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The Secret History of The ENIAC Women | Kathy Kleiman | TEDxBeaconStreet


when I was a student I took a lot of

when I was a student I took a lot of computer science courses in college that

computer science courses in college that

computer science courses in college that was a while ago and we didn’t hear much

was a while ago and we didn’t hear much

was a while ago and we didn’t hear much about stem then I just took it because I

about stem then I just took it because I

about stem then I just took it because I loved a program and I loved the

loved a program and I loved the

loved a program and I loved the programming projects there was only one

programming projects there was only one

programming projects there was only one problem as the as the classes that I

problem as the as the classes that I

problem as the as the classes that I took advanced the number of women

took advanced the number of women

took advanced the number of women dropped significantly and so by the time

dropped significantly and so by the time

dropped significantly and so by the time we got to admit the advanced classes

we got to admit the advanced classes

we got to admit the advanced classes there was one me or maybe two women in

there was one me or maybe two women in

there was one me or maybe two women in the classroom and I began to wonder did

the classroom and I began to wonder did

the classroom and I began to wonder did women belong in computing

women belong in computing

women belong in computing did we have role models I knew of course

did we have role models I knew of course

did we have role models I knew of course about lady Ada Lovelace and captain then

about lady Ada Lovelace and captain then

about lady Ada Lovelace and captain then captain grace hopper later Rear Admiral

captain grace hopper later Rear Admiral

captain grace hopper later Rear Admiral Grace Hopper in the u.s. Navy

Grace Hopper in the u.s. Navy

Grace Hopper in the u.s. Navy but Ada Lovelace was in the 19th century

but Ada Lovelace was in the 19th century

but Ada Lovelace was in the 19th century and Grace Hopper was in the 20th century

and Grace Hopper was in the 20th century

and Grace Hopper was in the 20th century and one woman succeeding per century

and one woman succeeding per century

and one woman succeeding per century didn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy about

didn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy about

didn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy about my future in computing and so I went

