A female Computational Centre employee sits at a new computer.

Bio/Historical Note: A brief history of the early years of the Department of Computer Science until 1980: The University of Saskatchewan entered the computer age in 1959 with the installation of a Librascope General Precision LGP-30 computer. It was in the Mathematics department, located in the basement of the Crop Science Building, as it was too large to fit in the elevator in the Arts Building. The machine was designed to fit into a Steelcase office desk, and had 4096 words of 31-bit magnetic drum memory. It was jointly owned by the Saskatchewan Research Council, the National Research Council Prairie Regional Laboratory, and the University. In 1963 an IBM 1620 machine was installed on the third floor of the Engineering Building. It was a punch-card oriented machine operated by its users (one at a time). Some programming courses were given in Engineering, Commerce and Mathematics, but there was no full-time support organization for computing until 1965, when an IBM 7040 ‘mainframe’ was purchased with funding assistance from the National Research Council (NRC). The NRC at that time had a one-time program to ‘kick-start’ computing capacity and usage at Canadian universities, and for the U of S, this resulted in the acquisition of the IBM 7040, a significant step up from the model 1620. Along with the facility, the Department of Computing Services was created under its first manager, Glenn W. Peardon (1928-2018). The 7040 was installed in July 1965, also in the Engineering building. The 1620 was retired in October of that year. Only a little over a year later the demands for computing were exceeding the capacity of the 7040, and an IBM 1401 was added to handle more work. In June 1967 it was proposed that a new machine be obtained, an IBM 360 Model 50. This was a mid-sized mainframe of that era and was expected to provide sufficient capacity until October 1968. It was installed in a new location in room 70 Arts Building, and although it was expected to be in service for only one year, it was still in place by July 1970.
Under the headship of Dr. Blaine Holmlund (1930-2006), the Department of Computational Science was established in 1967, and first offered classes in 1968. The computer support staff consisted of 22 operators, programmers and analysts. It was initially created as a department of the whole university, i.e., it did not belong to a particular college, as it was felt that it would have strong programs in all of Engineering, Arts and Science and Commerce. It did not join up with a college until many years later. The July 1970 purchase of the Hewlett Packard 2000A time-sharing system, which was a minicomputer capable of handling up to 16 simultaneous users (later expanded to 32). In October 1971 the Computer Advisory Committee in Saskatoon received a recommendation from the Universities Study Group (that had responsibility to the University as a whole), that the campus needs could best be handled by acquiring both an IBM 370/155 and a DECsystem 10. In 1973 the university installed a DECsystem 2050, its first time-sharing system. It served up to 32 simultaneous users, and was programmed in BASIC. In 1974 the department was renamed the Department of Academic and Computing Services. The DECsystem 2050 was installed in early 1979 and was upgraded to a 2060 in 1980. This system was called DEUS, for Data Entry, University of Saskatchewan; it consisted of a DEC PDP-11/70 minicomputer and 44 CRT stations in room 145 Arts. Following its installation, there was a rapid growth in its use, as the needs first expressed in 1970 were finally met with some adequate functionality in 1979. The DECsystem 2050 was upgraded to a 2060 in 1980.

J.W.T. Spinks, newly-installed University President, holding a paper in his right hand and shaking hands with F. Hedley Auld, University Chancellor, during Convocation held in Physical Education gymnasium.

Bio/Historical Note: John William Tranter Spinks was born in 1908 at Methwold, England. He received his PhD in Science from the University of London in 1930 and that same year joined the University of Saskatchewan as assistant professor of Chemistry. While on leave in Germany in 1933 he worked with Gerhard Herzberg, future Nobel prize winner in Chemistry, and was instrumental in bringing him to Canada. In 1938 Dr. Spinks became a full professor of Chemistry. During WWII Dr. Spinks developed search-and-rescue operations for the RCAF and took part in the early work on atomic energy. His scientific research led to major international achievements in radiation chemistry and his work included over 200 scientific papers. Dr. Spinks was appointed head of the department of Chemistry in 1948; Dean of the College of Graduate Studies in 1949 and was installed as President of the University, which he led through a very active period of development from 1959-1975. Dr. Spinks received many honours: Companion of the Order of Canada (1970); the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame (1982), Saskatoon's Citizen of the Year (1985), and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (1996). He married Mary Strelioff (1910-1999) on 5 June 1939 in Rugby Chapel on the U of S grounds. Dr. Spinks died in 1997 in Saskatoon at age 89. The north-facing four-storey Spinks Addition is home to the departments of Computer Science and Chemistry. It was completed in 2003. Spinks Drive in College Park honours Dr. Spinks. The University of Saskatchewan open source computer labs were named the Spinks Labs.

