Dr. Josh Levy, a historian of science and technology at the Library of Congress’ manuscript division, will be delivering a talk at Westminster College’s total solar eclipse watch party. The event is set to take place on Monday, April 8th at 4:30 p.m., in the Dietz Sullivan Lecture Hall located within the Hoyt Science Center.
During his presentation, Levy will focus on the historical significance of solar eclipse expeditions and how each expedition was intertwined with imperial networks. He will present on “From Pemmican to Palembang: Eclipse Expedition Collections at the Library of Congress.” In particular, he will explore manuscripts from three different eclipses: the 1860 eclipse in northern Saskatchewan, the 1889 eclipse in coastal Angola, and the 1926 eclipse in Sumatra.
Through his insights, Levy aims to shed light on the relationship between science and empire as well as human interactions that contribute to scientific knowledge. As an expert in his field with a Ph.D. in modern U.S. history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School, he brings a wealth of knowledge to this enlightening event.
The event is open to the public and free to attend, with a reception following where attendees can enjoy light refreshments. The Department of History at Westminster College is proud to sponsor this event in collaboration with the Office of Professional Development and Community Engagement.