Acknowledgments

This project grew out of my long association with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. When Larry Smarr founded NCSA, his vision was broad enough to include the social sciences, humanities, and fine arts. We invited the Social Science Computing Association to meet at NCSA and explore the possibilities for using computers in social science and humanities research. Keith Frazier and Shirley Shore made that conference run smoothly. Melanie Loots has continued to support this project and found Frank Baker to help us with the CD-ROM that accompanies this book. Frank constructed a brilliant design for Wayfarer: Charting Advances in Social Science and Humanities Computing. He is simply the best hypermedia communications specialist at NCSA.

      Terence Finnegan did a lion's share of the work organizing the successful Conference on Computing in the Social Sciences at NCSA. David Herr has done more than anyone—except maybe Frank—to make Wayfarer a reality and has put much effort and time into helping me with this book. I am honored to have had some part in Terence's and David's doctoral work at the University of Illinois and am very proud to be a coeditor of Wayfarer with these two historians. Thanks also go to Ian Binnington and Masatomo Ayabe for their excellent help on this project. I also appreciate the support of the University of Illinois Research Board.

      I have enjoyed getting to know the splendid people at the University of Illinois Press. David M. Perkins, director of marketing, understands the world of books and the world of business. I also appreciate the excellent work of marketing copywriter Laurie Matheson as well as the superb copyediting of Carol Peschke. Paul Arroyo, the Press's electronic publisher, provided sound advice on the development of Wayfarer, and Theresa L. Sears, the managing editor, moved the book through the production process with efficiency and good humor.

      I owe a special debt of gratitude to the legendary Richard L. Wentworth. When we began this project, Dick was director of the University of Illinois Press; he has since retired from that position, but fortunately for his authors he remains active with the Press. His wisdom and guidance throughout this project have been much appreciated. He is a great editor and better friend.

      Last but certainly not least, I appreciate the encouragement of Georganne Burton as well as her determination that I eradicate jargon from the book. This book is dedicated with love to our daughter, Morgan, from whom I am always learning about computers.