Historedia
Person

Herman Hollerith

Events
3
Episodes
5
Years
1889–1896

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Herman Hollerith, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Herman Hollerith patents his electric tabulating machine

    1889–1890

    Role: Inventor

    1. January 8, 1889 · United StatesPatent Issuance

      Hollerith was issued U.S. Patent 395,782 on January 8, 1889, for his electric tabulating machine.

    2. 1890 · United States1890 Census

      Hollerith's tabulating machine was used for the 1890 U.S. census, reducing processing time from eight years to six years.

  2. Herman Hollerith patents his punched card calculator

    1889

    Role: Inventor and Statistician

    1. January 8, 1889 · United StatesPatent Grant

      Hollerith was issued U.S. patents, including Patent 395,782, on January 8, 1889, for his electromechanical tabulating machines.

  3. Hollerith punched-card tabulation begins for the 1890 United States Census

    1890–1896

    Role: Inventor and businessman who provided tabulators under contract for the 1890 census

    1. 1890 · Census Bureau1890 Census Tabulation

      Hollerith's machines processed the 1890 census returns, reducing processing time from eight years to six years.

    2. 1896 · Commercial entityTabulating Machine Company

      Hollerith founded the Tabulating Machine Company in 1896, establishing the commercial lineage for his technology.

Sources

  1. Herman Hollerith Wikipedia, revision of 2026-02-24