my future in computing and so I went

my future in computing and so I went looking for women in computing and I

looking for women in computing and I

looking for women in computing and I started scouring the histories and

started scouring the histories and

started scouring the histories and encyclopedias of computer science and I

encyclopedias of computer science and I

encyclopedias of computer science and I didn’t find the names of any other women

didn’t find the names of any other women

didn’t find the names of any other women but I found some pictures and this is a

but I found some pictures and this is a

but I found some pictures and this is a picture of the ENIAC computer the great

picture of the ENIAC computer the great

picture of the ENIAC computer the great ENIAC

ENIAC

ENIAC this is the world’s first all-electronic

this is the world’s first all-electronic

this is the world’s first all-electronic programmable general-purpose computer

programmable general-purpose computer

programmable general-purpose computer the great-great-grandfather of

the great-great-grandfather of

the great-great-grandfather of everything on your smartphone’s and in

everything on your smartphone’s and in

everything on your smartphone’s and in our laptops and this picture was taken

our laptops and this picture was taken

our laptops and this picture was taken in 1946 the ENIAC was a secret US Army

in 1946 the ENIAC was a secret US Army

in 1946 the ENIAC was a secret US Army project during World War two and this is

project during World War two and this is

project during World War two and this is taken about six months after it was

taken about six months after it was

taken about six months after it was unveiled and very clearly there are men

unveiled and very clearly there are men

unveiled and very clearly there are men and women in that picture but only the

and women in that picture but only the

and women in that picture but only the men’s names were in the captions so I

men’s names were in the captions so I

men’s names were in the captions so I dug a little deeper and I found there

dug a little deeper and I found there

dug a little deeper and I found there were more pictures of women in front of

were more pictures of women in front of

were more pictures of women in front of ENIAC and I began to wonder what’s going

ENIAC and I began to wonder what’s going

ENIAC and I began to wonder what’s going on so I took the pictures to my

on so I took the pictures to my

on so I took the pictures to my professor and I said who are the women

professor and I said who are the women

professor and I said who are the women he said he didn’t know but he sent me to

he said he didn’t know but he sent me to

he said he didn’t know but he sent me to the co-founder of the Computer History

the co-founder of the Computer History

the co-founder of the Computer History Museum that was then here in Boston and

Museum that was then here in Boston and

Museum that was then here in Boston and clutching my photographs I took

clutching my photographs I took

clutching my photographs I took t across Boston and I showed them to her

t across Boston and I showed them to her

t across Boston and I showed them to her and I’ll never forget she rolled four

and I’ll never forget she rolled four

and I’ll never forget she rolled four eyes of me and said they’re models they

eyes of me and said they’re models they

eyes of me and said they’re models they weren’t supposed to be posed and from

weren’t supposed to be posed and from

weren’t supposed to be posed and from the machine to make it look good well

the machine to make it look good well

the machine to make it look good well they certainly do that but they didn’t

they certainly do that but they didn’t

they certainly do that but they didn’t look like models to me they looked very

look like models to me they looked very

look like models to me they looked very confident and self-assured in front of

confident and self-assured in front of

confident and self-assured in front of this machine and I had worked with some

this machine and I had worked with some

this machine and I had worked with some big computers before and I know how

big computers before and I know how

big computers before and I know how overwhelming they are the first few

overwhelming they are the first few

overwhelming they are the first few times he used them and the ENIAC was

times he used them and the ENIAC was

times he used them and the ENIAC was eight feet tall 80 feet long dominated

eight feet tall 80 feet long dominated

eight feet tall 80 feet long dominated three sides of a big room and these

three sides of a big room and these

three sides of a big room and these women look like they know exactly what

women look like they know exactly what

women look like they know exactly what they’re doing and so I decided to track

they’re doing and so I decided to track

they’re doing and so I decided to track them down undergraduates can be pretty

them down undergraduates can be pretty

them down undergraduates can be pretty silly and so I started calling around

silly and so I started calling around

silly and so I started calling around the University of Pennsylvania where the

the University of Pennsylvania where the

the University of Pennsylvania where the ENIAC had been built during the war and

ENIAC had been built during the war and

ENIAC had been built during the war and one thing led to another and they

one thing led to another and they

one thing led to another and they invited me to come to the 40th

invited me to come to the 40th

invited me to come to the 40th anniversary of ENIAC so I took the train

anniversary of ENIAC so I took the train

anniversary of ENIAC so I took the train from Boston down to Philadelphia and

from Boston down to Philadelphia and

from Boston down to Philadelphia and soon I was in a big room celebrating the

soon I was in a big room celebrating the

soon I was in a big room celebrating the 40th anniversary of ENIAC the world’s

40th anniversary of ENIAC the world’s

40th anniversary of ENIAC the world’s first modern computer and it was very

