Computer Science Museum - UC Davis

Davis, California

Richard Walters, professor emeritus at University of California Davis, created the Computer Science Museum, partially housed in Kemper Hall. Professor Walters wrote to us in 2005: "I have been at Davis 38 years, and started collecting computer museum components around 1975, when it appeared that a new revolution was on its way. I was named chair of our computer science dept. in 1983, and in that capacity purchased a large container (overseas shipping type), which I started to fill with computers. I continued collecting, and people sent me pieces, so the container is pretty full at present. That part of the collection is not viewable."

While Walters was unable to persuade the university to fund a small museum building, about two years ago a display case was added to the lobby of Kemper Hall to exhibit select items. According to Walters: "Mike Williams, who heads the Moffett Field computer museum, came to see what I had and took away about a dozen items, including an original Maltron ergonomic keyboard, which he has down there." So there's more of the computer heritage trail to see at Moffett Field...

While students in the Computer Club offer occasional bursts of interest and energy, Prof. Walters, now 75, hopes to find "someone to take over my container, which has quite a number of interesting things."'

Pictured is the Osborne Portable -- in 1981, at 23 1/2 lbs., the first popular mobile computer.