The ENIAC Programmers
Jayne Bentley Gaskins
Reston, Virginia, USA
Artist Statement
In 1946 the US military proudly presented Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), the world’s first electronic computer. These six colored sheets of binary code honor each of the brilliant female mathematicians who developed the programming language and operating system that made it work. No other writing is used because, until the mid-80s, they, like their work, remained unknown and unrecognized. They are: Francis “Betty” Snyder Holberton, Betty “Jean” Jennings Bartik, Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum, and Frances Bilas Spence.
Woman’s Groundbreaking Accomplishment
Six brilliant women programmed ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), the world’s first electronic computer.
Techniques
Digital art, appliqué, inkjet printing, machine quilting
Materials
Silk fabric, polyester fabric, batting, inkjet inks, thread