Daniel D. McCracken
Encyclopedia
Daniel D. McCracken was a computer scientist
in the United States
. He was a Professor of Computer Sciences at the City College of New York
, and the author of over two dozen textbooks on computer programming
. His A Guide to Fortran
Programming (Wiley, 1961) and its successors were the standard textbooks on that language for over two decades. His books have been translated into fourteen languages.
, a mining town, and graduated in 1951 from Central Washington University
with degrees in mathematics and chemistry. He worked seven years with the General Electric
Company in computer applications and programmer training. After that, he worked at the New York University
Atomic Energy Commission
Computer Center, and was a graduate student at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
. In 1959 he became a consultant and continued writing on computer subjects. In 1970 he earned a Master of Divinity
degree from the Union Theological Seminary
in New York.
From 1976-78, he was vice president of the Association for Computing Machinery
(ACM), from 1978-80 he was president of the the ACM, and in 1994 he was inducted as a Fellow
of ACM. He joined the City College of New York
Computer Sciences Department in 1981. In 1989 he received the Norbert Weiner Award for Social and Professional Responsibility from Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
and is an honorary member of the Golden Key International Honour Society
.
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was a Professor of Computer Sciences at the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, and the author of over two dozen textbooks on computer programming
Computer programming
Computer programming is the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code is written in one or more programming languages. The purpose of programming is to create a program that performs specific operations or exhibits a...
. His A Guide to Fortran
Fortran
Fortran is a general-purpose, procedural, imperative programming language that is especially suited to numeric computation and scientific computing...
Programming (Wiley, 1961) and its successors were the standard textbooks on that language for over two decades. His books have been translated into fourteen languages.
Career
McCracken was born in 1930 in Hughesville, Judith Basin County, MontanaJudith Basin County, Montana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,329 people, 951 households, and 661 families residing in the county. The population density was -Demographics:...
, a mining town, and graduated in 1951 from Central Washington University
Central Washington University
Central Washington University, often abbreviated CWU, is a public university in Ellensburg, Washington in the United States.This location was selected by the state legislature as a consolation prize after Ellensburg lost its bid to be state capital...
with degrees in mathematics and chemistry. He worked seven years with the General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
Company in computer applications and programmer training. After that, he worked at the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
Computer Center, and was a graduate student at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
The Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences is an independent division of New York University under the Faculty of Arts & Science that serves as a center for research and advanced training in computer science and mathematics...
. In 1959 he became a consultant and continued writing on computer subjects. In 1970 he earned a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree from the Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
in New York.
From 1976-78, he was vice president of the Association for Computing Machinery
Association for Computing Machinery
The Association for Computing Machinery is a learned society for computing. It was founded in 1947 as the world's first scientific and educational computing society. Its membership is more than 92,000 as of 2009...
(ACM), from 1978-80 he was president of the the ACM, and in 1994 he was inducted as a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of ACM. He joined the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
Computer Sciences Department in 1981. In 1989 he received the Norbert Weiner Award for Social and Professional Responsibility from Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility is a global organization promoting the responsible use of computer technology. in 1983 . It educates policymakers and the public on a wide range of issues...
and is an honorary member of the Golden Key International Honour Society
Golden Key International Honour Society
The Golden Key International Honour Society is an Atlanta, Georgia-based non-profit organization founded in 1977 to recognise academic achievement among college and university students in all disciplines....
.
External links
- "Daniel McCracken, Interview by Arthur L. Norberg, January 7-9, 2008", Association for Computing MachineryAssociation for Computing MachineryThe Association for Computing Machinery is a learned society for computing. It was founded in 1947 as the world's first scientific and educational computing society. Its membership is more than 92,000 as of 2009...
historical interview. - Dan McCracken's webpage at City College of New York
- Daniel D. McCracken Papers, 1958-1983. Charles Babbage InstituteCharles Babbage InstituteThe Charles Babbage Institute is a research center at the University of Minnesota specializing in the history of information technology, particularly the history since 1935 of digital computing, programming/software, and computer networking....
, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. - "Obituary: Daniel D. McCracken", The New York Times, August 1, 2011