The Computer Conservation Society (CCS) is a British organisation, founded in 1989. It is under the joint umbrella of the
British Computer Society (BCS), the
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
Science Museum and the
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of City of Salford, Salford to ...
Museum of Science and Industry.
Overview
The CCS is interested in the
history of computing in general and the conservation and preservation of early British historical computers in particular.
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.
The CCS publishes a quarterly journal, ''Resurrection''.
The society celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2014.
Dr
Doron Swade
Doron Swade MBE is a museum curator and author, specialising in the history of computing. He is especially known for his work on the computer pioneer Charles Babbage and his Difference Engine.
Swade was originally from South Africa. He has s ...
, formerly the curator of the computing collection at the London Science Museum, was a founding committee member and is the current chair of the society.
David Morriss
David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
,
Rachel Burnett
Rachel Burnett Hon D.Tech, FBCS, CITP is a retired solicitor who was an expert on English information technology law.
After obtaining a degree in sociology at the University of Exeter, she worked in a range of IT roles including systems an ...
, and
Roger Johnson are previous chairs, also all previous
presidents of the BCS.
Projects
The society organises a number of projects to reconstruct and maintain early computers and to conserve early software. For example:
;Restorations
*
Elliott 401
Elliott Brothers (London) Ltd was an early computer company of the 1950s–60s in the United Kingdom. It traced its descent from a firm of instrument makers founded by William Elliott (1780 or 1781-1853) in London around 1804. The research l ...
*
Elliott 803
*
Elliott 903 and 905
*
DEC Systems
*
Pegasus
*
ICT 1301 Project
*
Harwell Dekatron Computer
*
Differential Analyser
* HEC 1
;Reconstructions
*
Colossus Rebuild
*
Manchester Baby
*
Bombe Rebuild
*
EDSAC Replica Project
*
Babbage's Analytical Engine
;Other projects
* Software preservation
* "Our Computer Heritage" website
*
Tony Sale Award for computer conservation and restoration
Locations
London Science Museum:
* Ferranti Pegasus (Not currently being displayed working)
Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, England, traces the development of science, technology and industry with emphasis on the city's achievements in these fields. The museum is part of the Science Museum Group, a non-departmental pu ...
:
* 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
Bletchley Park is an English country house and estate in Bletchley, Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire) that became the principal centre of Allies of World War II, Allied World War II cryptography, code-breaking during the Second World War. The man ...
:
* Bombe
Currently not on public display:
* ICT 1301 (Currently in storage at The National Museum of Computing)
* Elliott 401
References
External links
CCS websiteOur Computer Heritage– a project led by the CCS
{{authority control
Scientific organizations established in 1989
Information technology organisations based in the United Kingdom
History of science organizations
History of computing in the United Kingdom
BCS Specialist Groups
Science Museum, London
1989 establishments in the United Kingdom