2007, ITD and Resource Management and Information Systems (RMIS) joined to form the Office of Information Technology (OIT). Currently, OIT provides campus-wide computing, information and communication technology services in support of the university's academic and administrative goals. It provides systems and services that include state-of-the-art technology network backbone, computing account privileges and help desk support to the entire university.

From folder titled "Computing Center Directors Seminar," Box 15, Folder 12
This assessment of NC State's computing needs was an understatement, considering the Computing Center had existed 15 years already in 1977. From folder titled "Computing Center Directors Seminar," UA 007.001, Box 15, Folder 12

The records represent enormous changes and strides in the evolution of computers, computing, and the internet at NC State University.  They include manuals, handbooks, annual reports, correspondence, and some newsletters such as "Random Bits and Bytes."  There is a lot of material about TUCC, a non-profit that existed from 1965 to 1990 to provide mainframe computing services (such as electronic data and batch processing) to NC State University, Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and other educational institutions in North Carolina.

"Random Bits and Bytes," 1978, from Box 2, Folder 1
"Random Bits and Bytes," 1978, from Box 2, Folder 1

 

For more resources regarding university history and many other topics, search our digitized collections and archival collection guides. Research questions and/or requests for materials can be sent in using the Special Collections Request Form.

Special thanks to Clancy Hecht-Nielsen and Kristen Blake for their work in processing this collection.