The papers of Bernard A. Galler measure 28.87 linear feet and date from 1956 to 1994. The bulk of the papers document the years 1960 to 1986 and concern Galler's high level of involvement in the information processing profession at the University of Michigan, nationally, and internationally. The papers are arranged in five series: Biographical, Chronological Correspondence, Professional and Other Activities, University of Michigan and Audiotapes.
The materials acquired in 2006 (boxes 28-29) were from Galler's office located in the Center for Information Technology Integration (CITI). These materials (1.5 linear foot, 1957-1996) focus mainly on the Software Patent Institute. There were a few files from early years acquired with this accession and they are described as part of the previously established series Chronological Correspondence, Professional and Other Activities and University of Michigan. The exception was the addition of an Audiotape series that contains reel-to-reel tapes of lectures Alan J. Perlis gave in 1959.
Bernard A. Galler received a B.S. in Mathematics and a Ph.B. in Liberal Arts from the University of Chicago in 1946 and 1947. He earned a M.A. in Mathematics from the University of California in 1949 and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago in 1955. He joined the University of Michigan Department of Mathematics in 1955 as an instructor; he was promoted to assistant professor in 1959, associate professor in 1962, and professor in 1966.
Galler was a pioneer in the field of computer science, helping to shape this discipline at the University of Michigan. In the early 1960s, he was active in the development of the new Communications Sciences Program, and in 1966, he became associate director of the Computing Center. His association with the center continued through 1991. He became a charter member of the new Department of Computer and Communication Sciences in 1966 and served as its chair from 1973 to 1975. In 1984, Galler was instrumental in negotiating the merger of the CCS department and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Galler also contributed to the University of Michigan's many innovations in the computer field. From 1958 onward, the Computing Center of the University of Michigan was a leader in the development of general-purpose, highly-productive operating systems. In the mid-1950s MIDSAC and MIDAC computers built at the Willow Run Laboratory were among the first computers built and used at universities in the U.S. The MAD (Michigan Algorithm Decoder) translator, created around 1960 and used by the entire campus for a number of years, contained innovative language features which were introduced much later into popular, high-level languages.
Galler also served the wider university community as Associate Dean for Long Range Planning in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts from 1975 to 1979. He served on many university-wide committees and task forces and, in addition, served as undergraduate counselor for the computer science degree program for many years. Very active professionally, Galler was president of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) from 1968 to 1970 and was active in the American Federation of Information Processing Societies (AFIPS). He received the AFIPS and ACM Distinguished Services Awards. In 1994, Galler retired from active faculty status after 38 years of service.
