$ Jean E. Sammet

1928–2017
Programming languages (COBOL, FORMAC)

CODASYL COBOL contributor; created FORMAC for symbolic mathematics; authored seminal histories of programming languages and led standardization efforts.

COBOLFORMACprogramming languagesstandardshistory

$ contributions

  • Contributed to the CODASYL committee shaping COBOL for business data processing
  • Designed FORMAC, an early language for symbolic mathematical computation (on IBM systems)
  • Authored “Programming Languages: History and Fundamentals,” a definitive early survey
  • Led and participated in language standardization and professional leadership within ACM/IFIP
  • Documented the evolution of programming languages, preserving critical historical context

$ awards

  • ACM President (1974–1976)
  • ACM Distinguished Service Award

$ references

WikipediaIBM ArchivesACM Oral History