first modern computer and it was very

first modern computer and it was very exciting and there were clusters of men

exciting and there were clusters of men

exciting and there were clusters of men talking about how they had built the

talking about how they had built the

talking about how they had built the ENIAC I thought this is great but then I

ENIAC I thought this is great but then I

ENIAC I thought this is great but then I found a cluster of women and they were

found a cluster of women and they were

found a cluster of women and they were talking about something very technical

talking about something very technical

talking about something very technical involving the ENIAC that they had done

involving the ENIAC that they had done

involving the ENIAC that they had done and I listened closely and they were

and I listened closely and they were

and I listened closely and they were talking about the bug in their program

talking about the bug in their program

talking about the bug in their program the night before any acts big

the night before any acts big

the night before any acts big demonstration and at a certain point I

demonstration and at a certain point I

demonstration and at a certain point I realized I was talking to the women in

realized I was talking to the women in

realized I was talking to the women in the pictures they weren’t models they

the pictures they weren’t models they

the pictures they weren’t models they were NEX verse programmers so that day I

were NEX verse programmers so that day I

were NEX verse programmers so that day I learned that any active in program by

learned that any active in program by

learned that any active in program by six young women six women brought in

six young women six women brought in

six young women six women brought in specifically to do any acts first

specifically to do any acts first

specifically to do any acts first program for the army a ballistics

program for the army a ballistics

program for the army a ballistics trajectory and that day I met four of

trajectory and that day I met four of

trajectory and that day I met four of them I met Marlon Meltzer Jean Bartik

them I met Marlon Meltzer Jean Bartik

them I met Marlon Meltzer Jean Bartik kaymakli Antonelli

kaymakli Antonelli

kaymakli Antonelli Betty Ho Burton those were the four I

Betty Ho Burton those were the four I

Betty Ho Burton those were the four I met and they told me about two more who

met and they told me about two more who

met and they told me about two more who had been part of their project who not

had been part of their project who not

had been part of their project who not at the anniversary Ruth’s teitelbaum

at the anniversary Ruth’s teitelbaum

at the anniversary Ruth’s teitelbaum Frances Spence I tell you the names

Frances Spence I tell you the names

Frances Spence I tell you the names because I think their names are

because I think their names are

because I think their names are important and they were in their 60s at

important and they were in their 60s at

important and they were in their 60s at the time right funny dynamic women and

the time right funny dynamic women and

the time right funny dynamic women and they told me a little bit about the

they told me a little bit about the

they told me a little bit about the world war two story that they had been

world war two story that they had been

world war two story that they had been recruited by the Army for their

recruited by the Army for their

recruited by the Army for their mathematics abilities and they had been

mathematics abilities and they had been

mathematics abilities and they had been brought in to Philadelphia from New York

brought in to Philadelphia from New York

brought in to Philadelphia from New York from Philadelphia one came all the way

from Philadelphia one came all the way

from Philadelphia one came all the way out from a farm in Missouri and they had

out from a farm in Missouri and they had

out from a farm in Missouri and they had been brought in to hand calculate

been brought in to hand calculate

been brought in to hand calculate ballistics trajectories this is the past

ballistics trajectories this is the past

ballistics trajectories this is the past that a missile takes from the time it

that a missile takes from the time it

that a missile takes from the time it leaves the muzzle of a gun an artillery

leaves the muzzle of a gun an artillery

leaves the muzzle of a gun an artillery gun until it hits the target eight to

gun until it hits the target eight to

gun until it hits the target eight to ten miles away and when you calculate

ten miles away and when you calculate

ten miles away and when you calculate this differential calculus equation

this differential calculus equation

this differential calculus equation which took about 40 hours to do by hand

which took about 40 hours to do by hand

which took about 40 hours to do by hand you know what angle to shoot the gun

you know what angle to shoot the gun

you know what angle to shoot the gun under certain weather conditions in the

under certain weather conditions in the

under certain weather conditions in the battlefield to hit that target and boy

battlefield to hit that target and boy

battlefield to hit that target and boy was our artillery accurate when we used

was our artillery accurate when we used

was our artillery accurate when we used these calculations and so the military

these calculations and so the military

these calculations and so the military hired we think between 80 and 100 women

hired we think between 80 and 100 women

hired we think between 80 and 100 women to hand calculate these ballistics

to hand calculate these ballistics

to hand calculate these ballistics trajectories and they called them

trajectories and they called them

trajectories and they called them computers a computer was a person before

computers a computer was a person before

computers a computer was a person before it was a machine that was their official

it was a machine that was their official

it was a machine that was their official title and so these women Hamm calculated

