Careers in Science (1953 Missouri State University promotional film)

• published: 22 Oct 2015
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"Careers in Science," a film made in the fall of 1953 by Missouri State University (then Southwest Missouri State College) in Springfield, Missouri, for the purpose of recruiting high school students. The Homecoming game shown at the end of the film occurred on October 31, 1953. Included scenes: - Siceluff Hall (then the Science Building); - Dr. Harold Retallick's meteorology class, likely on top of Siceluff Hall, using a barograph, hydrothermograph, and sling psychrometer; - The Weather Bureau at the Springfield-Greene County Airport, releasing a weather balloon and speaking with local meteorologist Charles C. "C.C." Williford; - Airport's control tower, a DuMont oscilloscope; - "Physics: A Textbook for Colleges"; - Dr. Lester Whitney's class (taught physics and mathematics), using an inclined plane, a force table, and gyroscopes; - A chemistry class, using a photometer, potentiometer, and polarimeter; - Frisco freight train (engine 5017), then the Frisco Laboratory with chief testing engineer Mr. Herzog, where they test oil; also show Frisco engine 2020 ("Big Red") at the Frisco yard and a Pullman car in the background; the narrator mentions SMS's cooperative engineering program with the Missouri School of Mines in Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology); also shown is another potentiometer and testing carbon in a steel u-bolt; - Students using soil types maps and fossils for geology; the narrator discusses oil drilling and Carthage limestone - Dr. Whitney uses a Geiger counter to test radioactivity; - Missouri Farmers Association (MFA), Mr. Matthews, chemist in charge of production control laboratory; test feed for cows, including amount of antibiotics; narrator mentions bacteriology; - Nursing training through cooperative SMS and St. John's Hospital program; - Dairy industry trucks (Daricraft) at Producers Creamery Company, unloading cans of milk, where its tested for bacteria, fat, and protein; ice cream packaging shown; - Dr. Robert Stevenson's class in the general physiology laboratory, dissecting frogs and rats; a kymograph is used to record a frog's heartbeat; - Nursing class, all women in St. John's uniforms, at least one African American student; take blood pressure and learn about hypodermic injections; - St. John's Hospital, with Dr. Collar (sp?), pathologist in charge of the hospital laboratory, and medical technologists; donated blood, the nurse's station, a nun, and an operating room, where a person's leg is operated on, are shown; - Other SMS activities: costume dances (Paris theme), formal dances, Homecoming Queen, and Homecoming football game against Missouri School of Mines (now Missouri University of Science and Technology), with "All-High School Southwest Missouri Band Day" participating bands shown playing at half-time, including the SMS marching band; - Carrington Hall (Administration Building). (Area high school bands mentioned in a previous year's newspaper article were Ava, Anderson, Cassville, Clever, Crane, Branson, Fair Grove, Greenwood, Granby, Mansfield, Willow Springs, Nixa, West Plains, Stockton, Miller, Willard, Ozark, and Humansville.) Background music was performed by the Southwest Missouri State College concert band. Narrator's name is unknown. The original film comes from Special Collections and Archives, Duane G. Meyer Library, Missouri State University. For more information, please visit http://libraries.missouristate.edu