College and University Computers in the Southeast US, 1955-1961

last major update: March 29, 2023

Corrections are welcome!

I am using the range 1955 to 1961 since the first electronic computer at a college or university in the Southeast US appears to be at Georgia Tech in 1955 and since Clemson's first computer was bought in 1961. I am not including punch card calculators, such as the IBM 601 Multiplying Punch and descendants. Use of these punch card machines at colleges and universities was widespread before the use of electronic computers.

Based on M. Phister, Jr., Data Processing Technology and Economics, Second Edition, Digital Press, 1979, the number of computers in use in the United States rose from 240 in 1955 to 7,550 in 1961.

I am including a System Cost column to give a general idea of the investment made by the college or univeristy. This guideline is somewhat limited because there are ranges of possible configurations for each computer type (e.g., memory size and numbers and types of input/output equipment) and because the exact configurations are not always included in the descriptions of the academic computer centers. You can multiply the typical or reported system cost by ten to get an estimate of the equivalent dollar cost in 2023.

Furthermore, some of the computers listed below will be on monthly rentals rather than purchased, and various educational discounts are usually applied to either the purchase or rental costs. Many institutions sought funding from the National Science Foundation to purchase computers, and UNC partnered with the Census Bureau in preparation for the 1960 Census to obtain the multimillion-dollar UNIVAC 1105 in 1959.

At the end of the page, I include the Knight Index estimates for both scientific and commercial computing power to give a general performance comparison. Note that while some of the computers are bought to run strictly scientific/engineering workloads, many are used in a dual role for both academic computing and administrative data processing for the college or university.

I compiled this list from various university web sites and archived publications, including:

Martin H. Weik, "A Third Survey of Domestic Electronic Digital Computing Systems," Report No. 1115, March 1961, Ballistic Research Laboratories, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. (Weik's survey was done in 1960.)
"High Speed Computers," American Mathematical Society Notices, Special Issue, Assistantships and Fellowships in Mathematics in 1962-1963, 8(7), Part II, December, 1961, pp. 23-27.

These two sources mainly cover the computers for campus-wide use. I added departmental computers when I found specific and reliable documentation. For example, the Special Collections at Emory University contains a photo of an LGP-30 with the metadata stating the computer was being used in the School of Dentistry in the 1950s. However, I was unable to track down further information and have not added it. As one might expect, there are disagreements between some sources on dates. This could be be the difference between a purchase date and an installation or dedication date. For example, a 1967 report funded by NSF on computers in higher education, based on surveys, lists an IBM 1620 at Jackson State University in 1961, while a 1980 report funded by NSF on academic computing, based on interviews with Jackson State faculty members, lists 1962 as the installation date. I am relying on the 1962 date and thus have not added it. Also, as an example of an even larger discrepancy in dating, the photo collection at Emory contains a picture of a PDP-8, a computer that was not introduced until 1965, mislabeled as a computer being used by students at Emory in the 1940s-1950s.

State Institution Department or Unit Year Computer System Cost

Alabama Auburn Computer Center 1959 IBM 650 $182,000^*

1961 IBM 1620 (replaces 650) $64,000^*

Tuskegee Institute Computer Center 1961 IBM 1620 $64,000^*

University of Alabama Computer Center 1961 UNIVAC SS80 $347,500^*

Arkansas University of Arkansas Computer Center 1960 IBM 650 $182,000^*

Florida Brevard Engineering College
(later Florida Institute of Technology) Computer Center 1959 LGP-30 $49,500^*

Florida State Computer Center 1958 IBM 650 $182,000^*

1961 IBM 709 (replaces 650) $1,800,000

University of Florida Statistical Laboratory 1956 IBM 650 $182,000^*

University of Miami Computer Center 1959 IBM 1620 $64,000^*

1961 RCA 301 (replaces 1620) $196,000^*

Georgia Georgia State Computer Center 1960 IBM 305 RAMAC $167,850^*

Georgia Tech Rich Computer Center 1955 UNIVAC 1101 (donated)⁺

1956 IBM 650 $182,000^*

1958 Burroughs 220 $320,000^*

University of Georgia Experimental Statistics 1959 IBM 650 $182,000^*

Kentucky University of Kentucky Computer Center 1958 IBM 1620 $64,000^*

University of Louisville Computer Center 1958 IBM 610 $55,000^*

1960 IBM 1620 (replaces 610) $64,000^*

Louisiana Louisiana State Computer Center 1959 IBM 650 $182,000^*

1960 IBM 1620 (replaces 650) $64,000^*

Louisiana Tech Electrical Engineering 1957 LGP-30 $49,500^*

1958 Monrobot V $86,074^*

1959 Monrobot VI (not available in Weik)

Tulane School of Business 1958 IBM 650 $182,000^*

University of Southwestern Louisiana
(later University of Louisiana at Lafayette) Computer Center 1960 IBM 1620 $64,000^*

