Thomas Haigh

Thomas Haigh is a Professor in the History Department at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, where he has been employed since 2004, progressing from Assistant Professor to full Professor by 2019. He also holds a courtesy appointment as Professor in the Computer Science department since 2020. Haigh is a leading historian of computing, known for his authoritative work on the history of information technology, software development, and artificial intelligence.

Haigh earned his PhD in History and Sociology of Science from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003, with a dissertation titled "Technology, Information and Power: Managerial Technicians in the American Corporation: 1917-2000." He also holds an M.Eng. with Distinction and a B.Sc. with First Class Honors (top 5% of class) in Computer Science from Manchester University in the UK, giving him rare technical expertise alongside historical scholarship.

Haigh's research bridges technical and social perspectives, examining how computing technologies have shaped and been shaped by society. His work challenges conventional narratives about computing history, particularly regarding the development of AI, software, and early computing systems. He has made significant contributions to understanding the history of IBM, Colossus and ENIAC, and the evolution of digital systems from multiple disciplinary angles. His scholarship consistently emphasizes the importance of accurate historical understanding for contemporary debates about technology.

His recent publication trajectory reveals a deepening focus on AI history, with a series examining different eras of AI development that challenges the conventional narrative of "AI winters." He has also produced a trilogy on depictions of IT work in literature and media, analyzing how cultural narratives shape our understanding of technology practitioners. His work consistently demonstrates how historical context illuminates current technological challenges and debates.

• IEEE Finn Prize from the Society for the History of Technology (for "Colossus and Programmability")
• Philip Scranton Best Article Prize, Business History Conference, 2017 (for "IBM Rebuilds Europe")
• Mira Wilkins Prize, Business History Conference, 2017 (for "IBM Rebuilds Europe")

Haigh has directed significant research projects including the UWM Retrolab and has received fellowships from prestigious institutions including the Isaac Newton Institute in Cambridge and the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna. His international collaborations span Europe and Ukraine, reflecting his global perspective on computing history. He has also been active in documenting computing history through oral history interviews with key figures in the field, preserving first-hand accounts of technological development.