Helwig, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, is making strides in preserving the history of supercomputing. A conversation with his grandfather led him to pursue a major in history and a minor in Native American studies after serving in the Army. Helwig will graduate in December after three and a half years.
In addition to being a student, Helwig works full-time for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) in Chippewa Falls. HPE acquired Cray Inc., known for creating the first true supercomputer, Cray1, in 1976. Helwig has taken an interest in documenting the stories of plant workers who contributed to these early supercomputers, most of whom were women.
Helwig turned to Dr. Joanne Jahnke-Wegner, assistant professor of history, for guidance on this project. “I enthusiastically agreed to mentor Dylan on this,” Jahnke-Wegner says. “Dylan’s project is an important one because very little is known about the experiences of women in industrial computer manufacturing.”
The feedback from his interviews has been positive. “These women are excited to share their stories,” Helwig says. His research highlights both positive aspects and inequities faced by women workers.
As he continues his research, Helwig hopes businesses will learn from Cray’s history by listening to employees and cultivating internal talent.
For more information about the history of Cray, see the History of Cray Supercomputers section on the HPE website.
