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Show Notes
Dr. Josh Levy is a historian of science and technology at the Library of Congress. In this episode of AMSEcast, he highlights key figures and artifacts from all across America's innovation history. From Samuel Morse's early telegraph designs to George Washington Carver's advocacy for sustainable farming, Levy reveals stories of invention and resilience. He also discusses aviation pioneer Lt. Thomas Selfridge and Claude Shannon's groundbreaking work in information theory. Josh and Alan finish with Gladys West, whose geoid calculations became foundational for GPS. Her later recognition reflects how major technological advances often depend on unsung, collaborative contributions across generations. Guest Bio Dr. Josh Levy is the historian of science and technology in the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress, where he helps uncover and share the stories behind key figures in American innovation. He holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Illinois and brings years of teaching experience at both high school and college levels, including the University of South Florida, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the College of Micronesia. Since joining the Library of Congress in 2020, Dr. Levy has curated collections that illuminate the complex, collaborative nature of scientific and technological breakthroughs. Show Highlights
- (1:50) What led Samuel Morse to invent the telegraph
- (4:03) Morse's letter regarding the telegraph
- (7:36) Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver
- (8:47) Carver's letter to John Washington, Booker T. Washington's brother
- (12:02) Alfred Graham Bell's interest in aviation
- (15:02) Thomas Selfridge
- (17:28) Claude Shannon, the Father of the Information Age
- (18:46) Shannon's schematic of Theseus, the maze-solving robotic mouse
- (20:11) Gladys West's impact on GPS technology
- Library of Congress website: https://loc.gov
- For specific questions about manuscripts at the Library of Congress: https://ask.loc.gov/manuscripts