Invisible Computers: The Untold Story of the ENIAC Programmers

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Sixty years ago, six young women programmed the ENIAC, the first all-electronic programmable computer. They mastered the ENIAC, an 80-foot-long, 9-foot-tall, black metal machine, and harnessed its power through an archaic programming interface using dozens of wires and 3000 switches. The women programmed ENIAC to perform a ballistics trajectory, a differential calculus equation important to the WWII effort – and they succeeded brilliantly. When the ENIAC was unveiled to the public on February 15, 1946, their efforts captured the imagination of the press and made headlines across the country. The ENIAC became a legendary machine and its engineers (all men) became famous. The programmers were never introduced or credited at the ENIAC events of the 1940s, and their story disappeared from history – until now.

Kathy Kleiman, then a young programmer, discovered the ENIAC Programmers in the mid-1980s. “Their story inspired me and helped me to stay involved in computing at a time when few women were in my computer science classes,” notes Kleiman. In 20 years of research and interviews, Kleiman documented the ENIAC women's pioneering contributions to modern programming, and seeks to share their stories.

Now dedicated to producing the first full-length documentary to tell the ENIAC Programmers' story in detail, Kleiman has teamed up with Google for this history-changing fundraiser. “The names of Frances E. Snyder Holberton, Jean Jennings Bartik, Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum and Frances Bilas Spence belong in our history books and computer courses,” says Kleiman. “Not only did they program the first modern computer, some devoted decades to making programming easier and more accessible for all who followed.” Award-winning documentary producer Susan Hadary adds, “Most of my documentaries feature unsung heroes. Certainly the time is long past due to tell the secret of these pioneer women of the ENIAC project.”

Come celebrate our history with Kathy Kleiman, original ENIAC Programmer Jean Bartik (still a dynamo at age 82), Dr. Telle Whitney, President of the Anita Borg Institute, Google Senior Vice President Dr. Alan Eustace, the Google community, and the women of Silicon Valley. Join Google in helping to make the documentary Invisible Computers: The Untold Story of the ENIAC Programmers a reality and giving the ENIAC women the credit they so richly deserve!