October 21, 2021, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (US Central)
Life requires light, and people throughout history invented many ways to illuminate their environments. About 150 years ago, they began using electricity to generate light, fundamentally changing our long relationship with artificial lighting. People chose to adopt electric lighting because of its convenience. That choice, reinforced by choices made since, created a society dependent on electricity. Cheap and plentiful artificial lighting is now in a real sense invisible, typically noticed only when it fails. Using materials from the Smithsonian collections, this presentation takes a walk through history, discussing cultural, economic, and social consequences of electric lighting and electrification.
Dr. Hal Wallace is Curator of Electricity Collections at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
Program offered in conjunction with Flicker and Flame: Whale Oil and Kerosene Lamps at the Farm House Museum
Registration encouraged but not required.
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Join from dial-in phone line: Dial: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID:957 9031 3962 Participant ID: Shown after joining the meeting International numbers available: https://iastate.zoom.us/u/adrrYXCGOe |
Program made possible through the generous support of the Kathy and John Howell Art Enrichment Program.
