Cut Pathways

The second season of Cut Pathways, the oral history podcast from the Carnegie Mellon University Oral History Program, dives into the influential history of computer science at CMU. In a six-episode series, titled “The Wild West of Computing,” hosts Katherine Barbera and David Bernabo along with guests historian Andrew Meade McGee and Curator of Special Collections Sam Lemley show how the culture surrounding computer science significantly altered the reputation of the school from 1956 to 1987. 

In this episode, we mark the end of "The Wild West of Computing." Collaborations between CMU, industry, and the government strengthen and funding is increasingly tied to specific projects. Computer science at CMU in the 1980s expanded with new departments and institutes. This episode focuses on the emergence of robotics, software, and the Andrew Project. Historian Andrew Meade McGee guests.

The second season of Cut Pathways, the oral history podcast from the Carnegie Mellon University Oral History Program, dives into the influential history of computer science at CMU. In a six-episode series, titled “The Wild West of Computing,” hosts Katherine Barbera and David Bernabo along with guests historian Andrew Meade McGee and Curator of Special Collections Sam Lemley show how the culture surrounding computer science significantly altered the reputation of the school from 1956 to 1987. 

In this episode, former director at DARPA Clint Kelly discusses the Autonomous Land Vehicle in the mid 1980s. Guest Andrew Meade McGee joins us to discuss the impact of DARPA funding at this time.

The second season of Cut Pathways, the oral history podcast from the Carnegie Mellon University Oral History Program, dives into the influential history of computer science at CMU. In a six-episode series, titled “The Wild West of Computing,” hosts Katherine Barbera and David Bernabo along with guests historian Andrew Meade McGee and Curator of Special Collections Sam Lemley show how the culture surrounding computer science significantly altered the reputation of the school from 1956 to 1987. 

In this episode, author Pamela McCorduck discusses her research in artificial intelligence in the 1970s. Pamela tells stories about her friendships with Herb Simon and Allen Newell, her book Machines Who Think, and a secretive group called the Squirrel Hill Sages. Sam Lemley joins us to talk about the Traub-McCorduck Collection—50 calculating machines, letters and books—housed at the CMU Libraries.

The second season of Cut Pathways, the oral history podcast from the Carnegie Mellon University Oral History Program, dives into the influential history of computer science at CMU. In a six-episode series, titled “The Wild West of Computing,” hosts Katherine Barbera and David Bernabo along with guests historian Andrew Meade McGee and Curator of Special Collections Sam Lemley show how the culture surrounding computer science significantly altered the reputation of the school from 1956 to 1987. 

In this episode, we look at the departure of influential figure, Alan Perlis, staff cuts, and a rebuilding the Department of Computer Science.

The second season of Cut Pathways, the oral history podcast from the Carnegie Mellon University Oral History Program, dives into the influential history of computer science at CMU. In a six-episode series, titled “The Wild West of Computing,” hosts Katherine Barbera and David Bernabo along with guests historian Andrew Meade McGee and Curator of Special Collections Sam Lemley show how the culture surrounding computer science significantly altered the reputation of the school from 1956 to 1987. 

In this episode, we learn how funding from Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) advanced computer science research at CMU. 

The second season of Cut Pathways, the oral history podcast from the Carnegie Mellon University Oral History Program, dives into the influential history of computer science at CMU. In a six-episode series, titled “The Wild West of Computing,” hosts Katherine Barbera and David Bernabo along with guests historian Andrew Meade McGee and Curator of Special Collections Sam Lemley show how the culture surrounding computer science significantly altered the reputation of the school from 1956 to 1987. 

In this episode, we get a byte-sized history of computing and learn about the very early days of computer science at CMU.

In the closing episode of our first season, Julia Parsons discusses how after graduating from Carnegie Institute of Technology, she went on to break secret German submarine codes during World War II.

A fun story of how Dan Meloro found direction in his undergrad years by founding Carnegie Mellon University's Activities Board.

In our first episode, interviewees discuss their first impressions of Pittsburgh, beginning with Anita Newell in the 1940s and ending with Joe Trotter in the 1980s. Sherri Nichols remembers the zig zag nature of the city layout, and many interviewees remember the pollution in vivid detail.