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Digital Collections

Photographs, Negatives (Photographs)

Key punch operators at Dow Tabulating Department

  • 1947-Dec-16

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Public Domain

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General view of key punch operators (front to back) Ilene Allen, Janet Dyer, Jesse Haven, Marion McFadden, and Margaret Preznowiak transcribing written data into tabulating cards in the Tabulating Department at the Dow Chemical Company facilities located in Midland, Michigan. Per an article in the December 16, 1947 edition of The Brine Well, the Tabulating Department leased fifty-two machines from IBM to automatically transcribe, reproduce, and calculate data for a range of uses, including inventory control, material distribution, personnel records and statistics, payroll, sales analysis, and product usage.

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Extent
  • 4 in. H x 5 in. W
Subject
Rights Public Domain Mark 1.0
Credit line
  • Courtesy of Science History Institute

Institutional location

Department
Collection
Physical container
  • Box 10, Folder Plants--Tabulating Department

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Cite as

Dow Chemical Company. “Key Punch Operators at Dow Tabulating Department,” December 16, 1947. Dow Chemical Company Historical Image Collection, Box 10, Folder Plants--Tabulating Department. Science History Institute. Philadelphia. https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/2514nm312.

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The Science History Institute recognizes there are materials in our collections that may be offensive or harmful, containing racist, sexist, Eurocentric, ableist, or homophobic language or depictions. The history of science is not exempt from beliefs or practices harmful to traditionally marginalized groups. The Institute is engaged in ongoing efforts to responsibly present and address the evidence of oppression and injustice inextricable from the history of science. If you would like to learn more about our ongoing efforts or if you encounter harmful, inaccurate, or insufficient descriptions, please contact us at digital@sciencehistory.org.