title and so these women Hamm calculated

title and so these women Hamm calculated the ballistics trajectories for years

the ballistics trajectories for years

the ballistics trajectories for years during the war but somewhere in the

during the war but somewhere in the

during the war but somewhere in the middle of the war the military needed

middle of the war the military needed

middle of the war the military needed realized I needed more calculations

realized I needed more calculations

realized I needed more calculations faster and there were no machines to do

faster and there were no machines to do

faster and there were no machines to do it and they commissioned a very expanded

it and they commissioned a very expanded

it and they commissioned a very expanded experimental project that they were

experimental project that they were

experimental project that they were certain wouldn’t work and that was ENIAC

certain wouldn’t work and that was ENIAC

certain wouldn’t work and that was ENIAC the electronic numerical integrator and

the electronic numerical integrator and

the electronic numerical integrator and computer and ENIAC was designed to

computer and ENIAC was designed to

computer and ENIAC was designed to automate these equations and when ENIAC

automate these equations and when ENIAC

automate these equations and when ENIAC was finished they brought in six women

was finished they brought in six women

was finished they brought in six women they took six computers and assigned

they took six computers and assigned

they took six computers and assigned them the task of programming any act

them the task of programming any act

them the task of programming any act there were no programming languages

there were no programming languages

there were no programming languages there’s no compilers there’s no

there’s no compilers there’s no

there’s no compilers there’s no operating systems they just assign them

operating systems they just assign them

operating systems they just assign them to program ENIAC

to program ENIAC

to program ENIAC and they did so this was a story I

and they did so this was a story I

and they did so this was a story I learned at the 40th anniversary of ENIAC

learned at the 40th anniversary of ENIAC

learned at the 40th anniversary of ENIAC and I came back to school and I was

and I came back to school and I was

and I came back to school and I was excited and I finished my computer

excited and I finished my computer

excited and I finished my computer science courses and I started my career

science courses and I started my career

science courses and I started my career in technology all good but in 1996 ten

in technology all good but in 1996 ten

in technology all good but in 1996 ten years later a bell went off in my head

years later a bell went off in my head

years later a bell went off in my head and I realized that the 50th anniversary

and I realized that the 50th anniversary

and I realized that the 50th anniversary of ENIAC was coming up and I wanted to

of ENIAC was coming up and I wanted to

of ENIAC was coming up and I wanted to know what happened to the programmers

know what happened to the programmers

know what happened to the programmers and so I called the university I found

and so I called the university I found

and so I called the university I found the Dean who was responsible for the

the Dean who was responsible for the

the Dean who was responsible for the anniversary was gonna be

anniversary was gonna be

anniversary was gonna be 50th anniversary of the first modern

50th anniversary of the first modern

50th anniversary of the first modern computer and when I asked who was coming

computer and when I asked who was coming

computer and when I asked who was coming from the ENIAC programmers he didn’t

from the ENIAC programmers he didn’t

from the ENIAC programmers he didn’t know who I was talking about except to

know who I was talking about except to

know who I was talking about except to the extent that the women were widows of

the extent that the women were widows of

the extent that the women were widows of the engineers their names had been

the engineers their names had been

the engineers their names had been forgotten and their roles had been

forgotten and their roles had been

forgotten and their roles had been forgotten and I thought we’ve got a

forgotten and I thought we’ve got a

forgotten and I thought we’ve got a problem and so I got a grant and I said

problem and so I got a grant and I said

problem and so I got a grant and I said we’re gonna tape them and so I tracked

we’re gonna tape them and so I tracked

we’re gonna tape them and so I tracked them down again reintroduce myself and

them down again reintroduce myself and

them down again reintroduce myself and started asking very detailed questions

started asking very detailed questions

started asking very detailed questions about programming the ENIAC and you know

about programming the ENIAC and you know

about programming the ENIAC and you know what they didn’t remember and I thought

what they didn’t remember and I thought

what they didn’t remember and I thought you know it was fifty years ago but on

you know it was fifty years ago but on

you know it was fifty years ago but on the other hand maybe I’m asking the

the other hand maybe I’m asking the

the other hand maybe I’m asking the wrong questions because I know

wrong questions because I know

wrong questions because I know programming and modern terminology but

programming and modern terminology but

programming and modern terminology but what they were doing was a little

what they were doing was a little

what they were doing was a little different it’s the same basic human

different it’s the same basic human

different it’s the same basic human function of breaking down a human

function of breaking down a human

function of breaking down a human equation a human calculation into the

equation a human calculation into the

