Our Nation's Roots; 12; Immigrant and American Science and Inventions
- Series
- Our Nation's Roots
- Episode Number
- 12
- Producing Organization
- WCBS (Radio station : New York, N.Y.)
- New York University
- Contributing Organization
- Library of Congress (Washington, District of Columbia)
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip/512-dz02z13n6g
- NOLA Code
- ONRT
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- Description
- Episode Description
- Prof. Drake and Dr. Robinson begin the episode with a discussion of the contribution of immigrant scientists and inventors. As part of Americas industrial might, our technological advances played a great roll from which science and invention came into being. Both do a philosophical look at this situation why some of the immigrants come, who discovered streptomycin; John J. Audubon, born in Haiti, who came to America via France and was the first to carry on a bird-banding experiment in America; Louis Agassiz, who came from French Switzerland, a great zoologist; Donald McKay, of Nova Scotia, a master immigrant ship builder; J. Ericsson, a Swedish immigrant, whose contribution was to oceanic steam transportation; J. Roebling, a German, who demonstrated the use of steel cable for suspension bridges; Ottmar Morgenthaler, a German Jewish immigrant, whose mechanical abilities led to the automatic type-setter and the linotype machine; Leo Baekland, a Belgian, who invented a photographic paper called velox and bakelite; AG Bell, a Scotsman, inventor of the telephone; CP Steinmetz, who contributions were in the field of electricity; Michale Pupin, a Yugoslavian, who was a scientist, inventor, and well known in physics; and Albert Einstein, mathematician, and scientist; whose contribution is almost immeasurable. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Series Description
- Our Nation's Roots deals with the growth and development of the United States through the contribution of its immigrant folk. This series concentrates primarily on the period 1815-1915 when this phenomenal and unparalleled growth took placed. Although immigration beings very early in American history, it wasn't until the 19th century when the needs of the United States and the needs of the millions of Europeans who came here were reciprocal in nature. In this sense Our Nation's Roots is designed to bring into sharper focus this development of the United States from the broad base of the transplanted millions of diverse and colorful backgrounds. The series of 26 half-hour episodes was originally recorded on film and was produced for the Center by New York University Office of Radio-Television over WCBS-TV in New York City. Producer of the series is Nazaret Cherkezian of NYU, and the director is Neal Finn of WCBS-TV. The hosts of the series are Dr. Thomas F. Robinson and Ormand J. Drake. At the time this series was recorded, Dr. Robinson, a member of the New York University history department, was the newly appointed director of admissions for the University. A native of County Mayo, Ireland, he received his bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College, and his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in 1949 and 1955, respectively, from NYU's Graduate School of Arts and Science. He joined the NYU faculty in 1949 and beginning in 1954 was assistant to the dean of NYU's University College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Robinson studied various aspects of immigration and appeared on previous programs produced by NYUs Office of Radio-Television. At the time this series as recorded, Mr. Drake, professor of speech at NYU, was director of The Town Hall in New York City. A native of Blissfield, Michigan, Professor Drake received his bachelor of arts (1929) and Master of Arts (1930) from the University of Michigan. Active in the fields of public speaking and human relations for more than 20 years, Professor Drake served as assistant secretary of New York University from 1954 to 1956 and prior to that was assistant dean of NYU's College of Arts and Science. A veteran of television, he appeared on WCBS-TV "The Way To Go." He was also featured in an earlier National Educational Television series, "America in the Making" produced for Educational Television and Radio Center by NYU. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Broadcast Date
- 1957-00-00
- Asset type
- Episode
- Media type
- Moving Image
- Credits
-
-
Director: Finn, Neal
Host: Drake, Ormond J.
Host: Robinson, Thomas F.
Producer: Cherkezian, Nazaret
Producing Organization: WCBS (Radio station : New York, N.Y.)
Producing Organization: New York University
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
-
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2306281-1 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: 16mm film
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: B&W
-
Library of Congress
Identifier: 2306281-2 (MAVIS Item ID)
Format: 16mm film
Generation: Copy: Access
Color: B&W
If you have a copy of this asset and would like us to add it to our catalog, please contact us.
- Citations
- Chicago: “Our Nation's Roots; 12; Immigrant and American Science and Inventions,” 1957-00-00, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed July 22, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-dz02z13n6g.
- MLA: “Our Nation's Roots; 12; Immigrant and American Science and Inventions.” 1957-00-00. Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. July 22, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-dz02z13n6g>.
- APA: Our Nation's Roots; 12; Immigrant and American Science and Inventions. Boston, MA: Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-dz02z13n6g