Herman Hollerith
Hollerith’s systems made structured data processing operational at institutional scale. They are an early predecessor to the information systems whose access controls, privacy, and integrity are central security concerns today.
Herman Hollerith developed electromechanical tabulating equipment that used punched cards to process U.S. census data. His company later became part of the organization renamed International Business Machines.
Data at scale
The tabulating system accelerated large administrative calculations and established an enduring relationship between information processing, institutions, and technology.
In memoriam
Hollerith died in 1929. His inventions remain a key chapter in the pre-electronic history of information processing.
Timeline
- 1860-02-29Born in Buffalo, New York, United States.
- 1884Begins work on punched-card tabulating methods.
- 1890Tabulating equipment is used for the U.S. Census.
- 1924The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company is renamed IBM.
- 1929-11-17Dies in Washington, D.C., United States.
Herman Hollerith
- Type
- Person
- Era
- 1880s-1929
- Born
- 1860
- Died
- 1929
- Known for
- data-processing; computing; punch-cards; historical-pioneer
- Tags
- data-processing, computing, punch-cards, historical-pioneer
Created by Joas A Santos · Something wrong or want it removed? Open an issue.