View source for Biography:Frances Allen

{{Short description|American computer scientist (1932–2020)}}
{{other people}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name                    = Frances Allen
| birth_name              = Frances Elizabeth Allen
| image                   = Allen mg 2528-3750K-b.jpg
| image_size              =
| caption                 =
| birth_date              = {{birth date|1932|08|04}}
| birth_place             = Peru, New York, U.S.
| death_date              = {{death date and age|2020|08|04|1932|08|04}}
| death_place             = Schenectady, New York, U.S.
| residence               =
| nationality             = American
| work_institution        = [[Company:IBM|IBM]]<br />[[Organization:New York University|New York University]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Jacob T. Schwartz|1972|1982}}
| alma_mater              = University at Albany (BS)<br />[[Organization:University of Michigan|University of Michigan]] (MS)
| website = {{URL|https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/witexhibit/wit_hall_allen.html}}
| fields               = {{Plainlist|
* [[Computer science]]
* [[High-performance computing]]
* [[Parallel computing]]
* [[Compiler]]s
* [[Optimizing compiler]]s}}
| prizes                  = {{Plainlist|
* [[ACM Fellow]] (1994)
* IBM Fellow (1989)
* Ada Lovelace Award (2002)
* [[Organization:Computer Pioneer Award|Computer Pioneer Award]] (2004)
* Turing Award (2006)
* Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2010)<ref name=nasonline/>}}
}}
'''Frances Elizabeth Allen'''  (August 4, 1932{{spnd}}August 4, 2020)<ref name="nytimes obit" /><ref>Croucher, John S. "Frances 'Fran' Elizabeth Allen",  ''Women of Science: 100 Inspirational Lives''. Gloucester UK: Amberley Publishing 2019, 21-23.</ref> was an American [[Computer scientist|computer scientist]] and pioneer in the field of [[Optimizing compiler|optimizing compiler]]s.<ref name="acm">{{ACM Portal}}</ref><ref name="oral-history">{{cite web |url=http://ethw.org/Oral-History:Frances_%22Fran%22_Allen | title=Oral-History:Frances "Fran" Allen |first=Janet |last=Abbate |date=August 2, 2001 |website=Archived at the [[Organization:Engineering and Technology History Wiki|ETHW]] |location=New Brunswick, New Jersey | id=Interview #573 for the IEEE History Center | access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref><ref name=dblp>{{DBLP}}</ref> Allen was the first woman to become an IBM Fellow, and in 2006 became the first woman to win the Turing Award.<ref name="CACM">{{Cite journal | first = Guy | last = Steele Jr. | doi = 10.1145/1866739.1866752 | title = An interview with Frances E. Allen | journal = [[Communications of the ACM]] | volume = 54 | pages = 39–45 | year = 2011 | s2cid = 11847872 | doi-access =  }}</ref> Her achievements include seminal work in [[Compiler|compiler]]s, [[Program optimization|program optimization]], and [[Parallel computing|parallelization]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ideasfromibm/us/award/index.html |title=IBM Fellow becomes first woman to receive A. M. Turing Award |website=[[Company:IBM|IBM]] |access-date=September 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306034423/http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ideasfromibm/us/award/index.html |archive-date=March 6, 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown }}, IBM Corporation.</ref> She worked for IBM from 1957 to 2002 and subsequently was a Fellow Emerita.<ref name="turing-award">{{cite web |first=Guy|last=Steele |url=https://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/allen_1012327.cfm|website=amturing.acm.org|access-date=6 May 2021|title=Frances Allen}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Allen grew up on a farm in Peru, New York, near Lake Champlain, as the oldest of six children. Her father was a farmer, and her mother an elementary schoolteacher.<ref name="turing-award"/> Her early elementary education took place in a one-room school house a mile away from her home, and she later attended a local high school.<ref name="lohr" />

She graduated from The New York State College for Teachers (now part of the [[Organization:University at Albany, SUNY|University at Albany, SUNY]]) with a Bachelor of Science degree in [[Mathematics|mathematics]] in 1954 and began teaching school in Peru, New York.<ref name="lohr">{{cite news | last = Lohr | first = Steve | date = August 6, 2002 | title = Scientist at Work: Frances Allen; Would-Be Math Teacher Ended Up Educating a Computer Revolution | work ={{wipe|The New York Times}} | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/06/science/scientist-work-frances-allen-would-be-math-teacher-ended-up-educating-computer.html | access-date = August 8, 2020 }}</ref> After two years, she enrolled at the [[Organization:University of Michigan|University of Michigan]] and earned a Master of Science degree in mathematics in 1957.<ref name="lasewicz">{{cite web |url=http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/witexhibit/pdf/allen_history.pdf |title=Frances Allen interview transcript |date=April 5, 2003 |website=03.ibm.com |access-date=August 18, 2017}}</ref>

