| 4. The Birth of COBOL 
In 1959, the University of Pennsylvania was a center for both computer research
at the Moore School and the University Computer Center and business research at
the Wharton School. The University Computer Center therefore was a logical place
to host a meeting of computer manufacturers and programmers to discuss the creation
of a computer language for business applications. The Department of Defense was
interested enough in the idea that it sponsored a subsequent Conference on Data
Systems Languages (CODASYL) that developed the Common Business Oriented Language
(COBOL).
COBOL was partially developed by
Moore School Special Lecturer Grace Murray Hopper and was based on her FLOW-MATIC
compiler system. University of Pennsylvania researchers contributed to the development
of COBOL through their professional activities with the Association for Computing
Machinery (ACM). As part of the increasing
focus of the UCC on data processing from outside businesses and Wharton School
research, the University purchased COBOL compilers for its new UNIVAC SS80 and
IBM 7040/1401 in 1962 and 1963. |