J.W.T. Spinks, newly-installed University President, walking with W.P. Thompson, President Emeritus, during ceremony held in Physical Education gymnasium. Both wearing academic gowns.

Bio/Historical Note: John William Tranter Spinks was born in 1908 at Methwold, England. He received his PhD in Science from the University of London in 1930 and that same year joined the University of Saskatchewan as assistant professor of Chemistry. While on leave in Germany in 1933 he worked with Gerhard Herzberg, future Nobel prize winner in Chemistry, and was instrumental in bringing him to Canada. In 1938 Dr. Spinks became a full professor of Chemistry. During WWII Dr. Spinks developed search-and-rescue operations for the RCAF and took part in the early work on atomic energy. His scientific research led to major international achievements in radiation chemistry and his work included over 200 scientific papers. Dr. Spinks was appointed head of the department of Chemistry in 1948; Dean of the College of Graduate Studies in 1949 and was installed as President of the University, which he led through a very active period of development from 1959-1975. Dr. Spinks received many honours: Companion of the Order of Canada (1970); the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame (1982), Saskatoon's Citizen of the Year (1985), and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (1996). He married Mary Strelioff (1910-1999) on 5 June 1939 in Rugby Chapel on the U of S grounds. Dr. Spinks died in 1997 in Saskatoon at age 89. The north-facing four-storey Spinks Addition is home to the departments of Computer Science and Chemistry. It was completed in 2003. Spinks Drive in College Park honours Dr. Spinks. The University of Saskatchewan open source computer labs were named the Spinks Labs.

Dr. Winfried Grassmann, professor of Computer Science, in his office.

Bio/Historical Note: Image appeared in 7 May 1999 issue of OCN.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Winfried Karl Grassmann joined the faculty of Computer Science in January 1969. He is professor emeritus (2021).

Standing beside a group of six computers from International Business Machines (IBM) are two unidentified [representatives], reading from a printout. Typewriter/keyboard in foreground.

Bio/Historical Note: A brief history of the early years of the Department of Computer Science until 1980: The University of Saskatchewan entered the computer age in 1959 with the installation of a Librascope General Precision LGP-30 computer. It was in the Mathematics department, located in the basement of the Crop Science Building, as it was too large to fit in the elevator in the Arts Building. The machine was designed to fit into a Steelcase office desk, and had 4096 words of 31-bit magnetic drum memory. It was jointly owned by the Saskatchewan Research Council, the National Research Council Prairie Regional Laboratory, and the University. In 1963 an IBM 1620 machine was installed on the third floor of the Engineering Building. It was a punch-card oriented machine operated by its users (one at a time). Some programming courses were given in Engineering, Commerce and Mathematics, but there was no full-time support organization for computing until 1965, when an IBM 7040 ‘mainframe’ was purchased with funding assistance from the National Research Council (NRC). The NRC at that time had a one-time program to ‘kick-start’ computing capacity and usage at Canadian universities, and for the U of S, this resulted in the acquisition of the IBM 7040, a significant step up from the model 1620. Along with the facility, the Department of Computing Services was created under its first manager, Glenn W. Peardon (1928-2018). The 7040 was installed in July 1965, also in the Engineering building. The 1620 was retired in October of that year. Only a little over a year later the demands for computing were exceeding the capacity of the 7040, and an IBM 1401 was added to handle more work. In June 1967 it was proposed that a new machine be obtained, an IBM 360 Model 50. This was a mid-sized mainframe of that era and was expected to provide sufficient capacity until October 1968. It was installed in a new location in December 1967 in Room 70 Arts Building, and although it was expected to be in service for only one year, it was still in place by July 1970.
Under the headship of Dr. Blaine Holmlund (1930-2006), the Department of Computational Science was established in 1967, and first offered classes in 1968. The computer support staff consisted of 22 operators, programmers and analysts. It was initially created as a department of the whole university, i.e., it did not belong to a particular college, as it was felt that it would have strong programs in all of Engineering, Arts and Science and Commerce. It did not join up with a college until many years later. The July 1970 purchase of the Hewlett Packard 2000A time-sharing system, which was a minicomputer capable of handling up to 16 simultaneous users (later expanded to 32). In October 1971 the Computer Advisory Committee in Saskatoon received a recommendation from the Universities Study Group (that had responsibility to the University as a whole), that the campus needs could best be handled by acquiring both an IBM 370/155 and a DECsystem 10. In 1973 the university installed a DECsystem 2050, its first time-sharing system. It served up to 32 simultaneous users, and was programmed in BASIC. In 1974 the department was renamed the Department of Academic and Computing Services. The DECsystem 2050 was installed in early 1979 and was upgraded to a 2060 in 1980. This system was called DEUS, for Data Entry, University of Saskatchewan; it consisted of a DEC PDP-11/70 minicomputer and 44 CRT stations in room 145 Arts. Following its installation, there was a rapid growth in its use, as the needs first expressed in 1970 were finally met with some adequate functionality in 1979. The DECsystem 2050 was upgraded to a 2060 in 1980.

