May 14, 2025
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
Links Referenced
- Library of Congress website: https://loc.gov
- For specific questions about manuscripts at the Library of Congress: https://ask.loc.gov/manuscripts