Honouring a legacy, preserving computing history. Help us build the Tom Bradshaw Museum of Computing.
Tom Bradshaw joined Queen’s School of Computing in 1979 after graduating with a BSc in Applied Mathematics in 1978, and spent his career enabling students, faculty, and staff to thrive in our growing school. Tom served Queen’s School of Computing for 42 years, witnessing the evolution of computing from punch cards and early mainframes to Unix workstations, virtual machines, the rise of Linux, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and machine learning.
With his passing in December 2021, Queen’s School of Computing is working to realize Tom’s dream of a museum devoted to the machines and stories he collected, as well as the future he played a role in shaping. On August 5th, 2021, Tom was honoured with a special exhibition of his collection.
Introducing the Tom Bradshaw Museum of Computing
The planned museum, an idea that Tom initially spearheaded by curating items of significance from the history of the School, will display a remarkable collection of historic computing equipment, preserved and interpreted for students, researchers, alumni, and the public. Throughout his career, Tom, his team, and members of the School of Computing family have built an amazing collection with such components as Unix workstations from the 90s, a selection of Apple computers, including the famous G4 iMac purchased in support of the then-new COCA program. There is a selection of “portable” computing devices from the 90s, a Zenith Portable Computer, an Apple PowerBook 150, an IBM ThinkPad and early BlackBerry devices. A variety of tape drives, hard-drives, old manuals, and other internal parts round out the assortment of equipment.
Fundraising goal: $70,000
To bring the museum to life, we’re seeking $70,000 to create a safe, accessible, and engaging display space. Funds will be used for:
- Display cabinets & lighting
- Signage: interpretive panels that tell the stories behind the equipment and the people who used them
- General renovations: space upgrades to ensure an accessible, welcoming visitor experience
Why your support matters
Your gift will do more than buy cabinets and lighting. Your support will:
- Preserve rare equipment and the history of computing for future generations
- Create a space where alumni and community members can reconnect with the School’s shared history with computing
- Inspire students to continue building upon computing’s legacy, and work towards our shared future
- Honour Tom Bradshaw’s lifelong commitment to technology and education
How you can help
Give a gift. Gifts of all sizes make a difference. We are accepting monetary donations, exhibit sponsorships, and donations of retired items suitable for display. To provide a monetary donation, please follow the steps listed further below. For exhibit sponsorship and the donation of items, please contact Daniel Snider at daniel.snider@queensu.ca.
Share a story. If you have a story or information to share about any of the items in Tom’s collection, please contact Ben Hall at bhall@queensu.ca.
Spread the word! If you can’t give today, please share news about the Tom Bradshaw Museum of Computing with colleagues, friends, and alumni. Follow the School’s updates for announcements about the museum’s progress and opening.
Join us in preserving Tom’s collection and the stories it tells. Together we can reach our $70,000 goal and create a space that honours Tom’s legacy, and inspires the next generation of computing .
How to give
Step one: Click here!
Step two: Follow the steps to donate. On the dedication step, let us know that this donation is going towards the Tom Bradshaw Museum of Computing fund
Step three: Continue providing details and complete the forum.
Step four: Visit us at the grand opening!