John Cooke, Professor of Computer Science, leans against an IBM 1403 computer while talking to four students.

Head and shoulders image of J.W.T. Spinks, fourth University President. 1959-1974.

Bio/Historical Note: John William Tranter Spinks was born in 1908 at Methwold, England. He received his PhD in Science from the University of London in 1930 and that same year joined the University of Saskatchewan as assistant professor of Chemistry. While on leave in Germany in 1933 he worked with Gerhard Herzberg, future Nobel prize winner in Chemistry, and was instrumental in bringing him to Canada. In 1938 Dr. Spinks became a full professor of Chemistry. During WWII Dr. Spinks developed search-and-rescue operations for the RCAF and took part in the early work on atomic energy. His scientific research led to major international achievements in radiation chemistry and his work included over 200 scientific papers. Dr. Spinks was appointed head of the department of Chemistry in 1948; Dean of the College of Graduate Studies in 1949 and was installed as President of the University, which he led through a very active period of development from 1959-1975. Dr. Spinks received many honours: Companion of the Order of Canada (1970); the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame (1982), Saskatoon's Citizen of the Year (1985), and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (1996). He married Mary Strelioff (1910-1999) on 5 June 1939 in Rugby Chapel on the U of S grounds. Dr. Spinks died in 1997 in Saskatoon at age 89. The north-facing four-storey Spinks Addition is home to the departments of Computer Science and Chemistry. It was completed in 2003. Spinks Drive in College Park honours Dr. Spinks. The University of Saskatchewan open source computer labs were named the Spinks Labs.

J.W.T. Spinks, University President, with Mary Spinks at the President's Residence. John is holding a copy of the book "Ten Poems Analysed"; Mary is seated next to him.

Bio/Historical Note: John William Tranter Spinks was born in 1908 at Methwold, England. He received his PhD in Science from the University of London in 1930 and that same year joined the University of Saskatchewan as assistant professor of Chemistry. While on leave in Germany in 1933 he worked with Gerhard Herzberg, future Nobel prize winner in Chemistry, and was instrumental in bringing him to Canada. In 1938 Dr. Spinks became a full professor of Chemistry. During WWII Dr. Spinks developed search-and-rescue operations for the RCAF and took part in the early work on atomic energy. His scientific research led to major international achievements in radiation chemistry and his work included over 200 scientific papers. Dr. Spinks was appointed head of the department of Chemistry in 1948; Dean of the College of Graduate Studies in 1949 and was installed as President of the University, which he led through a very active period of development from 1959-1975. Dr. Spinks received many honours: Companion of the Order of Canada (1970); the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame (1982), Saskatoon's Citizen of the Year (1985), and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (1996). He married Mary Strelioff (1910-1999) on 5 June 1939 in Rugby Chapel on the U of S grounds. Dr. Spinks died in 1997 in Saskatoon at age 89. The north-facing four-storey Spinks Addition is home to the departments of Computer Science and Chemistry. It was completed in 2003. Spinks Drive in College Park honours Dr. Spinks. The University of Saskatchewan open source computer labs were named the Spinks Labs.

