William Jennings Bryan (seated at left) being interrogated by Clarence Seward Darrow, during the trial of the State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, July 20, 1925.
Clarence S. Darrow (center) standing near Rhea County Courthouse with unidentified man (left) and Arthur Garfield Hays (right), Dayton, Tennessee, probably July 20, 1925.
George Washington Rappleyea
Fred E. Robinson (at right) owned the drugstore where local business leaders persuaded schoolteacher John Thomas Scopes to consent to be charged with violating state law by teaching about evolution. The sign on the tabletop says: “AT THIS TABLE THE SCOPES EVOLUTION CASE WAS STARTED MAY 5, 1925.”
Levi Strauss (February 26, 1829 – September 26, 1902)
Today, 181 years ago, Levi Strauss was born Löb Strauss in the Franconian region of Bavaria. In 1853, he became a US citizen and moved to San Francisco from New York, where he had immigrated at the age of 18. In 1870, a tailor from Nevada named Jacob Davis started making the famous trousers and in 1873, he and Levi were granted a patent for rivet-reinforced pockets on denim work-pants. And, that is how one of the truly American fashion icons was created …
Historians of science and technology may like to know that a selection of special issues and articles that have been published in Notes and Records of the Royal Society since the 1960s is freely available online here. The items will be accessible until 28 February 2010.
The Smallest Car in the Largest City in the World (1913):
Queen Alexandra ordered a miniature Cadillac car for Crown Prince Olav (later King) of Norway and – never ones to miss an advertising opportunity – the manufacturers arranged the filming of the car’s departure from the factory, where it is waved out by an enthusiastic male crowd.
This mini marvel continues its jubilant journey through the streets of London – past the Bank of England, around Trafalgar Square and on to Hyde Park. As crowds cheer and leap in front of the camera, desperate to be preserved on film, the driver’s composure and deadpan facial expression remains one of the most entertaining aspects of this Edwardian glimpse of British pride.
The film ends with some charming footage of a tea party, in which three children run into trouble with the law for speeding!
Again, posted by the BFI.
Jeremy drives the smallest car in the world at the BBC – Top Gear (2007):
Jeremy drives the Peel P-50 through central London and into the BBC offices. From Top Gear.
Taken from ‘Mining Review 12th Year No.10′, this lovely story shows how coal, rather spuriously, contributes to the brewing of beer, featuring some gorgeous shots inside the Charrington Brewery in the Mile End Road. Posted by the BFI.
Earlier this year, the National Library of Australia acquired a copy of the first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, perhaps one of the most influential books of the nineteenth century.
Believed to be one of the earliest surviving copies of Darwin’s work to have arrived in Australia, the Library’s copy was first owned by Dr William Woolls of Parramatta, N.S.W. and it bears his inscription and the date March 17 1860 on the front free end paper. Woolls, a clergyman and schoolmaster, was also a noted botanist. He wrote many articles and papers on the subject and was made a fellow of the Linnean Society of London in 1865 and was later awarded a doctorate by the University of Göttingen for a dissertation on the botany of the Parramatta region. His name is commemorated in the genus Woollsia, as well as the name of six species.
The book contains many penciled annotations made by Woolls and these provide a fascinating insight into the reception of Darwin’s revolutionary ideas on a well-educated reader at the other side of the world. Although many of the annotations have faded with the passage of time, some of Woolls notes are still legible. While some of the comments show agreement with Darwin’s theories, other comments call into question the author’s statements, in a couple of instances drawing upon Australian examples. Next to a passage on birds learning to fear man, for example, Woolls has written “what say the birds of Australia to this?”
Also, on a more light-hearted note … A Science Carol. According to the note that I got about it, it is …
Performed and produced by Christopher Last, Casey Walruth & Jeffrey Tucker, this podcast constitutes a dramatic interpretation of Steven Shapin’s book ‘The Scientific Life: A Moral History of a Late Modern Vocation.’ Intended as a parody of Charles Dickens’ literary classic ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Last,Walruth & Tucker tell the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge, a miserly old scientist who embarks on a mystical journey to learn the true-meaning of science. Visitations by the Ghosts of Science Past, Present & Future help Scrooge to see that the scientific life is not
exactly what he thought it to be, and that scientists themselves are as human as the next man. Dramatic acting, excellent scripting and good-natured humor make this a presentation not to be missed.
While she is best known for the Migrant Mother, many of her other works are visually more interesting and tell much better stories …
Oregon, August 1939. "Unemployed lumber worker goes with his wife to the bean harvest. Note Social Security number tattooed on his arm." (And now a bit of Shorpy scholarship/detective work. A public records search shows that 535-07-5248 belonged to one Thomas Cave, born July 1912, died in 1980 in Portland. Which would make him 27 years old when this picture was taken.)
Or, something closer to home (aka, North Carolina) …
Fourth of July 1939 near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Rural filling stations become community centers and general loafing grounds. Cedargrove Team members about to play in a baseball game.
For me, both of these images speak volumes. The top image is of two people that, in today’s world, could make a good living with their looks but who are having to live meal-to-meal. The bottom image shows the type of community that is rare to find today, plus I love the vintage baseball uniforms.
This last week, as part of the St Cross Colloquia, I was recorded and podcasted! If you want to download the presentation, click here.
While it was a good experience, I don’t like how my voice sounds on the recording and, for some reason, I kept saying “um” during the talk (especially, the first part of it). Anyway, it is out there and is something to go on my CV …
Steampunk has arrived at the Museum of the History of Science! In the world’s first purpose-built museum building is the world’s first museum-housed exhibition of steampunk art. Curated by Art Donovan and Jim Bennett, this exhibition is a radical departure for the Museum of the History of Science, and is very successful in blending the artworks in the main special exhibition with a number of museum items displayed in the small basement gallery.
If you are in town, it is definitely worth a visit. We visited the week after it opened on Sunday and we waited in line to enter the exhibition … a real rarity for the Museum! Inside, you are confronted with a variety of steampunk artifacts (for some photos, click here). The overall effect is quite interesting and completely different from any of the other exhibitions that the Museum has housed. The time that we visited, it was very busy and we were not able to spend a lot of time … so, I really need to go back and spend more time examining some of the exhibits closer.
It is a wonderland for the imagination and highly recommended!
Yesterday was one of the last steps on my journey to earn my doctorate! I had my viva and it went well. I have two weeks to make my minor corrections and return the finalized document. So, I am that much closer to be done!
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