Guide to "Adventures in Science" Radio Programs

Transcription

1 Guide to "Adventures in Science" Radio Programs Wendy Shay 2016 Archives Center, National Museum of American History P.O. Box Suite 1100, MRC 601 Washington, D.C

2 Table of Contents Collection Overview... 1 Administrative Information... 1 Scope and Contents... 2 Biographical / Historical... 2 Arrangement... 2 Names and Subjects... 2 Container Listing... 4 Series 1: Radio Programs,

3 Adventures in Science Radio Programs Collection Overview Repository: Title: Identifier: Archives Center, National Museum of American History Adventures in Science Radio Programs Date: Extent: 1 cubic foot Creator: Davis, Watson, Science Service Columbia Broadcasting System. Medical Sciences, Division of, NMAH, SI. Language: English Administrative Information Provenance Transferred from the Division of Medical Sciences, Related Materials Bill Nye Papers (AC1383) Mr. Wizard Papers (AC1326) Science Service Records, circa (Smithsonian Institution Archives Record Group 7091) Processing Information Collection processed by Wendy Shay, Audiovisual Archivist, Preferred Citation Adventures In Science Radio Programs, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Restrictions Collection is open for research. Only reference copies may be used. No reference copies exist for this collection. Page 1 of 6

4 Adventures in Science Radio Programs Conditions Governing Use Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions. Biographical / Historical Adventures in Science was a radio program produced by Science Service that aired on CBS from Each program, hosted by Watson Davis, director of Science Service, featured science news and an interview with a guest scientist. Science Service began radio programming in 1924 and Adventures in Science evolved from Science Service's Science News of the Week, an earlier foray into radio broadcasting. The program's intent was to fulfil Science Service's mission to popularize science and make complex topics and concepts accessible to varied audiences. By 1955 and 1956 when the episodes in the collection were created, the shows were 15 minutes in length and were recorded on audiotape, taking advantage of relatively recent developments in sound recording technology. Scope and Contents Original audio tapes produced for the CBS public affairs radio show Adventures in Science, hosted by Watson Davis, director of Science Service and editor of Science News Letter. Mr. Davis interviewed guests ranging from psychologists to an engineer from an air conditioner manufacturing company. Arrangement The collection is arranged chronologically in one series. Series 1, Radio Programs, Names and Subject Terms This collection is indexed in the online catalog of the Smithsonian Institution under the following terms: Subjects: Chemistry -- Radio programs Engineering -- 20th century Radio programs Science -- Radio programs Types of Materials: Audiotapes Interviews Page 2 of 6

5 Adventures in Science Radio Programs Names: Allen, George, Sir Baum, William A. Brode, Wallace R. (Associate Director) Cecil, Russell, Doctor (chemist) Davis, Francis W. (consultant engineer) Foster, William C. (president) Gerard, George (Assistant Director) Grant, Walter A. (vice president) Medical Sciences, Division of, NMAH, SI. Middleton, William S. (Chief Medical Director) Namias, Jerome, Chief O'Neill, Francis (Director) Page, Irvine (president) Sanford, Fillmore (Executive Secretary) Strom, Gordon H. (aeronautical engineer) Whitcomb, Richard T. (Aeronautical Research Scientist) Page 3 of 6

6 Series 1: Radio Programs Adventures in Science Radio Programs Container Listing Series 1: Radio Programs, OT0001 Study of the Universe, 1955 January 28 Guest: Dr. William A. Baum, Mt. Wilson and Palamar Observatories Dr. Baum discusses studying the universe with the most powerful telescope in the world. Box 3, Item AC0223- OT0002 Air Conditioning, 1955 May 30 Guest: Walter A. Grant, Carrier Corporation A discussion about the importance of air conditioners including a short history of air conditioning. OT0003 Mental Illness, 1955 April 30 Guest: Dr. William S. Middleton, Veterans Administration A discussion of mental illness which is considered a problem world-wide. Solutions to the problem include educating people to eliminate the shame, guilt and stigma attached to the disease in addition to treatment with psychotherapy and chemical therapy. OT0004 State Finalists for the National Science Award, 1955 May 4 Guests: State Finalists for the National Science Award Phoenix, Arizona: Bob Socy built an electrical hygrometer which measures temperature and relative humidity. Knoxville, Tennessee: Sue Shipe studied the relation of pond animals to their habitat. Sioux City, Iowa: Jerry Anderson studied the use of rocket propulsion for space travel, including developing space stations. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Kenneth Dunn built an electronic stethoscope with an oscilliscope and cardiographic attachment. This machine amplifies the heartbeat and records it on a cardiogram. Charleston, West Virginia: Carol Irene Hawkin's research involved the microscopic study of coal, using photo graphic techniques and petrographic analysis. Maynot, North Dakota: The student built a remote controled robot capable of eight actions. Page 4 of 6