Bio/Historical Note: Mary Strelioff was born 27 February 1910 in Russia. She married John Spinks, then professor and head, Department of Chemistry, in June 1939 at Rugby Chapel on the University grounds. Mary Spinks served the University of Saskatchewan with distinction with a thorough understanding of university affairs, and a lifetime interest and involvement in the non-academic aspects of university development. Mary Spinks entertained many hundreds of students, faculty and visiting scholars in her home. Mary Spinks died on 24 April 1999 in Saskatoon at age 89.

Head and shoulders image of J.W.T. Spinks, University President,

Bio/Historical Note: John William Tranter Spinks was born in 1908 at Methwold, England. He received his PhD in Science from the University of London in 1930 and that same year joined the University of Saskatchewan as assistant professor of Chemistry. While on leave in Germany in 1933 he worked with Gerhard Herzberg, future Nobel prize winner in Chemistry, and was instrumental in bringing him to Canada. In 1938 Dr. Spinks became a full professor of Chemistry. During WWII Dr. Spinks developed search-and-rescue operations for the RCAF and took part in the early work on atomic energy. His scientific research led to major international achievements in radiation chemistry and his work included over 200 scientific papers. Dr. Spinks was appointed head of the department of Chemistry in 1948; Dean of the College of Graduate Studies in 1949 and was installed as President of the University, which he led through a very active period of development from 1959-1975. Dr. Spinks received many honours: Companion of the Order of Canada (1970); the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame (1982), Saskatoon's Citizen of the Year (1985), and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (1996). He married Mary Strelioff (1910-1999) on 5 June 1939 in Rugby Chapel on the U of S grounds. Dr. Spinks died in 1997 in Saskatoon at age 89. The north-facing four-storey Spinks Addition is home to the departments of Computer Science and Chemistry. It was completed in 2003. Spinks Drive in College Park honours Dr. Spinks. The University of Saskatchewan open source computer labs were named the Spinks Labs.

Dr. George Ivany, seventh University President, presents J.W.T. Spinks, fourth University President, with an honourary Doctor of Laws degree during fall Convocation held at Centennial Auditorium. Mary Spinks stands behind Dr. Spinks. Iain MacLean, University Secretary, prepares to hood Dr. Spinks.

Bio/Historical Note: John William Tranter Spinks was born in 1908 at Methwold, England. He received his PhD in Science from the University of London in 1930 and that same year joined the University of Saskatchewan as assistant professor of Chemistry. While on leave in Germany in 1933 he worked with Gerhard Herzberg, future Nobel prize winner in Chemistry, and was instrumental in bringing him to Canada. In 1938 Dr. Spinks became a full professor of Chemistry. During WWII Dr. Spinks developed search-and-rescue operations for the RCAF and took part in the early work on atomic energy. His scientific research led to major international achievements in radiation chemistry and his work included over 200 scientific papers. Dr. Spinks was appointed head of the department of Chemistry in 1948; Dean of the College of Graduate Studies in 1949 and was installed as President of the University, which he led through a very active period of development from 1959-1975. Dr. Spinks received many honours: Companion of the Order of Canada (1970); the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame (1982), Saskatoon's Citizen of the Year (1985), and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (1996). He married Mary Strelioff (1910-1999) on 5 June 1939 in Rugby Chapel on the U of S grounds. Dr. Spinks died in 1997 in Saskatoon at age 89. The north-facing four-storey Spinks Addition is home to the departments of Computer Science and Chemistry. It was completed in 2003. Spinks Drive in College Park honours Dr. Spinks. The University of Saskatchewan open source computer labs were named the Spinks Labs.

Note on back: "A multi-million dollar agreement with government and industry (Digital Equipment of Canada Ltd.) will enable the University to take a major step toward eeting its long-term computing needs. Robert N. Kavanagh (left), Associate Professor of Computational Science, and Director, Academic Computing Services; Dr. Blaine A. Holmlund, vice-president, Special Projects, and Professor of Computational Science; and Joseph F. Angel, Professor of Biochemistry, look at print-out from a computer".

A man operates an IBM 1620 computer, installed in the Engineering Building in 1963.

Bio/Historical Note: "An IBM 1620 computer was purchased in 1963 for the special university price of $89,120. Soon after, as well as the previous instructional and research uses, the administration began taking advantage of the Computation Centre, with the introduction of preparing payroll "by IBM punched cards." Taken from: The First Decade of Computing at the U of S, by Tim Hutchinson; published in On Campus News, November 26, 1999; Volume 7, Number 7.