<a href="http://images.umdl.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/image-idx?rgn1=ic_all;o p2=And;rgn2=ic_all;rgn3=bhl_da;op3=And;med=1;q1=willow%20run;size=20;c=bhl;back=back1185297055;subview=detail;resnum=4;view=entry;lastview=thumbnail;cc=bhl;entryid=x-bl005659;viewid=BL005659" target="_blank"> <img border="2" src="willowrun.png" align="right">></img></a> The University acquired the laboratories at Willow Run from the War Department, which maintained control of some of the facilities. Willow Run became the site for the first innovations in computing at the University of Michigan. <p> <i><a href="http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=umregproc;cc=umregproc;rgn=full%20text;idno=ACW7513.1945.001;didno=ACW7513.1945.001;view=image;seq=00000396" target="_blank">Regents' Proceedings, May Meeting, 1946, pg. 364.</a> <p> John Walsh "Willow Run Laboratories: Separating from the University of Michigan" Science Vol. 177, No. 4049 (August, 1972), 594. <p>Ann Arbor News, August 28, 1953. <p>Engineering Research Institute News, Vol. 4, No. 6 (Dec. 1955). <p><a href="http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=bhlead;idno=umich-bhl-9551;view=reslist;didno=umich-bhl-9551;subview=standard;focusrgn=frontmatter;cc=bhlead;byte=29053779" target="_blank">Conference presentation, MAD conference, Nov. 15, 1960, Computing Center Records Box 1.</a> The Statistical Research Laboratory was established in the basement of the Rackham Building to "provide consultation and statistical service for teaching and research units of the University...". Statistical analysis and calculation was a primary use of early computing technology. Cecil C. Craig was the first director. At the same time, Rackham also housed the Sorting and Tabulating Station. As computing demand rose, Craig proposed a punch card machine purely for "Educational and Scientific Use." He notes "it is going to be necessary for any first class university not to lag too far behind in making for available for its research workers some of the much more efficient and versatile machines." <p> <i><a href="http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=umregproc;cc=umregproc;rgn=full%20text;idno=ACW7513.1945.001;didno=ACW7513.1945.001;view=image;seq=00000509" target="_blank">Regent's Proceedings, July Meeting, 1946, pg. 473</a> <p> <i> Horace H. Rackham records, Dean's Topical File, Statistical Research Laboratory, 1948, Box 7 Previous to the spread of digital computers, analog computers were primary instruments for data calculation and analysis at the University of Michigan. One of the earliest analog computers was used by the Aeronautical Engineering Department. The computer was called the Electronic Differential Analyzer, and was built at the UM. <p> <i>Blanchard Hiatt, "A Faster Cratchit: The History of Computing at Michigan" Research News, Division of Research Development and Administration, Vol. 27, No. 1 (January 1976), pg. 4. Arthur Burks, professor of Philosophy at the UM since 1946, and consultant for the Burroughs Corporation since 1949, began a research project investigating the logical design computers. Burks' research team, funded by Burroughs, developed designs and proofs for data-processing units. The project was funded until 1954. <p> <i>Blanchard Hiatt, "A Faster Cratchit: The History of Computing at Michigan" Research News, Division of Research Development and Administration, Vol. 27, No. 1 (January 1976), pg. 4. <p><a href="http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=bhlead;idno=umich-bhl-87180;view=reslist;didno=umich-bhl-87180;subview=standard;focusrgn=frontmatter;cc=bhlead;byte=57750051">"Burroughs Project, 1950-1954" in Logic of Computers Group Records, Box 10.</a> The first digital computer developed at Michigan--the MIchigan Digital Automatic Computer (MIDAC). In 1951, the design for the MIDAC began. The project was under the sponsorship of the Wright Air Development Center, United States Air Force and the Willow Run Research Center of the Engineering Research Institute, University of Michigan. The MIDAC became operational in 1953. <p> MIDAC: A New High-Speed Digital Computer Now at the Service of the National Defense, Science, and Industry, published by Willow Run Research Center Engineering Research Institute University of Michigan UMM-101. <p> Engineering Research Institute News, December 1955, vol VI, no. 6. <p> Conference presentation, MAD conference, November 15, 1960, Computing Center Records, Box 1, Folder Historical Files.