News Broadcast of Secretary Abbot's Solar Invention

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Object Details

Author: Tolman, Ruel P (Ruel Pardee) 1878-1954
Subject: Abbot, C. G (Charles Greeley) b. 1872; Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; National Broadcasting Company (NBC); South Yard; Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.)

Category: Historic Images of the Smithsonian
: This image was taken by Ruel P. Tolman, former Director of Smithsonian National Collection of Fine Arts, and is included in a scrapbook of photographs of Smithsonian staff, grounds and buildings, exhibitions, and Washington, D.C. scenes. (Section A); See Neg. #s SIA2011-0166 through SIA2011-0173 and 4694C for other views of the Solar Boiler preparation.
Summary: In the South Yard behind the Smithsonian Institution Building of "Castle", fifth Secretary and astrophysicist Charles G. Abbot (1928-1944) stands to the far left with a group of people standing on a platform. Near the platform is the solar powered boiler invented by Abbot. The group is preparing for a news broadcast. The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) filmed the test and by operating an electric generator a short program was broadcast by solar power.
Contained within: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7433, Box 3, Folder: Scrapbook II, 1934-1942, A-N
Contact information: Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

c. September 30, 1936

Physical description: Color: Black and White; Size: 2w x 2h; Type of Image: Event; Group, candid; Medium: Photographic print

Smithsonian Archives - History Div

Topic: Astrophysics; Astrophysicists; Event; Inventions; Scientific apparatus and instruments; Secretaries; Observatories; Secretariats; Journalists; Solar Boiler; Solar energy; Smithsonian Institution--Employees; Special events