Oral History Interview with Romer Betty; Sponsored by the Friends of the Amherst College Library

Interview by John Servos on June 13, 2012

Betty Romer, former director of academic computing and the leader of computer technology at the college from 1968 to 1996 was interviewed by John Servos, former professor of history.

Biographies

Betty Romer provides a history of computing at Amherst College from 1968 when she was hired as a part-time staff member with a degree in mathematics and work experience at Bell Labs, until 1996 when she left her position as director of academic computing to enroll in the docent program at the Wadsworth Atheneum. From the IBM1130 to personal computing, Ms. Romer sheds light on the budgetary challenges and the changing needs of students and faculty over the decades. She was the driving force behind the growth of computer services at Amherst.

John Servos is the Anson D. Moore Professor of History. He teaches survey courses on the history of Western medicine, the history of science, and the history of science in America. He is a regular participant in the First-Year Seminar and author of Physical Chemistry from Ostwald to Pauling.


Rights and Citation Information

Educational, not-for-profit use is permitted without the owner’s permission if the participants and publisher are acknowledged.

For publication and citation information, please see the catalog record for this recording.

For further information contact Archives & Special Collections at archives@amherst.edu.