By Chris Green in Reader
Posted in History, Misc on February 29, 2008 at 10:52 am
Today is a special time in the calendar
Rated: 92% (5 votes)
Loading ...Comment by - March 7, 2008 on 1:36 am
Hi Chris,
I thought I was the only one who noticed that Herman Hollerith was a leap year baby… or leapling as I believe they’re correctly called.
In the spirit of celebrating what’s special about leap year, I actually wrote an e-mail about Hollerith to our clients and future clients last Wednesday.
Since our clients are largely small business computer consultants, I pointed out a few key firsts.
Hollerith was one of the few key sparks that gave birth to IBM.
Hollerith’s conflicts with master salesman Watson of IBM-fame setup perhaps one of the World’s first classic IT conflicts between engineer and sales person.
Hollerith’s company focus on census bureaus, initially in the U.S. and eventually around the globe, as well as his company’s focus on insurance underwriters, was the first foray of an IT services company into vertical markets.
A few other tidbits:
Hollerith’s Tabulating Machine Company accidentally became the first OEM, ISV, MSP, and integrator… all rolled into one.
With this huge productivity leap of the census tabulations
being completed 8 times faster, Hollerith had inadvertently
discovered the business value of IT and return on investment
(ROI)
Lots of interesting firsts.
Because of Hollerith’s impact on the birth of the IT industry, I’d like to see Worldwide recognition of his birthday each year on February 28th… and of course on February 29th on leap years.
Thanks for helping to celebrate one of the IT industry’s greatest innovators.
Joshua Feinberg
Comment by Susan Hollerith Cashin - February 10, 2010 on 11:11 pm
Hello Joshua,
Herman was my great grandfather, and as we were poking around working on my son’s DC project, I happened upon your page.
Thank you for recognizing his contributions. The biography written by Geoffrey Austrian (wonderful man and fellow New Englander) refers to him as “the forgotten giant of information processing.”
I always thought that was sad and funny at the same time.
I used to visit his homes in DC and VA as a kid. The farm in VA is still in the family with a lot of his original “space” still there. 1617 was sold quite some time ago, but I have fond memories.
It’s fun to reminisce once in a while.
Thanks for your kind words about him!
Sincerely,
Susan Hollerith Cashin, daughter of Richard Hollerith JR, great-granddaughter of Herman Hollerith.
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