The History of Computing
William Aspray · 2025
This chapter examines the history and nature of the history of computing. It considers the kinds of topics that the field has covered; the methods used; who the researchers and writers are; and the archival, research, exhibit, funding, and publication institutions that have served this field—and how all of these have changed over time. The focus is primarily on the history of computing in the Western world and in modern times (since 1600 but especially since the 1930s). The chapter explores the research and publications that have appeared since the 1970s. It examines how the development of the history of computing compares to (and how it interacts with) the histories of information, communication, publishing, libraries and other traditional information institutions, mathematics, science and technology, business, and law. The chapter will address the increased interest in the history of computing by media studies and communication scholars, especially since the rise of the internet and social media.