Proving Ground: The Untold Story of the Six Women Who Programmed the World's First Modern Computer
... a lively group biography ... Kleiman describes their technical accomplishments in clear language easy for the computer layperson to follow ... This engaging book is the culmination of her efforts to raise their profile.
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... which melds social history with the major events of the second world war and the biographies of these six remarkable pioneers to produce an irresistible narrative ... because most male-written histories of this incredible invention omitted the crucial role of these women, this book marks the first time they have all received the gigantic credit they deserve.
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In the history of computer programming, stories of women’s contributions are frequently untold...Kleiman spotlights one such gap in programming history here...During and after WWII, six women—Kathleen McNulty, Frances Bilas, Frances Elizabeth Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Ruth Lichterman, and Betty Jean Jennings—used mathematical skill and innovation to program early computing technology...Kleiman excels at capturing the pressures of working in technology during a highly stressful period in history, particularly when the results of technological trials directly impacted war efforts...At times, the focus of the narrative strays from the women, to a slight detriment of the book’s intention...However, the inclusion of direct interviews with the women and the clear passion for their stories make Proving Ground a needed and welcome addition to the shelves of computer history.
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