equation a human calculation into the steps the computer can handle we do that

steps the computer can handle we do that

steps the computer can handle we do that today and we did that then but the way

today and we did that then but the way

today and we did that then but the way they implemented it was very different

they implemented it was very different

they implemented it was very different so I thought of finding more about the

so I thought of finding more about the

so I thought of finding more about the technology I could ask better questions

technology I could ask better questions

technology I could ask better questions so by now I was a young attorney and the

so by now I was a young attorney and the

so by now I was a young attorney and the telecommunications law firm and they

telecommunications law firm and they

telecommunications law firm and they were a little surprised when I asked for

were a little surprised when I asked for

were a little surprised when I asked for a leave of absence I said I have to go

a leave of absence I said I have to go

a leave of absence I said I have to go to the Library of Congress to learn

to the Library of Congress to learn

to the Library of Congress to learn about old computers and they said ok and

about old computers and they said ok and

about old computers and they said ok and so I spent a few months in the Library

so I spent a few months in the Library

so I spent a few months in the Library of Congress learning about any act by a

of Congress learning about any act by a

of Congress learning about any act by a knack and UNIVAC they were created by

knack and UNIVAC they were created by

knack and UNIVAC they were created by overlapping teams and the UNIVAC was the

overlapping teams and the UNIVAC was the

overlapping teams and the UNIVAC was the first commercial computer it was

first commercial computer it was

first commercial computer it was synonymous for years with the word

synonymous for years with the word

synonymous for years with the word computer in the minds of the public and

computer in the minds of the public and

computer in the minds of the public and so I learned a little more about the

so I learned a little more about the

so I learned a little more about the terminology and um and now I went back

terminology and um and now I went back

terminology and um and now I went back to the programmers and I asked more

to the programmers and I asked more

to the programmers and I asked more detailed questions in their terms and

detailed questions in their terms and

detailed questions in their terms and the stories came flooding out and we

the stories came flooding out and we

the stories came flooding out and we captured them and so they told me how

captured them and so they told me how

captured them and so they told me how they had been given wiring diagrams and

they had been given wiring diagrams and

they had been given wiring diagrams and logical diagrams of ENIAC and told to

logical diagrams of ENIAC and told to

logical diagrams of ENIAC and told to figure out how those 42 panels work and

figure out how those 42 panels work and

figure out how those 42 panels work and then they had to break their program

then they had to break their program

then they had to break their program down into steps and I could handle but

down into steps and I could handle but

down into steps and I could handle but not only that they had to wire it they

not only that they had to wire it they

not only that they had to wire it they had to take a piece of data wire it into

had to take a piece of data wire it into

had to take a piece of data wire it into the panel set the panel some of them did

the panel set the panel some of them did

the panel set the panel some of them did addition and subtraction so you had to

addition and subtraction so you had to

addition and subtraction so you had to set that square root divider

set that square root divider

set that square root divider was another one so you had to set that

was another one so you had to set that

was another one so you had to set that switch wait figure out the timing of the

switch wait figure out the timing of the

switch wait figure out the timing of the panel because each panels calculation

panel because each panels calculation

panel because each panels calculation timing was different and then wire it

timing was different and then wire it

timing was different and then wire it into the next panel they had a set 3000

into the next panel they had a set 3000

into the next panel they had a set 3000 switches this is their read-only memory

switches this is their read-only memory

switches this is their read-only memory for the constants of the ballistics

for the constants of the ballistics

for the constants of the ballistics trajectory and no one showed them how to

trajectory and no one showed them how to

trajectory and no one showed them how to do a flow chart a flow chart technology

do a flow chart a flow chart technology

do a flow chart a flow chart technology even existed

even existed

even existed so they created their own and they call

so they created their own and they call

so they created their own and they call them pedaling sheets to keep keep track

them pedaling sheets to keep keep track

them pedaling sheets to keep keep track of each step of the program as well as

of each step of the program as well as

of each step of the program as well as where all the switches where all the

where all the switches where all the

where all the switches where all the cables and where all the wires went so

cables and where all the wires went so

cables and where all the wires went so they’re peddling sheets amazing amazing

they’re peddling sheets amazing amazing

they’re peddling sheets amazing amazing story

story

story so we captured these stories on film and

so we captured these stories on film and

so we captured these stories on film and we realized that we had some pioneers no

