Ben Franklin

p r e s e n t i n g

Ben Franklin
(1706-1790)
performed by Stephen Smith

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706 - 1790), printer, publisher, and statesman, was one of the few colonists known internationally as a scientist. His discoveries range from electricity, to weather patterns, to human behavior. His inventions range from bifocals, to lending libraries, to the ideas that formed our country.

Stephen Smith, a professional edu-tainer, presents Franklin as the man looking back over his lifetime of inventions, telling the stories of their discoveries and the effects they had on history.

With the amount of information available, the program can be focused on specific areas for a more in-depth presentation. Among topics of discussion: Scientific History; Colonial Time; Self-Improvement; Apprenticeship; Printing; Electricity; American Revolution; Continental Congress; Declaration of Independence; Treaty of Paris; and (naturally) Invention.

p r e s e n t i n g

Orville Wright

"How We Invented the Airplane."
performed by Stephen Smith

Orville Wright (1871-1948)

It was December 17th, 1903, 10:35 a. m. The flyer moved down the monorail under its own power. Orville pulled back on the elevator control and the flyer left the ground for twelve seconds. It traveled 120 feet and reached a maximum altitude of 10 feet before gently landing on the sand of Kitty Hawk. The Wright Brothers made history that day, but the story began years earlier. It is a story of invention, perseverance, and courage as the brothers raced against other inventors to be the first to fly. Stephen Smith portrays Orville Wright, not only because Orville flew the first flight, but also because he tells that story of his brother, Wilbur. Stephen's interest in the Wright brothers began many years ago when he lived in the Wright Brothers' hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Topics of discussion: invention, preparation and safety, the scientific method, aerodynamics, patents, and most of all - never giving up.

p r e s e n t i n g

Samuel Austin Worcester

Oklahoma Centennial Character
performed by Stephen Smith

Samuel Austin Worcester ( 1798 - 1859 ), Missionary to the Cherokees, printer, prisoner, preacher, and translator. He was called "A-tse-nu-sti" which means "The Messenger". He brought to the people education, the ability to write their own language by using the symbols of Sequoyah, and he published a newspaper in both languages. Because his teachings helped the Indians he was arrested. Worcester vs Georgia is the case that upheld the Cherokee as an independent Nation but was ignored by President Jackson. Worchester moved to Oklahoma before the "Trail of Tears" and established the "Cherokee Phoenix" newspaper. He always worked for peace among the people, and his life-long goal of translating the Bible into Cherokee.

Stephen Smith presents Worcester as he looks back over a life interwoven with the Cherokee. And also tells the stories of his friends, George Guess and Elias Boudinot.

Among topics for Discussion: Jefferson, Cherokee Independence, Georgia's Oath of Allegiance, Chief Justice Marshall, Jackson, Treaty of New Echota, Trail of Tears, Tahlequah and Park Hill.

Unfortunately History Alive is no longer funded by The Oklahoma Humanities Council.

So Contact Stephen Smith for Programs

historyalive@cox.net