Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Collection

The material comprises:

• D1, T. Pearcey and M. Beard, The Logic Basis of High-Speed Computer Design (Sydney, Australia: Council for Scientific & Industrial Research, Division of Radiophysics, RPR 83, April 1948);
• D2, T. Pearcey and M. Beard, The Organisation of a Preliminary High-Speed Computer (Sydney, Australia: Council for Scientific & Industrial Research, Division of Radiophysics, RPR 84, April 1948);
• D3, T. Pearcey,Automatic Computation: The Design of the Mk.1 Automatic Computer (Sydney, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research, Division of Radiophysics, RPR 119, June 1951 ) (2 copies);
• D4, T. Pearcey, Automatic Computation: Part II, Programmes for an Automatic Computer (Sydney, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research, Division of Radiophysics, RPR 120, July 1951) (2 copies);
• D5, M. Beard, Electronic Computer (Sydney, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research, Division of Radiophysics, RPR 117, September 1952);
• D6, T. Pearcey, Automatic Computation: Part III Programmes for the Mk. 1 Computer: Pt. 1 (Sydney, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research, Division of Radiophysics, RPR 122, August 1953);
• D7, R.D. Ryan, Electronic Computer Test and Monitor Equipment (Sydney, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research, Division of Radiophysics, RPR 128, April 1954) (2 copies);
• D8, R.D. Ryan, Mercury Delay Line Memory C.S.I.R.O. Computer (Sydney, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research, Division of Radiophysics, RPR 129, June 1954).

In 1916, the Australian Government established the Advisory Council of Science and Industry to collect information about the state of scientific research in Australia, undertake research and collect and disseminate scientific information. Moves to establish a permanent body finally resulted in an Act to establish the Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry in 1920. Its a successor agency, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research was established in 1926.

The primary aim of CSIR was to carry out scientific research, in connection with or in promotion of, primary and secondary industries in Australia. Initially focusing on the utilisation of forest product and agriculture, research later expanded to include areas such as building materials, wool textiles, coal, atmospheric physics, physical metallurgy and assessment of land resources. In 1949 the council was reconstituted as CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. Its work continues today.

The collection is open to any accredited reader.

Description compiled by Jo Klett, project archivist, with reference to http://www.csiro.au