we realized that we had some pioneers no

we realized that we had some pioneers no one had ever heard of before would

one had ever heard of before would

one had ever heard of before would anybody care we decided to nominate them

anybody care we decided to nominate them

anybody care we decided to nominate them for some awards to see if anyone did and

for some awards to see if anyone did and

for some awards to see if anyone did and I’m thrilled to tell you the ENIAC

I’m thrilled to tell you the ENIAC

I’m thrilled to tell you the ENIAC programmers received awards from coast

programmers received awards from coast

programmers received awards from coast to coast on the west coast they were

to coast on the west coast they were

to coast on the west coast they were inducted into the Hall of Fame of Women

inducted into the Hall of Fame of Women

inducted into the Hall of Fame of Women in Technology International on the East

in Technology International on the East

in Technology International on the East Coast Betty hull Burton became the Ada

Coast Betty hull Burton became the Ada

Coast Betty hull Burton became the Ada Lovelace recipient and other awards but

Lovelace recipient and other awards but

Lovelace recipient and other awards but my favorite one was in 2008 when Jean

my favorite one was in 2008 when Jean

my favorite one was in 2008 when Jean Bartik was inducted as a fellow into the

Bartik was inducted as a fellow into the

Bartik was inducted as a fellow into the Computer History Museum alongside Linus

Computer History Museum alongside Linus

Computer History Museum alongside Linus Torvalds who created Linux and Bob

Torvalds who created Linux and Bob

Torvalds who created Linux and Bob Metcalfe who created Ethernet and she

Metcalfe who created Ethernet and she

Metcalfe who created Ethernet and she was the super pioneer so then we finally

was the super pioneer so then we finally

was the super pioneer so then we finally raise money for the documentary to put

raise money for the documentary to put

raise money for the documentary to put these oral histories together into a

these oral histories together into a

these oral histories together into a documentary where the women tell their

documentary where the women tell their

documentary where the women tell their story and I worked with amazing

story and I worked with amazing

story and I worked with amazing producers John Paul Freeman and Kate

producers John Paul Freeman and Kate

producers John Paul Freeman and Kate McMullen to do this and we produced

McMullen to do this and we produced

McMullen to do this and we produced documentary and we purposely produced

documentary and we purposely produced

documentary and we purposely produced afraid’s 12 and up we wanted it to go to

afraid’s 12 and up we wanted it to go to

afraid’s 12 and up we wanted it to go to middle school high school college and

middle school high school college and

middle school high school college and the general public and we’ve shown it to

the general public and we’ve shown it to

the general public and we’ve shown it to people from ages 10 to 92 so far and

people from ages 10 to 92 so far and

people from ages 10 to 92 so far and then the question was again would

then the question was again would

then the question was again would anybody care so the computers which is

anybody care so the computers which is

anybody care so the computers which is the title premiered at the Seattle

the title premiered at the Seattle

the title premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival and I

International Film Festival and I

International Film Festival and I wondered as I was on the flight from DC

wondered as I was on the flight from DC

wondered as I was on the flight from DC to Seattle I wondered would the story

to Seattle I wondered would the story

to Seattle I wondered would the story that was 70 years old translate across

that was 70 years old translate across

that was 70 years old translate across the borders across the country across

the borders across the country across

the borders across the country across the years

the years

the years and it was interesting we premiered the

and it was interesting we premiered the

and it was interesting we premiered the documentary and we had a little Q&A and

documentary and we had a little Q&A and

documentary and we had a little Q&A and afterwards women came up to me tears

afterwards women came up to me tears

afterwards women came up to me tears streaming down their faces they worked

streaming down their faces they worked

streaming down their faces they worked for Microsoft Google Amazon and they

for Microsoft Google Amazon and they

for Microsoft Google Amazon and they told me that the story inspired them

told me that the story inspired them

told me that the story inspired them that they’re often alone and isolated

that they’re often alone and isolated

that they’re often alone and isolated and in their in their teams and their

and in their in their teams and their

and in their in their teams and their meetings they’re often the only women

