This podcast from the Kansas Museum of History looks at James Dryden, ceramics manufacturer in the 1950s, who cornered the market on souvenir pottery until the highway bypassed his location and Dryden moved his operation out-of-state.
This 20-minute video shows Penn State University's experimental iron smelting and how a small two-foot chimney can replicate a medieval/colonial iron furnace.
The video can be viewed as one file or as six separate smaller sections.
According to Penn State, "In 1974, in preparation for the American Bicentennial, the American Iron and Steel Institute made a half-hour film in cooperation with Walt Disney to promote an understanding of industrial society. The film told the story of American steel making from its primitive beginnings to recent practices and future needs. Scenes of colonial iron manufacture, modern steel plants, and steel products are interspersed with scenes of Donald Duck doing what he does best: being a good worker, getting run over by wheelbarrows, and getting frustrated. This scene, about 10 minutes into the film, explains how iron is mined and smelted in the Middle Ages—and it ends with Donald's literal transformation into a colonial ironmaster."
Cultural resources manager of the Anacostia Museum Portia James discusses Creole inventor Norbert Rillieux's invention of the vacuum evaporator, a device that increased the efficiency of water evaporation and boosted the growth of the sugar industry.
To view this lecture, select "Scholars," followed by "Portia James." Select one of the Windows Media options.
Michael Ray narrates a basic overview of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The presentation looks particularly at the union's founders and the government reaction to the growing strength of the IWW and includes clips of IWW propaganda.
Professor Robert Remini follows the life and presidency of Andrew Jackson, considering the great changes that occurred during his lifetime—in literature, religion, the arts, business, science, politics, government, and the presidency itself. This lecture continues from the lecture "Andrew Jackson, Part One."
Professor Robert Remini follows the life and presidency of Andrew Jackson, considering the great changes that occurred during his lifetime—in literature, religion, the arts, business, science, politics, government, and the presidency itself. He begins with a brief digression on the life of John Quincy Adams.
Professor Ken Masugi looks at the functioning of the Supreme Court. He then examines the 1952 Supreme Court Case Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company v. Sawyer, in which the steel company Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. petitioned that President Harry Truman exceeded his presidential powers by instructing Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to seize control of the U.S. steel industry, under wartime powers.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to session one, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.
This lecture follows the career of Henry J. Kaiser (18821967), California industrialist, who took part in major Western construction projects, built ships during World War II, produced automobiles following the war, and later founded the HMO Kaiser Permanente.
To listen to this lecture scroll down to "An Entrepreneurial Genius: Henry J. Kaiser," and select "Listen to Broadcast."
The Iron Industry Museum traces the development of the industry in the state. Located at the site of the first iron forge in the Lake Superior region, it presents indoor exhibits and outdoor interpretive paths that lead visitors through the 19th-century origins of the industry forwards.
The museum offers exhibits and a short audiovisual presentation.