Lecture I - (Short) History of Lambda-Calculus (and functional programming)
Lecture dates
3. 3. 2021
Reading
On the importance of functional programming and lambda calculus
J. Hughes: Why Functional Programming Matters [PDF]
If you read only one paper, then choose this one. You should be able to answer the question in the title.
H. Barendregt: The impact of the lambda calculus in logic and computer science [JSTOR]
History of lambda-calculus
Cardone, Hindley: History of Lambda-calculus and Combinatory Logic [PDF]
History of functional programming
D. A. Turner: Some History of Functional Programming Languages (2012) [PDF]
A (very) short history of functional languages
P. Hudak: The Conception, Evolution and Applications of Functional Programming Languages (1989) [PDF]
While being a quarter of century old, this is still a very good introduction to functional programming languages.
If you are really interested in the history, you should also go and read the original papers referenced in the lecture. They can be easily found on the internet (often at JSTOR, otherwise use Google Scholar) and make really good reading.