Computer Age Can't Kill the Typewriter

The rotary phone and the mimeograph have charted its path, but the typewriter is putting up a fight.

Sprinkled about the campus in various houses and libraries, the vestigial office tool still maintains a subtle presence on Harvard's campus.

Many students, buoyed by a desire to put their best face forward on applications for graduate schools, fellowships and grants, say they have no choice but to rely on the technological dinosaur, dwarfed as it is by the advances of the computer generation.

But students also say years of heavy use and neglect have taken their toll on the College's handful of public typewriters, leading some to purchase their own typewriters and forcing the rest to make do.

The College Heard Clacking

According to Suzanne G. Kemple, associate librarian and head of reference for Hilles Library, the library purchase a new typewriter for the first time since 1985.

Kemple says the five typewriters that Hilles maintains in its first-floor typing room do sustain heavy use: since students must check out the typing cartridge before using the equipment, the library can gauge the frequency of student use.

Kemple says Hilles recognized students shouldn't have to buy their own typewriters just for occasional use.

"We just decided to bite the bullet and order a new typewriter," she says. "Nobody wants to have a typewriter hanging around their room."

And for the price of a computer printer, Kemple says it was practical for the library to offer improved service to a large clientele.

"It's much more efficient for us...to save all of these students the expense of having to buy or rent a typewriter," she says.

Treasure Hunt

For those students who have been forced to rely on the College's current typingresources, the library's purchase comes just intime. Especially during the heavy use periodssurrounding key deadlines for fellowships and gradschools, students say finding a functioningtypewriter is like striking gold.

Hoping to make a few last-minute corrections toa Harvard Foundation grant she recently submittedfor the South Asian Women's Collective, Harini K.Reddy '01 says she was frustrated by a pronouncedpaucity of working typewriters on campus.

Reddy says that in the two hours before thegrant was due, she trekked to Eliot, Winthrop,Kirkland, Lowell and Quincy houses, coming upempty-handed in her search for a goodSmith-Corona.

"All of the typewriters were either broken orout of ink," Reddy says.

And although she ultimately found a friend withher own typewriter, Reddy says the struggle onlyreinforced her belief that no one is payingattention to the College's equipment.

"They just don't take care of them very well,"she says of typewriters.

But despite the poor condition of many campustypewrites, some say the College is the only placeto find typewriters in a pinch.

Shine May Hung '98 says she has alreadyreturned to Lamont Library to use one of thefacility's two public typewriters. Hung, who isapplying to graduate schools, says the combinationof the machine's prehistoric feeling and Lamont'ssterile 2nd floor typing room offer the typist sunique experience.

"It really has that back-to-the-basicsfeeling," she says.

But during a stop at Lamont last week, Hung wasquick to call the typewriter's product"unacceptable" pointing to her stack of manilaenvelopes sporting wavy, smudged addresses.

Similarly, Shouyee Yung '98-99 says the fear ofbeing caught without a typewriter when she neededone led her to take the plunge into typewriterownership after her first year the College.

"I remember needing to fill something outfreshman year and it was just a hassle," Yungsays. "There weren't any available."

Buying Some Time

Yung's experience, like that of many who relyon College typing rooms, has led some students topurchase or even rent typewriters. For medicalschool applicant Sanaz Hariri '99, the no-braindecision to type rather than write herapplications by hand necessitated the purchase ofa reliable machine.

"I just thought it would look a lot more neatand professional," she says.

Hariri says she was frustrated that Collegetypewriters, while easily accessible, tended tonot have correction capabilities. As a result, shesays she decided to buy her own typewriter thispast summer after pricing monthly rental, about$60 a month.

Hariri says friends applying for Rhodes andMarshall scholarships or filing out law schoolapplications have been pleased to find--anduse--the well-maintained machine in herpossession.

But according to Ruth Silbert, owner ofUniversity Typewriter and Computer on Mt. AuburnSt., Hariri is among a growing number of studentsthat own their own typewriters.

Silbert says that despite the major switch tocomputers that took place between five and eightyears ago, her company still does strong businessin the typewriter trade. She says Fall brought aheavy demand for business this year, with morethan two dozen typewriters sold just in the lastmonth.

"I've had to reorder typewriters so many timesjust to accommodate students," she says.

With equipment that ranges antique toreconditioned heavy-duty office machines, Silbertsays students have the option of renting thetypewriters by the week for $40 or by the monthfor $60. If, after a month of renting studentsdecide to purchase the machine, Silbert says allof the rent paid can be applied toward thepurchase price, usually about $125 total. Inaddition, Silbert also rents typewriter time inthe store for $ 6 an hour.

Silbert says a number of prominent national andlocal celebrities as well as Faculty havetraditionally frequented her establishment fortheir typing needs.

"A lot of them are just typing their memoirsand a lot of them just prefer their typewriterseven over their computers," she says.

Despite students' familiarity with computers,Silbert notes some still need assistance using themore rudimentary instrument But she says Harvardstudents are quick learners.

"At least with the kids, they might not knowanything about [typewriters], but once you showthem, they how to do it," she says.

Paying By The Rules

Given the choice, Yung says she wishes hermedical school applications could be completedonline or in computer formats.

"If I had the option I would definitely preferthe computer all of the time," she says. "It'smuch more hassle free."

Realistically, however, Yung says she does notforesee scannable applications in the near future.

