Interviewed by David C. Brock on 2018-10-26 in Mountain View, CA
© Computer History Museum
This oral history captures the life and career of Charles “Chuck” Geschke, co-founder of Adobe Systems, as recorded by the Computer History Museum in 2018. Born in Cleveland in 1939, Geschke grew up in a working-class Catholic family where education, religion, and politics were central. Originally aspiring to become a Jesuit priest, he spent three years in seminary before realizing his path lay elsewhere. He returned to Cleveland, worked briefly in a valve factory, and pursued higher education, earning a bachelor’s in Latin and a master’s in mathematics from Xavier University.
His fascination with problem-solving and abstract thinking led him to begin a Ph.D. in mathematics at Case Western Reserve while teaching at John Carroll University. A chance encounter with a former student introduced him to computer programming in FORTRAN, sparking a passion that led him to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science at Carnegie Mellon. There, under the mentorship of Bill Wulf, Geschke helped develop the BLISS programming language and an optimizing compiler, setting the stage for his groundbreaking work in software systems.
He later joined Xerox PARC, where he played a key role in systems programming and the development of the Mesa language. Recognized for his leadership, he was tasked with creating the Imaging Sciences Laboratory, where he hired John Warnock. Their partnership led to the founding of Adobe Systems, a company rooted in values of innovation, diversity, and collaboration. Geschke’s journey reveals a blend of rigorous education, technical excellence, and a deep commitment to building meaningful, human-centered technology. Adobe products have since become global standards for graphics, text, website design, and photography.
- Note: Transcripts represent what was said in the interview. However, to enhance meaning or add clarification, interviewees have the opportunity to modify this text afterward. This may result in discrepancies between the transcript and the video. Please refer to the transcript for further information – http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102740447
Visit computerhistory.org/collections/oralhistories/ for more information about the Computer History Museum’s Oral History Collection.
Collection number: 102740448
Acquisition number: X8568.2018
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