History of Science and Technology Resources

Benjamin Franklin: Glimpses of the Man is a quick glimpse at the long life (1706 - 1790) of a complex man that is meant to help students learn about Benjamin Franklin and also to let students see how Franklin’s ideas are still alive in our world today.  The site includes links to other relevant resources.

Blacks in Technology Past and Present includes brief illustrated biographies for Granville T. Woods (the “Black Edison”), Lewis H. Latimer (the man who made electric lighting practical), Elijah McCoy (“The Real McCoy”), Garrett Morgan (“Father of the Gas Mask”), Frederick Jones (made mobile refrigeration possible), and Jan Ernst Matzeliger (“Now, Everyone Can Afford Shoes”).

Center for the History of Physics is a comprehensive physics history site, that has the mission to preserve and make known the history of modern physics and allied fields including astronomy, geophysics, optics, and the like.  The site also includes links to other science history sites.

Chronology of Personal Computers brings various published sources together to present a detailed timeline about personal computers.  The timeline runs from 1947 to the present and includes references for more details about specific events.

Exploring Leonardo DaVinci is a resource for teachers and students developed by the Museum of Science, Boston for the Science Learning Network.  Though this site was designed to be most appropriate for students in grades four through eight, many of the activities can be adapted for younger or older students as needed.

Greek Astronomy presents a brief illustrated history of the contributions of Greek philosophers to the development of science and mathematics. 

History of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology documents the history of chemical engineering that encompasses its conceptual origins in Great Britain, subsequent struggle for survival in the United States, and concludes with a cornucopia of contributions made in this Century.  The site includes many tables and figures that help illustrate the growth and change in the chemical industry, the chemical engineering profession, and its educational infrastructure.

History of Women and Science, Health, and Technology is a comprehensive bibliographic guide to the history of women and science, health, and technology.

Internet History of Science Sourcebook is a subset of texts derived from “Internet Ancient History Sourcebook,” “Internet Medieval Sourcebook,” and “Internet Modern History Sourcebook.”  In addition to direct links to these documents, the site includes links to many other relevant web resources.

Invention Dimension includes bibliographies of famous inventors, links to other invention web sites, and an archive of “inventors of the week.”

Little History of the World Wide Web presents a timeline documenting the history the World Wide Web from 1945 to 1995.

Past Notable Women of Computing and Mathematics is a set of biographies of notable women in computing and mathematics.  The timeline encompasses the first century A.D. to the present and includes photographs.

Virtual Guide to the History of Russian and Soviet Science and Technology is a comprehensive guide to Russian and Soviet Science and Technology, including references.