From manuscripts to programming languages: An archivist perspective

Abstract

This paper presents the archival treatment of documentation produced by IFIP Working Group 2.1, Algorithmic Languages and Calculi as kept by former chairman Willem van der Poel (1962-69) and Chris Cheney. It highlights the importance of archival treatment based on standards such as International Standard for Archival Description—ISAD(G) and the International Standard Archival Authority Record (Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families)—ISAAR-(CPF) both issued by the International Council on Archives, the Portuguese Guidelines for Archival Description ODA and Encoded Archival Description EAD. The archived collection enables dissemination and effective access to the information for research and in-depth knowledge of computer history and specifically programming languages and formal methods. The paper also addresses the issues of the long-term preservation of archival records produced today in their various formats and the importance of contributing to preserving collective memory and enriching the knowledge about the human society.