==Career and research==
Deeply in debt with [[Finance:Student loan|student loans]], she joined [[Organization:IBM Research|IBM Research]] in Poughkeepsie, New York, as a programmer in 1957, where she taught incoming employees the basics of [[Fortran]]. She planned to return to teaching once her student loans had been paid, but ended up staying with IBM for her entire 45-year career. In 1959, Allen was assigned to the Harvest project for code breaking with the [[Organization:National Security Agency|National Security Agency]], and worked on a [[Programming language|programming language]] called ''Alpha''.<ref name="CACM"/> She managed the compiler-optimization team for both Harvest and the Stretch project. 

In 1962, she was transferred to [[Organization:Thomas J. Watson Research Center|Thomas J. Watson Research Center]], where she contributed to the ACS-1 project, and later in the 1970s, to PL/I. During these years, she worked with fellow researcher [[Biography:John Cocke (computer scientist)|John Cocke]] to write a series of seminal papers on [[Optimizing compiler|optimizing compiler]]s, helping to improve the efficiency of machine code translated from high-level languages.<ref name="nytimes obit" />

From 1970 to 1971 she spent a sabbatical at [[Organization:New York University|New York University]] and acted as [[Social:Adjunct professor|adjunct professor]] for a few years afterward. Another sabbatical brought her to [[Organization:Stanford University|Stanford University]] in 1977.<ref name="lasewicz"/>

From 1980 to 1995, Allen led IBM's work in the developing [[Parallel computing|parallel computing]] area, and helped to develop software for the IBM [[Engineering:IBM Blue Gene|Blue Gene]] project.<ref name="wapost obit"/> Allen became the first female IBM Fellow in 1989. She retired from IBM in 2002, but remained affiliated with the corporation as a Fellow Emerita. In 2007, the IBM Ph.D. Fellowship Award was created in her honor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/22475.wss|title=IBM Creates Ph.D. Fellowship Award in Honor of First Female Turing Award Winner Fran Allen|date=October 19, 2007|website=03.ibm.com|language=en-US|access-date=November 2, 2016}}</ref> After retiring, she remained active in programs that encourage women and girls to seek careers in science and computing.<ref name="apturing"/>

Her A. M. Turing Award citation reads:

{{Blockquote|text=
Fran Allen's work has had an enormous impact on compiler research and practice. Both alone and in joint work with [[Biography:John Cocke (computer scientist)|John Cocke]], she introduced many of the abstractions, algorithms, and implementations that laid the groundwork for automatic program optimization technology. Allen's 1966 paper, "Program Optimization," laid the conceptual basis for systematic analysis and transformation of computer programs. This paper introduced the use of graph-theoretic structures to encode program content in order to automatically and efficiently derive relationships and identify opportunities for optimization. Her 1970 papers, "Control Flow Analysis" and "A Basis for Program Optimization" established "intervals" as the context for efficient and effective data flow analysis and optimization. Her 1971 paper with Cocke, "A Catalog of Optimizing Transformations," provided the first description and systematization of optimizing transformations. Her 1973 and 1974 papers on interprocedural data flow analysis extended the analysis to whole programs. Her 1976 paper with Cocke describes one of the two main analysis strategies used in optimizing compilers today.

Allen developed and implemented her methods as part of compilers for the IBM STRETCH-HARVEST and the experimental Advanced Computing System. This work established the feasibility and structure of modern machine- and language-independent optimizers. She went on to establish and lead the PTRAN project on the automatic parallel execution of FORTRAN programs. Her PTRAN team developed new parallelism detection schemes and created the concept of the program dependence graph, the primary structuring method used by most parallelizing compilers.
|sign=[[Organization:Association for Computing Machinery|Association for Computing Machinery]] (ACM)|source=[https://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/allen_1012327.cfm Citation for the A. M. Turing Award 2006]}}

