The Machine Room at "The Bureau"

"The Bureau" was The Bureau of Applied Social Research (BASR) at Columbia. Irene was the Guru of the Machine Room -- She "wired" and ran the Electronic Accounting Machines (EAM). These included, in addition to several keypunches, the Gang Punch, The Counter-Sorter, and the big tabulator that printed out results. She was known to periodically kick people out of "her" machine room, just as today she will kick people out of her kitchen.

Photo of Irene in the BASR Machine Room Here is a photo of Irene in the Machine room, surrounded by many cabinets of tab cards -- the "data" of classic BASR studies.

The guy on the far right is Peter Graham, who was Phil's best man at his wedding in July 1964. Philip was, in turn, best man at Peter's wedding in December, 1969. Peter is now the head librarian at Syracuse University.

Phil & Irene's wedding was very much a BASR affair. We simply posted the invitation in the elevator.