Punch Card Search System (used for Miller Ph.D. research on political leadership and cultural anthropology at Indiana University), 1964 - 1965

File — Box: 3, Folder: 6-7

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Norman Nees Miller papers contain extensive materials in the fields of East African local government and politics, political history, political and visual anthropology, environment and wildlife, witchcraft/human rights, African studies, African HIV/AIDs, (1965-2000).

Documentation, Author’s publications, field notes, data bases, data search systems, maps, reprints, district-level reports, government publications, missionary reports, photos, moving image material. Locals: Marsabet, Nyeri and Ukunda Districts, (Kenya) and Tabora, Rungwe, and Kisarawe Districts, (Tanzania.) The collection also contains bibliographical essays, teaching outlines, course outlines, course materials on African environment and natural resources, traditional medicine, wildlife, and HIV/AIDS.

Dates

Creation: 1964 - 1965

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 13 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

General

Note on Lost Data Punch Card Search System (Box 3, Folder 6). This unique pre-computer system was devised by Norman Miller in the field, to retrieve immediately specific data from the 554 pages of field notes. It is a “needle-stick” system whereby a long metal needle is thrust through a specific hole in the card that relates to the master card index system. For example, hole 27 can be “All Witchcraft.” The resulting 32 cards with this hole punched out would refer to those field notes on that topic. a. Metal needle used for sorting field data punch cards.