==Awards and honors==
[[File:Allen mg 2545-b.jpg|thumb|upright|Portrait of Fran Allen receiving the Erna Hamburger Distinguished Lecture Award at EPFL, May 6, 2008]]

Allen was a Fellow of the [[Organization:Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers|Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers]] (IEEE) and the [[Organization:Association for Computing Machinery|Association for Computing Machinery]] (ACM). In 2000, she was made a Fellow of the Computer History Museum "for her contributions to program optimization and compiling for parallel computers".<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.computerhistory.org/fellowawards/hall/frances-allen/ |title = Frances Allen |publisher = Computer History Museum |access-date  = April 16, 2018}}</ref> She was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1987,<ref>[https://www.nae.edu/MembersSection/Directory20412/27854.aspx Frances E. Allen] at the National Academy of Engineering. Retrieved April 16, 2018.</ref> to the American Philosophical Society in 2001,<ref>According to the [https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search APS member history].</ref> and to the National Academy of Sciences in 2010.<ref name="nasonline">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/17442.html|title=Frances Allen|website=nasonline.org|publisher=National Academy of Sciences|access-date=August 18, 2017}}</ref> She was nominated a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1994.<ref name="AAAS">{{cite web|title=Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter A|url=http://www.amacad.org/publications/BookofMembers/ChapterA.pdf|publisher=American Academy of Arts and Sciences|access-date=April 15, 2011}}</ref>

She received the IEEE Computer Society Charles Babbage Award in 1997 and the Computer Pioneer Award of the IEEE Computer Society in 2004.<ref>[https://www.computer.org/web/awards/pioneer-frances-allen 2004 Computer Pioneer Award], IEEE Computer Society. Retrieved April 16, 2018.</ref> In 1997, Allen was inducted into the Witi Hall of Fame.<ref name="WITI">{{cite web |url=http://www.witi.com/center/witimuseum/halloffame/1997/fallen.php |title=WITI Login and Signup |access-date=February 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223044958/http://www.witi.com/center/witimuseum/halloffame/1997/fallen.php |archive-date=February 23, 2007 }}</ref> She won the 2002 Augusta Ada Lovelace Award from the Association for Women in Computing. In 2004, Allen was the winner of the ABIE Award for Technical Leadership from the Anita Borg Institute.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://anitaborg.org/profiles/abie-award-winners/frances-allen/|title=Frances Allen – Anita Borg Institute|date=October 1, 2004|website=Anitaborg.org|access-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808000112/https://anitaborg.org/profiles/abie-award-winners/frances-allen/|archive-date=August 8, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://anitaborg.org/awards-grants/abie-awards/|title=ABIE Awards – Anita Borg Institute|website=Anitaborg.org|access-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807232722/https://anitaborg.org/awards-grants/abie-awards/|archive-date=August 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Allen was recognized for her work in [[Supercomputer|high-performance computing]] with the 2006 Turing Award.<ref name="turing-award"/><ref>{{cite video|people=Allen, Frances E.|title=2006 Turing Award Lecture|url=http://amturing.acm.org/vp/allen_1012327.cfm|publisher=ACM|date=2006|access-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref> She became the first woman recipient in the forty-year history of the award, which is considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for computing and is given by the [[Organization:Association for Computing Machinery|Association for Computing Machinery]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Perelman, Deborah|title=Turing Award Anoints First Female Recipient|url=http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2098922,00.asp|date=February 27, 2007|work=eWEEK|publisher=Ziff Davis Enterprise|access-date=November 5, 2007|archive-date=January 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122200657/https://www.eweek.com/mobile/hp-touchpad-needs-6-to-8-weeks-for-additional-shipments|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="apturing">{{cite news | publisher = Associated Press | date = February 21, 2007 | title = First Woman Honored With Turing Award | via = CBC | url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/turing-award-goes-to-woman-for-first-time-1.654100 | access-date = August 8, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=First Woman to Receive ACM Turing Award|publisher=The Association for Computing Machinery|url=http://campus.acm.org/public/pressroom/press_releases/2_2007/turing2006.cfm|date=February 21, 2007|access-date=November 5, 2007|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526031046/http://campus.acm.org/public/pressroom/press_releases/2_2007/turing2006.cfm|archive-date=May 26, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Lombardi, Candace|title=Newsmaker: From math teacher to Turing winner|url=http://www.news.com/From-math-teacher-to-Turing-winner/2008-1007_3-6161914.html|date=February 26, 2007|access-date=November 5, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Marianne Kolbasuk McGee|title=There's Still A Shortage Of Women In Tech, First Female Turing Award Winner Warns|url=http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=197008472|date=February 26, 2007|website=InformationWeek.com|publisher=CMP Media|access-date=November 5, 2007|archive-date=January 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122200657/http://www.informationweek.com/theres-still-a-shortage-of-women-in-tech-first-female-turing-award-winner-warns/d/d-id/1052276|url-status=dead}} Online February 24, 2007.</ref> In interviews following the award she hoped it would give more "opportunities for women in science, computing, and engineering".<ref>{{cite web|author=Thomas, Jeffrey|title=Turing Award Winner Sees New Day for Women Scientists, Engineers|url=http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/March/200703161544091CJsamohT0.4695856.html|date=March 16, 2007|publisher=Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State|access-date=November 5, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115041700/http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/March/200703161544091CJsamohT0.4695856.html|archive-date=January 15, 2008}}</ref>

