The Computer Conservation Society (CCS) is a British organisation, founded in 1989. It is under the joint umbrella of the British Computer Society (BCS),[1] the London Science Museum and the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry.[2][3]

Computer Conservation Society
Founded1989
TypeProfessional Organisation
FocusHistory of Computing in the UK
OriginsThe British Computer Society, Science Museum, MOSI
Area served
UK and worldwide
MethodResearch, Education, Restorations and Reconstructions
Members
1,000+
Websitewww.computerconservationsociety.org

Overview

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The CCS is interested in the history of computing in general and the conservation and preservation of early British historical computers in particular.[4]

The society runs a series of monthly public lectures between September and May each year in both London and Manchester. The events are detailed on the society's website.[5]

The CCS publishes a quarterly journal, Resurrection.[6][7]

The society celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2014.[8][9]

Dr Doron Swade,[10] formerly the curator of the computing collection at the London Science Museum, was a founding committee member and As of 2021 is the current chair of the society. David Morriss, Rachel Burnett, and Roger Johnson are previous chairs, also all previous presidents of the BCS.

Projects

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The society organises a number of projects to reconstruct and maintain early computers and to conserve early software. For example:

Restorations
Reconstructions
Other projects
  • Software preservation
  • "Our Computer Heritage" website[13]
  • Tony Sale Award for computer conservation and restoration[14][15]

Locations

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London Science Museum:

  • Ferranti Pegasus (Not currently being displayed working)

Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester:

  • Manchester Baby
  • Hartree Differential Analyser

The National Museum of Computing:

  • Colossus
  • Harwell Dekatron or WITCH
  • ICL 2966
  • Elliot 803
  • Elliott 905
  • EDSAC Replica

Bletchley Park Trust:

  • Bombe

Currently not on public display:

  • ICT 1301 (Currently in storage at The National Museum of Computing)
  • Elliott 401

References

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  1. ^ "Computer Conservation Society". British Computer Society. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Computer Conservation Society: Aims and Objectives of the Society". Digital 60. UK: University of Manchester. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Computer Conservation Society". FOLDOC. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  4. ^ Johnson, Roger (2013). "Computer Conservation Society (CCS) – itItstory and Experience". Making the History of Computing Relevant. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology book series (IFIPAICT). Vol. 416. Springer. pp. 249–257. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-41650-7_22. ISBN 978-3-642-41649-1.
  5. ^ "Events". Computer Conservation Society. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  6. ^ The CCS Journal – Resurrection, British Computer Society, retrieved 8 January 2018
  7. ^ Resurrection – The CCS Journal, Computer Conservation Society, retrieved 8 January 2018
  8. ^ Halfacree, Gareth (15 October 2014). "Computer Conservation Society turns 25". www.bit-tech.net. bit-tech. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  9. ^ "The British Computer Conservation Society is 25 years old". ajovomultja.hu. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  10. ^ Swade, Doron (20 January 2017). "Winter 2016 report to the Computer Conservation Society". blog.plan28.org. Plan 28 Blog. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  11. ^ "The EDSAC Replica Project – Computer Conservation in the UK". Computer History Museum. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Computer EDSAC Replica Project" (PDF). chiphack.org. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Our Computer Heritage". Computer Conservation Society.
  14. ^ "CCS launches the Tony Sale Award". The National Museum of Computing. 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Tony Sale Award". Computer Conservation Society.
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