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C.F. Museums to Celebrate 'Father of Supercomputers’ 100th Birthday
Seymour Cray Jr., known for pioneering high performance computer tech at Chippewa Falls-founded Cray Research, Inc., will be honored during a Sept. 28 event
There’s a non-zero chance you’re reading this sentence on a computer, whether it’s a desktop, laptop, or a pocket-sized computer (smartphone, duh). If you trace the roots of computer tech far back enough, you’ll find that that’s all thanks to Chippewa Falls native Seymour Cray Jr.
The wider Chippewa Valley community is invited to celebrate Cray’s 100th birthday – Cray, often referred to as the father of supercomputing, was born in Chippewa Falls in 1925 – during a dual exhibit experience hosted by Chippewa Falls Museum of Industry and Technology (CFMIT) and the Chippewa Area History Center (CAHC) on Sunday, Sept. 28.
Attendees of the forthcoming Sept. 28 event can expect to view and tour Cray-centered exhibits – in collaboration with The National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park, UK – along with the opportunity to attend a roundtable Q&A with former Cray employees and colleagues. The latter will take place in the Diamond Classroom at the CAHC at 3pm.
The decision to host the event across multiple locations is twofold. As a collaborative effort largely between the two area museums; and the intent to offer a richer look at Cray, his life, and impact on Chippewa Falls.
While growing up in Chippewa Falls, Cray is said to have been fascinated by mathematics and electronics – even going as far as wiring his home to send Morse Code messages to his sister, Carol, CFMIT Museum Coordinator Alexis Linder said.
After graduating high school in 1944, Seymour served in the U.S. Army as a radio operator and code breaker. After returning home three years later, he married, started a family, and soon after earned a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Minnesota (thanks to the G.I. Bill) in 1950. Just two years later, Cray had earned his master’s degree in applied mathematics and launched his career with the firm Engineering Research Associates. He was one of several engineers who founded Control Data Corporation (CDC) in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1957.
Five years later, Cray returned to Chippewa Falls – turns out, he much preferred the smaller-town lifestyle – and opened a CDC lab in the township of Hallie. 10 years later, Cray Research, Inc. was founded by former CDC creators Cray, Frank Mullaney, George Hanson, and Noel Stone.
“All in all, Seymour Cray and the CDC/Cray Research is responsible for the production of the first supercomputers, built and headquarters in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin,” Linder said.
The Chippewa Falls Museum of Industry and Technology and the Chippewa Area History Center will both host "Seymour Cray 100th Birthday Party," a free-to-attend event in honor of Seymour Cray, on Sunday, Sept. 29. From 12-4pm, all are welcome to both locations for exhibit tours, games, and a roundtable discussion.