In 2009 she was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree from McGill University for "pioneering contributions to the theory and practice of optimizing compiler techniques that laid the foundation for modern optimizing compilers and automatic parallel execution".<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://reporter.mcgill.ca/mcgill-to-bestow-11-exemplary-individuals-with-honorary-degrees/| title=McGill to bestow 11 exemplary individuals with honorary degrees| newspaper=McGill Reporter| date=May 19, 2009}}</ref>

== Publications ==
A list of her select publications includes:<ref name="acm" /><ref name="dblp" />
* {{Cite book|last1=Allen|first1=Frances E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oeXaZwEACAAJ|title=A Catalogue of Optimizing Transformations|last2=Cocke|first2=John|publisher=Prentice Hall|others=Thomas J. Watson IBM Research Center|year=1971|editor-last=Rustin|editor-first=Randall|series=Design and Optimization of Compilers}}
* Allen, Frances E., "Interprocedural data flow analysis", ''Proceedings of Information Processing 74'', IFIP, Elsevier / North-Holland (1974), 398–402.
* Allen, Frances E. and J. Cocke, "A program data flow analysis procedure", ''Communications of the ACM'', Vol. 19, No. 3 (March 1976), 137–147.
* Allen, Frances E. et al., "The Experimental Compiling System", ''IBM Journal of Research and Development'', Vol. 24, No. 6, (November 1980), 695–715.
* Allen, Frances E., "The history of language processor technology at IBM", ''IBM Journal of Research and Development'', Vol. 25, No. 5 (September 1981), 535–548.

==Personal life==
In 1972, Allen married [[Organization:New York University|New York University]] computer science professor and collaborator Jacob T. Schwartz.<ref name="oral-history"/> They divorced in 1982.<ref name="nytimes obit">{{cite web|last=Metz|first=Cade|date=August 8, 2020|title=Frances Allen, Who Helped Hardware Understand Software, Dies at 88|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/technology/frances-allen-dead.html|access-date=December 30, 2020|work={{wipe|The New York Times}}}}</ref>

Allen died on August 4, 2020, her 88th birthday, from complications with Alzheimer’s disease.<ref name="nytimes obit"/><ref name="wapost obit">{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/frances-allen-first-woman-to-win-turing-award-for-contributions-to-computing-dies-at-88/2020/08/06/7ea7d7a2-d7f0-11ea-930e-d88518c57dcc_story.html | title=  Frances Allen, first woman to win Turing Award for contributions to computing, dies at 88 | first = Glenn | last=  Refkin  |date = August 7, 2020 | access-date = August 8, 2020 |newspaper = {{wipe|The Washington Post}} }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Remembering Frances Allen|url=https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2020/08/remembering-frances-allen/|publisher=[[Company:IBM|IBM]]|date=August 5, 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://computerhistory.org/profile/frances-allen/ Frances Allen: 2000 Fellow Awards Recipient] via Computer History Museum
* [http://www.windley.com/archives/2008/02/fran_allen_compilers_and_parallel_computing_systems.shtml Fran Allen on Compilers and Parallel Computing Systems] Notes from her 2008 [[Biography:Elliott Organick|Organick]] Memorial Lecture

{{Turing award}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Frances}}
[[Category:American computer scientists]]
[[Category:Programming language researchers]]

{{Sourceattribution|Frances Allen}}