Accessories: monitor; keyboard (b); one black cable; one grey cable; function key template; part of cable; printout of an e-mail from Chip Robinson (c)

DescriptionMain system unit of the computer is a beige plastic rectangular box with a blue switch and a keyboard cable connection port at the leftmost edge of the front panel. The left side of the blue switch is labeled "TEST" and the right side is labeled "NORMAL". The jack is female, with six pin holes. There is a ventilation grating, a power cord connection jack, other connection ports, and an ON/OFF switch on the back and side panels of the computer casing. The main system unit contains the core memory, hard drive and mother board and central processing unit.

A computer monitor is mounted on a circular platform on the top panel of the main systems unit. The monitor is a charcoal-grey, slightly curved square centered in a beige plastic box. There is an indented band along the bottom of the front panel. At the right end of the indented band is a red switch. At the left end of the indented band are controls for brightness and contrast. Monitors of this kind are cathode ray tubes like televisions used to be. The tube is made of glass, with a glass panel covering the front. The back of the front panel is coated in phosphorous. There is a vacuum in the tube. At the back of the tube is an electron gun which fires out electrons. Electromagnets are used to bend the trajectories of the electrons so that they hit particular parts of the front panel, causing the phosphorous to light up and display information on the screen. The monitor is accompanied by a rectangular glare reduction screen, framed in beige plastic, that can be placed on the front.

A rectangular, beige plastic keyboard with standard keys accompanies the computer. One power cable in black insulation and two component connection cables in beige insulation accompany the computer.

Signedin black letters on top edge of monitor: IBM

printed in black on label on back of computer monitor: manufacture for IBM Corporation / made in Korea, July 1992 / PB755

Inscribedhand-written in red ink on yellow post-it note on front of computer: HC0E Terminal / H06L704 Network / Mode

FunctionThe IBM desk top computer is a re-programmable electric, digital, stored-program personal desktop computer which is usually used to perform repetitive computations (as opposed to following a single long list of instructions). As such, its function is extremely variable and flexible. This particular device, however, was used in the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library at Harvard University as a Hollis search terminal. Hollis is the Harvard Libraries digital catalogue. The computer was so used from 1986 until 1996.

This particular monitor was acquired in 1992. Computer monitors provide a visual output interface by which users can monitor various computer processes, results, and retrieve information. This monitor was designed especially for Harvard Hollis use by IBM in Korea. The monitor cover is designed to reduce the glare of computer monitors, creating less discomfort and damage to users’ eyes.

The keyboard is a manual input device through which users communicate with a computer. Keyboards are for inputting symbolic information (commonly for word processing and programming purposes). They are typically equipped with several buttons (modeled after type writer buttons) that communicate electronically with the central processing unit of the computer.

A discussion of keyboards is available here.

Historical AttributesUsed from 1986 to 1996 in Widener Library, Harvard University, as a Hollis terminal. The monitor was made explicitly for Harvard by IBM.

ProvenanceFrom Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, Harvard University, 1996.