Mathematica Inc. (1968–1986)

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Mathematica Inc.

Mathematica Inc. was a multi-faceted American software company and consulting group founded by Princeton University professors in 1958 and established as an independent corporation in 1968. The company had three primary divisions:

Mathematica Policy Research, which did consulting work, mostly "to develop mathematical models for marketing decision making";
Mathematica Products Group, best known for developing the RAMIS programming language; and
MathTech, the company's technical and economic consulting group. The company was also a leading developer of state lottery systems.^[1]

In early 1982, the company's stock was split 3-for-2, as the current owners were looking to sell.^[2] Martin Marietta acquired all the outstanding stock of Mathematica in 1983.^[3] Mathematica Products Group was renamed Mathematica & Oxford Software. Marietta sold the division to On-Line Software International in 1986;^[4] On-Line was in turn sold to Computer Associates, in 1991.^[5]^[6] Mathematica Policy Research and MathTech were later spun off and became employee-owned companies in 1986. Mathematica Policy Research was eventually renamed to Mathematica Inc. and it is the only former unit still carrying the full Mathematica name.

Early day participants

Oskar Morgenstern, economist and one of the company's founders in 1958 (Chairman, 1968)
Tibor Fabian, Mathematica's Hungarian-born president (1980s)
William Baumol and William Bowen, economists and early day participants

Divisions

Mathematica Policy Research⁣ – the only former unit still carrying the Mathematica name.
Mathematica Products Group – best known for developing RAMIS
MathTech, the company's technical and economic consulting group – "research projects and computer systems other than Ramis."^[1]

A quarter of a century after Mathematica's founding, it "was largely owned by a group of professors in Mathematics and Economics at Princeton University... as this group aged, they opted to cash out by selling." After a brief stint under Martin Marietta, two units became employee-owned companies and another was sold several times.

Mathematica Products Group

In 1982, Mathematica Products Group's RAMIS was described as "nonprocedural" and "bordering on artificial intelligence."^[7] This unit of Mathematica was purchased by Martin Marietta Corporation in 1983^[8] and renamed to Mathematica & Oxford Software.^[4] Marietta sold Mathematica & Oxford Software in 1986 to On-Line Software International, who merged the subsidiary into their own main operations;^[4] On-Line was in turn sold to Computer Associates, in 1991.^[5]^[6]

The RAMIS product sold well, initially on mainframes,^[9] subsequently on PCs.

Mathematica Policy Research

The Mathematica Policy Research (MPR) unit's strength was in "social experiments and surveys."^[1] In 1983 MPR reported "a major survey assignment for the American Medical Association."

In 1986, it became a separate, employee-owned company.

MathTech

Like MPR, in 1986 MathTech became an employee-owned company. Known today as Mathtech, Inc.,^[10] it was described by The New York Times as "a Washington-area educational consulting firm ^[11]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Karen W. Arenson (February 22, 1983). "MATHEMATICA'S SHIFT INTO SOFTWARE FIELD". The New York Times.
^ Staff writer (April 5, 1982). "Nickels & Dimes". Computerworld. XVI (14): 78 – via Google Books.
^ Staff writer (May 17, 1983). "Marietta to Acquire Mathematica Inc". The New York Times: D4. ProQuest 424635964.
^ ^a ^b ^c Staff writer (October 31, 1986). "On-Line Buys Software Firm". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company: 1. ProQuest 397974651.
^ ^a ^b "Features". Computerworld.
^ ^a ^b "Update: Wang leaves CA, hands off to Kumar". November 18, 2002.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Mathematica, Inc". February 24, 1982.
^ "RAMIS II, PC Unison". Computerworld. September 9, 1985. p. 6.
^ including 40 AT&T licenses, and other known-name companies
^ "Mathtech Inc. was originally formed as the Strategy and Consulting arm of Princeton-based professional services firm Mathematica, Inc." "History".
^ James Barron (November 8, 1987). "Learning The Facts of Life". The New York Times.