Developing the FORMAC programming language in 1962, Jean E. Sammet transformed how computers performed symbolic mathematical manipulation. A dedicated computer scientist and mathematician, she navigated a mid-century industry that frequently relegated women to restricted roles, ultimately becoming the first woman to serve as president of the Association for Computing Machinery from 1974 to 1976.
Early Career and Sperry Gyroscope
Born in 1928 in New York City, Sammet pursued mathematics at Mount Holyoke College and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Following early roles at MetLife and Barnard College, she joined Sperry Gyroscope in 1953. During her tenure there, she transitioned into programming, notably writing the basic loader for the SPEEDAC digital computer by hand in binary. She led an open shop group that collaborated with scientists on engineering computations and introduced her to the UNIVAC I system.
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At Sylvania Electric Products, where she worked from 1958 to 1961, Sammet participated in the design of the COBOL programming language. She joined IBM in 1962, where she spent the next 26 years of her career. Her work at IBM included developing FORMAC, which became the first widely utilized language for symbolic mathematical formulas, and investigating the integration of restricted English as a tool for programming tasks.
Leadership in Computing Organizations
Sammet exerted significant influence over the professional standards of computing through her long-term engagement with the Association for Computing Machinery. In 1965, she founded the Special Interest Committee on Symbolic and Algebraic Manipulation, later chairing the Special Interest Group on Programming Languages. Her efforts in these groups helped formalize the exchange of technical knowledge across the growing field of software engineering.
Academic Contributions and Legacy
Beyond her industrial research, Sammet authored the seminal text 'Programming Languages: History and Fundamentals' in 1969, cataloging over 120 languages. She received numerous honors for her contributions, including the ACM Distinguished Service Award in 1985, the Ada Lovelace Award in 1989, and the Computer Pioneer Award in 2009. She remained a fixture in the field until her death in 2017 in Burtonsville.
Fast facts
- Born: 1928, New York City
- Died: 2017, Burtonsville
- Education: Mount Holyoke College; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Notable Work: FORMAC
- Professional Affiliation: Association for Computing Machinery
- IBM Tenure: 1962-1988
- Award: Computer History Museum Fellow, 2001
- First Female ACM President: 1974-1976
Questions readers ask
What was FORMAC?
FORMAC was the first widely used computer language designed for the symbolic manipulation of mathematical formulas, developed by Sammet while at IBM.
Did Sammet work on COBOL?
Yes, she was a member of the original group that designed the COBOL programming language while working at Sylvania Electric Products between 1958 and 1961.
Achievements
- Notable work: FORMAC
- Held posts at IBM, MetLife and Barnard College