Given the opportunities available now, OCSadministrators say they recommend students eithertype their applications or cut and paste text froma computer printout before copying theapplication.

"We never suggest students to hand write," saysAdonica Y. Lui, assistant director of fellowships.

Lui says most applications she sees are copiesof originals onto which text has been pasted. Butshe says applications for nationalcompetitions--like the Truman Scholarship--aremost challenging for students because they havethe most restrictive spacing requirements.

But in her experience, students tend to opt forthe cut and paste model.

"I think most people are using their computers,but a few of them are still wrestling withtypewriters," Lui says. But "we don't even knowwhere they can find them.A-9TYPINGCrimsonTricia L. MorenteOLD SCHOOL MANUAL LABOR: Sarah M.Hulsey '01 uses an OCS typewriter to complete anapplication for a semester abroad.

Hoping to make a few last-minute corrections toa Harvard Foundation grant she recently submittedfor the South Asian Women's Collective, Harini K.Reddy '01 says she was frustrated by a pronouncedpaucity of working typewriters on campus.

Reddy says that in the two hours before thegrant was due, she trekked to Eliot, Winthrop,Kirkland, Lowell and Quincy houses, coming upempty-handed in her search for a goodSmith-Corona.

"All of the typewriters were either broken orout of ink," Reddy says.

And although she ultimately found a friend withher own typewriter, Reddy says the struggle onlyreinforced her belief that no one is payingattention to the College's equipment.

"They just don't take care of them very well,"she says of typewriters.

But despite the poor condition of many campustypewrites, some say the College is the only placeto find typewriters in a pinch.

Shine May Hung '98 says she has alreadyreturned to Lamont Library to use one of thefacility's two public typewriters. Hung, who isapplying to graduate schools, says the combinationof the machine's prehistoric feeling and Lamont'ssterile 2nd floor typing room offer the typist sunique experience.

"It really has that back-to-the-basicsfeeling," she says.

But during a stop at Lamont last week, Hung wasquick to call the typewriter's product"unacceptable" pointing to her stack of manilaenvelopes sporting wavy, smudged addresses.

Similarly, Shouyee Yung '98-99 says the fear ofbeing caught without a typewriter when she neededone led her to take the plunge into typewriterownership after her first year the College.

"I remember needing to fill something outfreshman year and it was just a hassle," Yungsays. "There weren't any available."

Buying Some Time

Yung's experience, like that of many who relyon College typing rooms, has led some students topurchase or even rent typewriters. For medicalschool applicant Sanaz Hariri '99, the no-braindecision to type rather than write herapplications by hand necessitated the purchase ofa reliable machine.

"I just thought it would look a lot more neatand professional," she says.

Hariri says she was frustrated that Collegetypewriters, while easily accessible, tended tonot have correction capabilities. As a result, shesays she decided to buy her own typewriter thispast summer after pricing monthly rental, about$60 a month.

Hariri says friends applying for Rhodes andMarshall scholarships or filing out law schoolapplications have been pleased to find--anduse--the well-maintained machine in herpossession.

But according to Ruth Silbert, owner ofUniversity Typewriter and Computer on Mt. AuburnSt., Hariri is among a growing number of studentsthat own their own typewriters.

Silbert says that despite the major switch tocomputers that took place between five and eightyears ago, her company still does strong businessin the typewriter trade. She says Fall brought aheavy demand for business this year, with morethan two dozen typewriters sold just in the lastmonth.

"I've had to reorder typewriters so many timesjust to accommodate students," she says.

With equipment that ranges antique toreconditioned heavy-duty office machines, Silbertsays students have the option of renting thetypewriters by the week for $40 or by the monthfor $60. If, after a month of renting studentsdecide to purchase the machine, Silbert says allof the rent paid can be applied toward thepurchase price, usually about $125 total. Inaddition, Silbert also rents typewriter time inthe store for $ 6 an hour.

Silbert says a number of prominent national andlocal celebrities as well as Faculty havetraditionally frequented her establishment fortheir typing needs.

"A lot of them are just typing their memoirsand a lot of them just prefer their typewriterseven over their computers," she says.

Despite students' familiarity with computers,Silbert notes some still need assistance using themore rudimentary instrument But she says Harvardstudents are quick learners.

"At least with the kids, they might not knowanything about [typewriters], but once you showthem, they how to do it," she says.

Paying By The Rules

Given the choice, Yung says she wishes hermedical school applications could be completedonline or in computer formats.

"If I had the option I would definitely preferthe computer all of the time," she says. "It'smuch more hassle free."

Realistically, however, Yung says she does notforesee scannable applications in the near future.

Given the opportunities available now, OCSadministrators say they recommend students eithertype their applications or cut and paste text froma computer printout before copying theapplication.

"We never suggest students to hand write," saysAdonica Y. Lui, assistant director of fellowships.

Lui says most applications she sees are copiesof originals onto which text has been pasted. Butshe says applications for nationalcompetitions--like the Truman Scholarship--aremost challenging for students because they havethe most restrictive spacing requirements.

But in her experience, students tend to opt forthe cut and paste model.

"I think most people are using their computers,but a few of them are still wrestling withtypewriters," Lui says. But "we don't even knowwhere they can find them.A-9TYPINGCrimsonTricia L. MorenteOLD SCHOOL MANUAL LABOR: Sarah M.Hulsey '01 uses an OCS typewriter to complete anapplication for a semester abroad.