Mississippi Mississippi State College of Engineering 1957 IBM 650 $182,000^*

University of Mississippi Computer Center 1958 IBM 650 $182,000^*

North Carolina Duke Mathematics / Computer Center 1958 IBM 650 $182,000^*

1961 IBM 7070 (replaces 650) $813,250^*

North Carolina State Experimental Statistics 1956 IBM 650 $182,000^*

University of North Carolina Psychometric Lab 1959 LGP-30 $49,500^*

Computer Center 1959 UNIVAC 1105 $2,400,000

South Carolina Clemson Computer Center 1961 RPC-4000 $35,000^#

University of South Carolina Electrical Engineering 1959 LGP-30 $55,000

Tennessee Tennessee Tech Engineering Science 1959 IBM 610 $55,000^*

Computer Center 1961 IBM 1620 $64,000^*

University of Tennessee Electrical Engineering 1958 LGP-30 $49,500^*

Computer Center 1961 IBM 1620 $64,000^*

Vanderbilt Computer Center 1959 IBM 650 $182,000^*

Virginia University of Virginia Computer Center 1960 Burroughs 205 $200,000^*

Virginia Tech Computer Center 1958 IBM 650 $182,000^*

West Virginia West Virginia Computer Center 1958 IBM 610 $55,000^*

1960 IBM 650 $182,000^*

^*- basic or typical system cost as estimated in Weik
⁺- Remington Rand estimated the worth as $500,000
^#- from Laura Benjamin's history of Engineering at Clemson, based on a 1988 telephone interview with Merrill Palmer, the first Director of the Computer Center

State	Institution	Department or Unit	Year	Computer	System Cost
Alabama	Auburn	Computer Center	1959	IBM 650	$182,000^*
1961	IBM 1620 (replaces 650)	$64,000^*
Tuskegee Institute	Computer Center	1961	IBM 1620	$64,000^*
University of Alabama	Computer Center	1961	UNIVAC SS80	$347,500^*
Arkansas	University of Arkansas	Computer Center	1960	IBM 650	$182,000^*
Florida	Brevard Engineering College (later Florida Institute of Technology)	Computer Center	1959	LGP-30	$49,500^*
Florida State	Computer Center	1958	IBM 650	$182,000^*
1961	IBM 709 (replaces 650)	$1,800,000
University of Florida	Statistical Laboratory	1956	IBM 650	$182,000^*
University of Miami	Computer Center	1959	IBM 1620	$64,000^*
1961	RCA 301 (replaces 1620)	$196,000^*
Georgia	Georgia State	Computer Center	1960	IBM 305 RAMAC	$167,850^*
Georgia Tech	Rich Computer Center	1955	UNIVAC 1101	(donated)⁺
1956	IBM 650	$182,000^*
1958	Burroughs 220	$320,000^*
University of Georgia	Experimental Statistics	1959	IBM 650	$182,000^*
Kentucky	University of Kentucky	Computer Center	1958	IBM 1620	$64,000^*
University of Louisville	Computer Center	1958	IBM 610	$55,000^*
1960	IBM 1620 (replaces 610)	$64,000^*
Louisiana	Louisiana State	Computer Center	1959	IBM 650	$182,000^*
1960	IBM 1620 (replaces 650)	$64,000^*
Louisiana Tech	Electrical Engineering	1957	LGP-30	$49,500^*
1958	Monrobot V	$86,074^*
1959	Monrobot VI	(not available in Weik)
Tulane	School of Business	1958	IBM 650	$182,000^*
University of Southwestern Louisiana (later University of Louisiana at Lafayette)	Computer Center	1960	IBM 1620	$64,000^*
Mississippi	Mississippi State	College of Engineering	1957	IBM 650	$182,000^*
University of Mississippi	Computer Center	1958	IBM 650	$182,000^*
North Carolina	Duke	Mathematics / Computer Center	1958	IBM 650	$182,000^*
1961	IBM 7070 (replaces 650)	$813,250^*
North Carolina State	Experimental Statistics	1956	IBM 650	$182,000^*
University of North Carolina	Psychometric Lab	1959	LGP-30	$49,500^*
Computer Center	1959	UNIVAC 1105	$2,400,000
South Carolina	Clemson	Computer Center	1961	RPC-4000	$35,000^#
University of South Carolina	Electrical Engineering	1959	LGP-30	$55,000
Tennessee	Tennessee Tech	Engineering Science	1959	IBM 610	$55,000^*
Computer Center	1961	IBM 1620	$64,000^*
University of Tennessee	Electrical Engineering	1958	LGP-30	$49,500^*
Computer Center	1961	IBM 1620	$64,000^*
Vanderbilt	Computer Center	1959	IBM 650	$182,000^*
Virginia	University of Virginia	Computer Center	1960	Burroughs 205	$200,000^*
Virginia Tech	Computer Center	1958	IBM 650	$182,000^*
West Virginia	West Virginia	Computer Center	1958	IBM 610	$55,000^*
1960	IBM 650	$182,000^*

