Come for ENIAC, Stay for UNIVAC and Skeduflo — Unique at Penn

Posted by: Holly Mengel | Date: August 5, 2026 Location: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

As you read these words, you are undoubtedly utilizing a computer—be it a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, or a desktop. In my own shared office, a quick glance reveals at least six computers and a variety of smartphones surrounding my own workstation.

The Dawn of Computing: ENIAC

In the early 1940s, the world was devoid of computers. The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), the first general-purpose electronic computer, was born from the sheer imagination of John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946.

Source: Ms. 925, box 205, folder 4

By fusing scientific knowledge, engineering prowess, and mathematical theory with an unrelenting drive to solve complex problems, they engineered something entirely unprecedented. Regarding the impact of their work, Shurkin noted:

“rarely have so few people altered the world as [ENIAC’s] inventors, yet gained so little for having done so,” (page 33).

A Legacy of Innovation

Despite not receiving the full rewards of their brilliance, Mauchly and Eckert persisted in their pursuit of innovation. They developed a series of groundbreaking machines:

Later, after founding Mauchly Associates, Mauchly expanded his portfolio with the Skeduflo. Following his passing in 1980, Sperry/UNIVAC News remarked that Mauchly had "unlocked the secrets that spawned an industry which will continue to change our world in remarkable ways."

Shifting the Paradigm: The UARC Years

While the ENIAC was a revolutionary milestone, my personal fascination within John Mauchly’s papers lies with the UNIVAC, specifically the records from the UNIVAC Applications and Research Center (UARC). Mauchly led this center from 1953 to 1959, focusing on "creating better methods of using the new equipment and exploring novel applications."

The Evolution of Problem Solving

Today, we view computers as the default solution. When a problem arises, we ask: How can a computer solve this more accurately than a human?

Even during the creation of ENIAC, Mauchly and Eckert followed this logic. They needed to calculate ballistic firing tables for WWII, which involved complex trajectories such as: $\text{Trajectory} = f(v, \theta, g, t)$ They knew intuitively—despite no precedent—that a computer was the only way to achieve this.

However, at UARC, Mauchly flipped the script: Looking for a computer to solve a specific problem $\rightarrow$ Looking for problems that a computer could solve.

Source: Ms. 925, box 170, folder 20

Through creativity and ingenuity, he demonstrated that computers were not just tools, but the future—convincing governments and businesses to invest in the technology.

Programming Pioneers and the "Suitcase Computer"

The productivity at UARC was immense, filling dozens of archive boxes. This era saw the rise of the UNIVAC as a versatile commercial tool and the emergence of programming legends. Admiral Grace Murray Hopper was a key figure in this team, pioneering the data processing methods we use today.

The Skeduflo and the Pocket Prediction

Mauchly’s ambition didn't end with the UNIVAC. He co-created the Skeduflo, a portable computer housed in a suitcase designed to run the Critical Path Method (CPM) for construction scheduling.

In a 1967 interview, Mauchly predicted that by 1980, business professionals would be carrying computers in their pockets. While his timeline was slightly off, the reality of the modern smartphone proves his vision was correct.

The Man Behind the Machine

How does one move from a machine that fills an entire basement (ENIAC) to envisioning a device that fits in a pocket? The answer lies in the character of the man. In a touching eulogy, Presper Eckert recalled:

“the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of John is that the was certainly one of the most brilliant people I knew. And for all his being brilliant, I think it is more important to say that John was a good man.”

Explore the Collection

We invite you to visit the Kislak Center to explore the immense collection of this brilliant and kind innovator.

Further Reading in the Archives:

• "John Mauchly: Chairman of the Board" (biographical sketch) — box 202, folder 12
• "It’s a better world, thanks to John" (SperryUNIVAC News, Feb 1980) — box 202, folder 12
• "John Mauchly dies" (Sperry UNIVAC Sphere, Jan 1980) — box 202, folder 12

def legacy_of_mauchly():
    innovations = ["ENIAC", "BINAC", "EDVAC", "UNIVAC", "Skeduflo"]
    for item in innovations:
        print(f"Changing the world with {item}...")
    return "A better world"

print(legacy_of_mauchly())