Digital Computer Association

The Digital Computer Association (DCA) was established in November 1952 in Santa Monica, California. The organization held monthly 2–3 hour technical dinner meetings at local restaurants attended by early computer engineers and computer programmers. The founder was R. Blair Smith, a local IBM salesman. He had two reasons for starting the organization: to recruit the help of all 18 IBM 701 customers in combating copyright infringement, causing salaries to increase; and to provide a forum for exchanging software programs to eliminate duplication of effort.