Jean E. Sammet
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| Jean E. Sammet | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jean E. Sammet |
| Birth date | 23 March 1928 |
| Birth place | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Death date | 20 May 2017 |
| Death place | Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Fields | Computer science |
| Alma mater | Mount Holyoke College (B.A.), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (M.A.) |
| Known for | FORMAC, COBOL, Programming Languages: History and Fundamentals |
| Awards | Ada Lovelace Award (1989), Computer History Museum Fellow (2001), IEEE Computer Society Computer Pioneer Award (2009) |
Jean E. Sammet was an American computer scientist and a pioneering figure in the development of programming languages. She played a foundational role in the creation of the influential business language COBOL and later developed the first widely used computer algebra system, FORMAC. Sammet was also a prolific author, historian of computing, and a leader in professional organizations like the Association for Computing Machinery.
Early life and education
Born in New York City, Jean E. Sammet demonstrated an early aptitude for mathematics. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College, graduating with a degree in mathematics. She then earned a Master of Arts in mathematics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her academic training provided a strong foundation for her subsequent career during the nascent years of the computer industry.
Career at IBM and Sylvania
Sammet began her professional career at the Sperry Corporation in 1955 before moving to Sylvania Electric Products. At Sylvania, she worked on software for the MOBIDIC mobile computer, a project for the United States Army. In 1961, she joined IBM, where she would spend the majority of her influential career. At IBM, she initially worked in the IBM Federal Systems Division in Bethesda, Maryland, contributing to projects for agencies like NASA.
Development of FORMAC and COBOL
Sammet's most significant technical contributions were in programming language design. She was a key member of the CODASYL committee that developed the specification for COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) in 1959 and 1960. Her deep involvement in this effort helped establish a standard language for business data processing. From 1962 to 1965, she led the development of FORMAC (FORMula MAnipulation Compiler), the first comprehensive computer algebra system to gain broad usage, which was implemented as an extension of Fortran.
Professional leadership and advocacy
Jean E. Sammet was a tireless leader and advocate for the computing profession. She served as the first female president of the Association for Computing Machinery from 1974 to 1976. She also chaired the Special Interest Group on Programming Languages (SIGPLAN) and was instrumental in founding the ACM SIG on Symbolic & Algebraic Manipulation (SIGSAM). Furthermore, she represented the United States in the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) and served on committees for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Awards and legacy
Sammet received numerous accolades for her pioneering work, including the Ada Lovelace Award from the Association for Women in Computing and the IEEE Computer Society Computer Pioneer Award. She was named a Fellow of the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley. Her seminal 1969 book, Programming Languages: History and Fundamentals, remains a definitive historical reference. Her legacy endures through her foundational contributions to programming language theory, her mentorship, and her role in shaping the professional landscape of computer science.
Category:American computer scientists Category:Programming language designers Category:IBM employees Category:1928 births Category:2017 deaths