# Adele Goldstine

> American computer programmer (1920–1964)

**Wikidata**: [Q40289](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40289)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adele_Goldstine)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/adele-goldstine

## Summary
Adele Goldstine was an American computer programmer and mathematician (1920–1964). She is best known for writing the first user manual for the ENIAC computer, which was crucial for enabling its operation by programmers.

## Biography
- Born: December 21, 1920, in New York City
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Master's degree, University of Michigan
- Known for: Writing the first user manual for the ENIAC computer
- Employer(s): Not specified in source material
- Field(s): Computer science, mathematics

## Contributions
Adele Goldstine's most significant contribution was authoring the first user manual for the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) in the mid-1940s. This detailed technical document provided step-by-step instructions for programming the massive, complex machine, making it accessible to the human operators who needed to use it. The manual was essential for translating ENIAC's potential into practical computation, enabling its use on critical tasks like calculating artillery firing tables and, later, the hydrogen bomb. Her work laid foundational groundwork for early programming practices and user documentation in the nascent field of computing.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Adele Goldstine's primary role in computing history?
A: Adele Goldstine's primary role was writing the first user manual for the ENIAC computer, which was vital for enabling programmers to operate this pioneering electronic computer.

### Q: Where did Adele Goldstine receive her education?
A: Adele Goldstine received her master's degree from the University of Michigan.

### Q: Who was Adele Goldstine married to?
A: Adele Goldstine was married to Herman Goldstine, a prominent mathematician and computer scientist involved in the ENIAC project.

## Why They Matter
Adele Goldstine's work fundamentally shaped the early practice of computing. By creating the ENIAC manual, she transformed an incomprehensible machine into a usable tool, effectively bridging the gap between complex hardware and human operators. This documentation was critical for ENIAC's successful deployment on vital wartime and scientific calculations. Her contribution established a precedent for user documentation and programming guides, influencing the development of subsequent computer systems and the burgeoning field of software. Without her manual, ENIAC's immense computational power would have remained largely inaccessible, significantly slowing the progress of early scientific computing.

## Notable For
- Authoring the first user manual for the ENIAC computer (c. 1946)
- Holding a master's degree from the University of Michigan
- Being married to Herman Goldstine, a key figure in the development of ENIAC and the stored-program computer concept
- Working as a computer programmer and mathematician during the formative years of electronic computing
- Being recognized as an early female computer scientist in a predominantly male field

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Adele Katz was born on December 21, 1920, in New York City, United States. She later married Herman Goldstine. She earned her master's degree from the University of Michigan.

### Career and ENIAC
Adele Goldstine worked as a mathematician and computer scientist. Her most documented contribution was writing the first user manual for the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) around 1946. This manual was essential for training programmers and enabling the operation of the ENIAC, one of the earliest general-purpose electronic digital computers. Her work involved translating the machine's complex architecture and operation into understandable instructions for human users.

### Legacy
Adele Goldstine is recognized as an early figure in computer science. Her ENIAC manual was a foundational piece of technical documentation that facilitated the use of this pioneering computer for significant scientific and military calculations. She died on November 1, 1964. Her contributions are noted in historical accounts of the ENIAC project and the development of early programming practices.

## References

1. MacTutor History of Mathematics archive
2. Virtual International Authority File