The next year, 1962, will see even more computers in higher education in the Southeast US and across the entire nation. As examples, the 1962-1963 University Record (i.e., catalog) of the University of Florida reports that an IBM 709 will be installed in 1962, and the 1962-1963 Catalog for Louisiana Tech reports that an IBM 1620 has been installed for campus-wide use. The "Roster of School, College, and University Computer Centers," published on pages 145-151 in the June, 1962, issue of Computers and Automation reports that the University of Southern Mississippi has an RPC-4000, the University of South Carolina has an IBM 1620, and Emory University has a UNIVAC SS-99 [likely a typo in place of SS90]. The December, 1962, issue of Computers and Automation reports that the University of Alabama has signed a contract for a high performance UNIVAC 1107 to be installed in 1963 at the Alabama Research Institute (later to become the University of Alabama at Huntsville).

While most of the computer systems above are bulky and consist of several refrigerator-sized cabinets, the IBM 610, IBM 1620, LGP-30, Monrobot V, and RPC-4000 are the size of one or two office desks. The larger computer systems typically need special rooms with extra air conditioning and raised floors for running thick connecting cables underneath. Therefore the college or university must invest in renovation expenses for these special rooms as well as pay for the purchase or rental of the large computer.

For the computers identified in the table above, the table below gives the Knight indices for scientific and commerical workloads. These are estimates of computing power and have been calculated using a complicated formula involving weighting factors and attributes such as memory word size, arithmetic operation latencies, and I/O delays. These estimates proved to be popular in the mid to late 1960s since they cover so many contemporaneous and historical computers. The estimates were published in Kenneth E. Knight, "Changes in Computer Performance," Datamation, September, 1966, pp. 40-54. (An additional set of estimates for newer machines was published in 1968.)

Desk Size Computers

Computer Scientific
ops/sec Commerical
ops/sec Introduced

IBM 610 .1408 0.437 1954

IBM 1620 94.79 47.20 Oct. 1959

LGP-30 41.94 32.75 Sept. 1956

Monrobot V .4678 1.607 Mar. 1955

RPC-4000 89.91 54.11 Nov. 1960

Computer	Scientific ops/sec	Commerical ops/sec	Introduced
IBM 610	.1408	0.437	1954
IBM 1620	94.79	47.20	Oct. 1959
LGP-30	41.94	32.75	Sept. 1956
Monrobot V	.4678	1.607	Mar. 1955
RPC-4000	89.91	54.11	Nov. 1960

Larger Computers

Computer Scientific
ops/sec Commerical
ops/sec Introduced

Burroughs 205 80.84 187.3 July 1954

Burroughs 220 810.2 1616 Dec. 1958

IBM 305 94.97 96.47 Dec. 1957

IBM 650 110.8 291.1 Nov. 1954

IBM 709 1869 10230 Aug. 1958

IBM 7070 2813 5139 June 1960

Monrobot VI .3293 0.966 1955

RCA 301 323.0 1055 Feb. 1961

UNIVAC 1101 682.5 301.8 Dec. 1950

UNIVAC 1105 4433 5527 Sept. 1958

UNIVAC SS80/90 I 329.1 489.6 Jan. 1960

Computer	Scientific ops/sec	Commerical ops/sec	Introduced
Burroughs 205	80.84	187.3	July 1954
Burroughs 220	810.2	1616	Dec. 1958
IBM 305	94.97	96.47	Dec. 1957
IBM 650	110.8	291.1	Nov. 1954
IBM 709	1869	10230	Aug. 1958
IBM 7070	2813	5139	June 1960
Monrobot VI	.3293	0.966	1955
RCA 301	323.0	1055	Feb. 1961
UNIVAC 1101	682.5	301.8	Dec. 1950
UNIVAC 1105	4433	5527	Sept. 1958
UNIVAC SS80/90 I	329.1	489.6	Jan. 1960

Photos of the computer systems can be found in the 1961 BRL photo archive at bitsavers.org.

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