7 Series 1: Radio Programs Adventures in Science Radio Programs OT0005 Advances in Chemistry, 1955 May 14 Guests: William C. Foster and Cleveland Lane, Manfacturing Chemists Association Chemical Progress Week is a public relations event designed to educate the public about the rise in the standard of living due to chemicals and the chemical industry. Both fundamental and applied research are important to the chemical industry. OT0006 Air Pollution, 1955 May 28 Guest: Dr. Gordon H. Strom, New York University Dr. Strom discusses his research into pollution produced by industrial manufacturing processes and how to control it. OT0007 National Bureau of Standards, 1955 June 25 Guest: Dr. Wallace R. Brode, National Bureau of Standards Dr. Brode discusses the work of the National Bureau of Standards including research and testing. OT0008 Psychology, 1955 July 2 Guest: Dr. Fillmore H. Sanford, American Psychological Association Sanford discusses how humans began studying the physical world a long time before they started to study human behavior. He also discusses behavioral science and possible political connections as well as the work of the American Psychological Association. OT0009 Power Steering, 1955 July 9 Guest: Francis W. Davis, Inventor of Power Steering Power steering is now widely used. Mr. Davis received the patent for steering mechanism which uses a "servo follow-up principle" Box 4, Item AC OT0010 Designing a Plane That Breaks the Thermal Barrier, 1955 July 16 Guest: Dr. George Gerard, College of Engineering, New York University Discussion about the newest aerotechnology to break the thermal barrier, which is beyond the sound barrier. OT0011 Weather Forecasting, 1955 July 23 Guest: Jerome Namias, Extended Forecast Division, U.S. Weather Bureau Mr. Namias discusses advances in forecasting techniques as well as the issue of climate change. Page 5 of 6

8 Series 1: Radio Programs Adventures in Science Radio Programs OT0012 British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1955 September 3 (Two copies) Guest: Sir George Allen, British Association for the Advancement of Science Founded in 1831, the association provides scientists from different fields opportunities to meet and exchange information. OT0013 Aeronautics, 1956 January 7 Guest: Richard T. Whitcomb, Langley Aeronautical Lab, National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics By making design adjustments, planes can fly faster using the same amount of power. These applications are especially important to the military. OT0014 Treatment of Mentally Ill Patients With Drugs, 1956 January 14 Guest: Dr. Francis O'Neill, Central Islip State Mental Hospital, Long Island, New York Discusses recent advances in treating extremely disturbed patients with Thorazine (tranquilizers). Although they are not curative, they represent a great step forward in treatment of mental illness. Box 3, Item AC0223- OT0015 Hospital for Special Surgery, 1956 January 21 Guest Dr. T. Cainpbell Thompson, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York The hospital is the oldest orthopedic hospital in the nation. Includes a discussion of its history and current activities. Box 2, Item AC0223- OT0016 New Drugs for the Treatment of Arthritis, 1956 February 4 Guest: Dr. Russell Cecil, Cornell University and Dr. Herzog, Schering Laboratories, Bloomfield, New J Discuss new drugs for helping arthritis, cortazone and metacortin, a steroid therapy. Box 2, Item AC0223- OT0017 American Heart Association, 1956 February 11 Guest: Dr. Irvine Page, American Heart Association and Cleveland Clinic Discusses the American Heart Association's mandate, membership, and accomplishments. Box 3, Item AC0223- OT0018 Topic Unknown, 1955 June 18 Return to Table of Contents Page 6 of 6