The Centre for Computing History
The Centre for Computing History is a museum in Haverhill, Suffolk, England, established to create a permanent public exhibition telling the story of the Information Age.[1] It is believed to be the only museum in the United Kingdom dedicated to exploring the social impact of computers.
The museum acts as a repository for vintage computers and related artefacts. Entrance is free and although open only by appointment, on display are key items from the early era of computers (and even before) from aging comptometers through the Altair 8800 to the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Apple II series. The museum also holds vintage games consoles, peripherals, software and an extensive collection of computer manuals, magazines and other literature.
History and status
The Centre is a registered charity.[2] It is funded by a combination of sponsors from local business, private individuals and local authorities. The museum's curator intends to relocate the museum to Cambridge,[3] with a report in October 2011 that negotiations were underway for a site.[4] Entrepreneur Hermann Hauser was involved with funding discussions.[4] He became patron of the museum in December 2011, 30 years after the launch of the BBC Micro.[5]
Activites
The Centre loans artefacts for film and TV productions and has helped with props and sets for The IT Crowd, Brits Who Made the Modern World[6] on Channel Five with Peter Snow and in April 2009 produced the Gadget Hall of Fame[7] stand at The Gadget Show Live exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham.
References
- ^ "About the Computer Museum". The Centre for Computing History. http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/pages/176/About-the-Museum/. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
- ^ The Centre for Computing History, Registered Charity no. 1130071 at the Charity Commission
- ^ "A New Museum for Cambridge". The Centre for Computing History. http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/pages/13587/A-Museum-for-Cambridge/. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ a b Vargas, Lautaro (October 28, 2011). "Hauser next after museum curator's opportunistic pitch lands US VC". Cambridge Business Media. http://www.cabume.co.uk/the-cluster/hauser-next-after-museum-curators-opportunistic-pitch-lands-us-vc.html. Retrieved November 14, 2011. "[...] Fitzpatrick says negotiations are now underway on a 10,000 sq ft site on Coldham's Road [...]"
- ^ Walker, Alice (December 12, 2011). "Hauser patron of new Centre for Computing History". Business Weekly (Cambridge: Q Communications). http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/hi-tech/13254-hauser-patron-of-new-centre-for-computing-history. Retrieved December 13, 2011. "Dr Hermann Hauser has been named as patron of the new Centre for Computing History in Cambridge UK. [...] agreed to take on the important role 30 years after the company he co-founded - Acorn Computers - unveiled the BBC Micro [...]"
- ^ Brits Who Made The Modern World, episode 3, Computer Games, Five.
- ^ Gadget Hall of Fame, The Gadget Show Live, NEC, Birmingham, UK.
- News articles
- Inside a museum with byte and big dreams, East Anglian Daily Times, Jun 3, 2008[1]
- Haverhill's Computer Museum to feature on TV, Haverhill-UK, Aug 20, 2008[2]
- Haverhill's Centre for Computing History opens 13 and 14 September, Haverhill-UK, Sep 2, 2008[3]
- Play vintage computer games, Haverhill Echo, Sep 11, 2008[4]
- Museum tells story behind every screen, Cambridge Evening News, Sep 29, 2008[5]
- Museum props up set for hit comedy, Cambridge Evening News, Dec 30, 2008[6]
- Gadget Show Live — Huge success for Haverhill, Haverhill-UK, Apr 23, 2009[7]
- Gadget Hall of Fame: which did you own?, MSN Tech & Gadgets, Apr 28, 2009[8]
- BBC date for computing centre curator, Haverhill Echo, Oct 8, 2009[9]
- Museum-piece computers programmed into TV show, Haverhill Weekly News, Oct 8, 2009[10]
External links