Computers at Dalhousie

Photograph of a crane lifting a computer into the Sir James Dunn Science Building

Dalhousie's first computer was installed in 1962. In 1964, applied mathematics professor Alex MacDonald used money from the National Research Council to purchase the IBM 1620, a much larger computer. The new computer was so bulky that it had to be lifted into the Sir James Dunn Science Building with a crane.

The Dalhousie Computer Centre was established in 1966 but the new IBM 360/50 was not ready for use until 1968. The computer was located in what is now the University Club pub and staff offices were located in houses on South Street.

In 1971, the Computer Centre moved into the basement of the Killam Library and the IBM 360/50 was replaced by the Control Data CDC 6400, which was then replaced by the Control Data Cyber 170/720 in 1979. Around 1985, the computer centre was expanded to accomodate a second computer, the IBM 4381. One computer was for academic use and the other for administrative use. From 1997 onwards, Dalhousie's computer use expanded to several servers as computers became more advanced and widely used.

Installing the IBM 1620 in the Sir James Dunn Science Building

Photograph of men unloading a large crate at the Sir James Dunn Science Building
Photograph of men standing around computer equipment outside the Sir James Dunn Science Building
Photograph of men moving computer equipment into the Sir James Dunn Science Building
Photograph of a crane lifting a computer into the Sir James Dunn Science Building
Photograph of Judy Hunter and an unidentified man with the Dalhousie computer in the Sir James Dunn Science Building

Judy Hunter (shown with an unidentified man) worked as Dalhousie's computer programmer. She worked with the IBM 1620 in the Sir James Dunn Building.

The Dalhousie Computer Centre in the University Club

Photograph of man using a computer
Photograph of two men in the Dalhousie Computer Centre at the University Club
Photograph of computer centre in the University Club
Photograph of a keypunch machine at the Dalhousie Computer Centre in the University Club
Photograph of an IBM System/360 computer

The IBM 360/50, used 1968-1971

The Dalhousie Computer Centre in the Killam Library

Photograph of the CDC 6400 computer in the Dalhousie Computer Centre

The Control Data CDC 6400, used 1971-1979

Photograph of the CDC 6400 computer in the Dalhousie Computer Centre
Photograph of Dalhousie Computer Centre Director Intab Ali with equipment
Photograph of Paula McNeill and John Pallas with long paper print-out
Photograph of the Cyber 170 computer in the Dalhousie Computer Centre
Photograph of the Cyber 170 computer in the Dalhousie Computer Centre

The Control Data Cyber 170/720, used 1979-1989

Photograph of a woman using a computer in the Killam Memorial Library
Photograph of computer centre in the Killam Memorial Library
Photograph of computer centre in the Killam Memorial Library
Photograph of computer centre in the Killam Memorial Library

The Lives of Dalhousie University, Volume Two, 1925-1980: The Old College Transformed