On this day in 1955 the first ever computer user group was founded. SHARE is a volunteer-run IBM user group that was founded by Los Angeles-based users of the IBM 701 computer system, right after these users attended a symposium hosted by IBM. The group consisted of representatives from 17 different groups, and promoted the idea of sharing technical information regarding the use of IBM computers.
Though the group’s name is capitalized, the group has shared that it isn’t an acronym but rather, it’s simply what they do. Through the sharing of information SHARE has produced new software and documentation for IBM computers, and has grown with over 20,000 members representing some 2,300 enterprise IBM customers.