meetings they’re often the only women

meetings they’re often the only women and the idea that women created

and the idea that women created

and the idea that women created computing was inspiring and exciting to

computing was inspiring and exciting to

computing was inspiring and exciting to them so we took the documentary across

them so we took the documentary across

them so we took the documentary across the ocean and I also wondered whether

the ocean and I also wondered whether

the ocean and I also wondered whether the story would translate a u.s. world

the story would translate a u.s. world

the story would translate a u.s. world war two story we showed it all over the

war two story we showed it all over the

war two story we showed it all over the world

world

world Zurich Tel Aviv London Stockholm and we

Zurich Tel Aviv London Stockholm and we

Zurich Tel Aviv London Stockholm and we found out that women were excited about

found out that women were excited about

found out that women were excited about it

it

it and that the challenges of women in

and that the challenges of women in

and that the challenges of women in computing appear to be universal and men

computing appear to be universal and men

computing appear to be universal and men liked it too and talked about showing it

liked it too and talked about showing it

liked it too and talked about showing it to their daughters to inspire them to

to their daughters to inspire them to

to their daughters to inspire them to stem the ENIAC programmers would be

stem the ENIAC programmers would be

stem the ENIAC programmers would be proud but the Silver Cloud has a black

proud but the Silver Cloud has a black

proud but the Silver Cloud has a black lining the Computer History community

lining the Computer History community

lining the Computer History community has been telling the same story for 70

has been telling the same story for 70

has been telling the same story for 70 years it’s still they’re still telling

years it’s still they’re still telling

years it’s still they’re still telling the story of white men inventing

the story of white men inventing

the story of white men inventing computing and I don’t understand why

computing and I don’t understand why

computing and I don’t understand why because we know the ENIAC Bionic and

because we know the ENIAC Bionic and

because we know the ENIAC Bionic and univac teams were exceedingly diverse

univac teams were exceedingly diverse

univac teams were exceedingly diverse there were not only brilliant white

there were not only brilliant white

there were not only brilliant white engineers there were African American

engineers there were African American

engineers there were African American engineers Chinese engineers and of

engineers Chinese engineers and of

engineers Chinese engineers and of course lots of women and so I don’t

course lots of women and so I don’t

course lots of women and so I don’t understand and as we gather in this hall

understand and as we gather in this hall

understand and as we gather in this hall to celebrate President Kennedy’s vision

to celebrate President Kennedy’s vision

to celebrate President Kennedy’s vision of going to space and his challenge just

of going to space and his challenge just

of going to space and his challenge just of stem and as we try to encourage girls

of stem and as we try to encourage girls

of stem and as we try to encourage girls and boys to go into STEM shouldn’t we be

and boys to go into STEM shouldn’t we be

and boys to go into STEM shouldn’t we be telling them that the pioneers of stem

telling them that the pioneers of stem

telling them that the pioneers of stem looked like them and that they come from

looked like them and that they come from

looked like them and that they come from all sorts of backgrounds and that they

all sorts of backgrounds and that they

all sorts of backgrounds and that they all have role models in the early

all have role models in the early

all have role models in the early history but I’m just a revisionist

history but I’m just a revisionist

history but I’m just a revisionist historians

historians

historians and they don’t tell these stories and

and they don’t tell these stories and

and they don’t tell these stories and they don’t talk to me and to this day

they don’t talk to me and to this day

they don’t talk to me and to this day there’s a young PhD computer historian

there’s a young PhD computer historian

there’s a young PhD computer historian traveling around the country giving

traveling around the country giving

traveling around the country giving lectures and saying I’ve wasted my life

lectures and saying I’ve wasted my life

lectures and saying I’ve wasted my life I’ve wasted years recording and sharing

I’ve wasted years recording and sharing

I’ve wasted years recording and sharing these stories so is this a good story or

these stories so is this a good story or

these stories so is this a good story or a bad story

[Laughter]

[Laughter] [Applause]

”

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