In 2004, the Library and Dr. Kenneth McLaughlin jointly received a grant from the J. W. Graham Information Technology Trust Fund. This grant has supported Dr. McLaughlin’s work in researching the history of computing and information technology achievements at UW. As part of this project, a series of oral history interviews were conducted with key members associated with UW’s history of computing and technology transfer. Text and audio excerpts from these interviews are available on the Unbundling Computing History web site created as part of the project.
Central to Dr. McLaughlin’s research has been the 31 linear meters of archival material of the late J. Wesley (Wes) Graham, a former professor of mathematics, an innovative contributor to the academic and business community, and often referred to as the “father of UW’s computing.” Supporting these archives are the Library’s recently received collections of Dr. Donald Cowan, Dr. Paul Dirksen, and Dr. Ralph Stanton.
In addition to the new archival material, a number of photos related to the history of UW’s computing and technology are currently being digitized. The digitization process will make these photos more readily accessible for future research.
Professor J. Wesley (Wes) Graham, who died on August 23, 1999, was a major and influential contributor to both the academic and business communities through his dedicated research and teachings in the fields of Math and Computer Science. Graham began his career at UW in 1959 as an assistant professor of mathematics. Aside from helping to make UW well-known for its reputable Math and Computer Science programs, Graham was best known for his teaching and research in information technology. Other contributions from Graham include the development of computer software and hardware that helped initiate several "spin-off" companies. On January 23, 2001, the J. W. Graham Information Technology Trust Fund was established at the University of Waterloo by a group of Graham's former colleagues, students, and friends.
For additional information about the Technology Transfer Project, please contact:
Susan Mavor
Head, Special Collections
Ext. 33122
University of Waterloo Library
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
519 888 4883
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