John V. Atanasoff (1903-1995) interview: April 17, 1972
Henry S. Tropp · 1999
The subject of this interview is the motivation and pressure to develop high speed computation devices. Atanasoff begins by discussing his work in the fall of 1930 as an assistant professor of mathematics at Iowa State College. Beginning in 1932, Atanasoff began teaching graduate courses to those who were interested. The courses Atanasoff taught represented a new phase in the broad field of mathematical physics. He comments on several of the courses he taught: Dynamics, Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Quantum Mechanics. Because of Atanasoff's course load, he had numerous masters' theses and Ph.D's written under his direction. These theses included such topics as: crystal dynamics, quantum mechanical depiction, state of lithium, approaches to the solution of problems in infinite algebra, and solution of elastic problems. All of Dr. Atanasoff's students worked on problems in the area of mathematical physics. Comments on the differences between anisotropic and isotropic and the differential analyzer. Discussion of what types of computing machines were available at Iowa State College during the 1930s for solving problems. Atanasoff used a Monroe Calculator, IBM tabulator, or solved problems by hand. Persons mentioned include Pam Dirac and Arnold Summerfeld.