Book containing many important CS papers
If I had to bet, I'd say:

Great Papers in Computer Science
Author: Laplante, Phillip A.
Publisher: West Publishing Co.

(this one or an older edition).

Contents

Algorithms and Data Structures

1.1 The Complexity of Theorem Proving Procedures (Stephen A. Cook)
1.2 On the Conceptual Complexity of Algorithms (J. Hartmanis, R. E. Stearns)
1.3 Quicksort (C. A. R. Hoare)
1.4 Finite Automata and Their Decision Problems (M. O. Rabin, D. Scott)


Programming Languages

2.1 The FORTRAN Automatic Coding System (J. W. Backus, et al.)
2.2 An Axiomatic Basis for Computer Programming (C. A. R. Hoare)
2.3 An Axiomatic Definition of the Programming Language Pascal (C. A. R. Hoare, N. Wirth)
2.4 The Contour Model of Block Structured Processes (John B. Johnston)
2.5 On the Translation of Languages from Left to Right (Donald E. Knuth)
2.6 Revised Report on the Algorithmic Language ALGOL 60 (Peter Naur, et al.)


Architecture

3.1 First Draft of a Report on the EFVAC (John von Neumann)
3.2 A Symbolic Analysis of Relay and Switching Circuits (Claude E. Shannon)
3.3 Alto: A Personal Computer (C. P. Thacker, E. M. McCreight, B. W. Lampson, R. F. Sproull, D. R Boggs)
3.4 The Best Way to Design an Automatic Calculating Machine (M. V. Wilkes)


Numerical and Scientific Computing

4.1 On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem (A. M. Turing)
4.2 On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem. A Correction (A. M.Turing)


Operating Systems

5.1 Cooperating Sequential Processes (Edsger W. Dijkstra)
5.2 Solution of a Problem in Concurrent Process Control (Edsger W. Dijkstra)
5.3 A Formal System for Information Retrieval from Files (David Hsiao, Frank Harary)


Software Methodology and Engineering

6.1 No Silver Bullet — Essence and Accidents of Software Engineering (Frederick P. Brooks)
6.2 Guarded Commands, Nondeterminancy, and Formal Derivation of Programs (Edsger W. Dijkstra)
6.3 Go To Statement Considered Harmful (Edsger W. Dijkstra)
6.4 Proof of Correctness of Data Representations (C. A. R. Hoare)
6.5 On the Criteria to be Used in Decomposing Systems into Modules (David L. Parnas)
6.6 A Rational Design Process: How and Why to Fake It (David L. Parnas, Paul C. Clements)
6.7 Global Variables Considered Harmful (W. Wulf, M. Shaw)


Databases

7.1 The Theory of Joins in Relational Databases (A. V. Aho, C. Beeri, and J. D. Ullman)
7.2 Organization and Maintenance of Large Ordered Indexes (R. Bayer, E. Mccreight)
7.3 The Entity Relationship Model - Toward A Unified View of Data (Peter Pin-Shan Chen)
7.4 A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks (E. F. Codd)


Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

8.1 Steps Toward Artificial Intelligence (Marvin L. Minsky)
8.2 Matter, Mind, and Models (Marvin L. Minsky)
8.3 Fusion, Propagation, and Structuring in Belief Networks (Judea Pearl)
8.4 Computing Machinery and intelligence (A. M.Turing)


Human-Computer Communications

9.1 Programming Considered as a Human Activity (Edsger W. Dijkstra)


History

10.1 Programming in America in the 1950s - Some Personal Impressions (John Backus)
10.2 The Evolution of Data-Base Management Systems (James P. Fry, Edgar H. Sibley)
10.3 The Evolution of the UNIX Time-Sharing System (Dennis M. Ritchie)