[vcf-midatlantic] slight diversion, was "Looking for some knowledgeable with the Harvard Mark I"

[Brian L. Stuart]

On Sunday, October 11, 2020, 1:50:25 PM EDT, Jim Scheef via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote: 
> Are you sure that Aiken was aware of Babbage? Babbage is still > not well known
> even today.

Jim,
The most telling information is that the first chapter
of the manual of operation is titled "Historical
Introduction" and discusses Babbage.  The chapter
is introduced by a quote from Babbage that begins:

"If, unwarned by my example, any man shall undertake
and shall succeed in really constructing an engine..."

In the back of my mind, I seem to remember some
references where Aiken mentioned being inspired
by Babbage.  However, I'd have to do some digging
to actually find such a reference.

BLS



From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic-bounces at lists.vcfed.org> On Behalf Of
Brian L. Stuart via vcf-midatlantic
Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2020 11:41 AM
To: vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org
Cc: Brian L. Stuart <blstuart at bellsouth.net>; Jeffrey Jonas
<jeffrey.scott.jonas at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] slight diversion, was "Looking for some
knowledgeable with the Harvard Mark I"