Access for Everyone: Computing at Drexel, 1946-1984

As early as 1956, before the establishment of the Computing Center, Drexel offered courses related to computers, such as business electronics, electronic data processing, and programming. The 1956-1957 course description for Math 15 includes “description of electronic digital computing machines” and an “introduction to computing.” The Department of Computer Science, created in 1964, offered courses for students in the engineering and business programs.

Drexel also incorporated computers into research in the humanities. The January 29, 1965 Triangle featured a cover story on two English professors who were using computers to study grammatical structures in Milton’s poetry. In 1965, Drexel launched the Humanities and Technology program, which combined study in the humanities and in the sciences, including computer science. In describing the goals of the program, its director, Dr. Mary I. Stephens, alluded to the Milton project: “Our students will not only know Milton. They will be able to program Milton’s works on a computer.”