UNIVAC

Series of mainframe computer models

Science & Technology
UNIVAC
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Overview

What happened

1941: Z3 Computer Presentation in Berlin, Germany, where Konrad Zuse unveiled the world's first working programmable computer

Date

May 12, 1941

Location

Berlin, Germany

Key people

Konrad Zuse

Why it matters

This article provides a detailed account of the May 12, 1941 presentation of Konrad Zuse's Z3 computer, drawing on primary sources such as Zuse's memoirs and the Vossische Zeitung's...

What was UNIVAC?

UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) was a line of electronic digital stored-program computers starting with the products of the Eckert–Mauchly Computer Corporation. After capturing the public imagination with the use of the UNIVAC I during the 1952 US Presidential election it was decided to extend the branding to all machines made by the other computing divisions of the Remington Rand company (Engineering Research Associates and the Norwalk Laboratory of Remington Rand). After the merger of Remington Rand with the Sperry Corporation (under name of Sperry Rand) in 1955, it was decided to merge all three divisions along with Remington Rand's tabulator division into one unified organization under the name of the Univac division.

UNIVAC
Related books
A few good men from Univac cover A few good men from Univac David E. Lundstrom · 1987 From Eniac to Univac cover From Eniac to Univac Nancy B. Stern · 1981 Comparison of Univac with IBM 701 cover Comparison of Univac with IBM 701 Roy Goldfinger · 1954 Programming and wiring the UNIVAC 1004 card processor cover Programming and wiring the UNIVAC 1004 card processor Richard W. Senseman · 1964 Univac Corporation cover Univac Corporation Stephen H. Kaisler · 2022
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Background and consequences

This name persisted until the mid-1980s when it was renamed to the Sperry Computer Systems Division; the last UNIVAC-badged system was the UNIVAC 1100/90, which was announced in 1982 and first shipped in late 1983. J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly built the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) at the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School of Electrical Engineering between 1943 and 1946.

UNIVAC Sperry Rand label
UNIVAC Sperry Rand label
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Related on thisDay

Z3 Computer Presentation — May 12, 1941

Konrad Zuse unveiled the Z3, world's first programmable computer, in Berlin, Germany in 1941, revolutionizing technology completely

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Z3 Computer Presentation — May 12, 1941Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“UNIVAC.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/univac/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

UNIVAC. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/univac/

Chicago

“UNIVAC.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/univac/.

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