On Monday, April 8 at 4:30 p.m., historian Josh Levy of the Library of Congress’ manuscript division will host a discussion on the historical significance of solar eclipse expeditions as part of Westminster College’s total solar eclipse watch party. This event, which is open to everyone free of charge, will take place at the Dietz Sullivan Lecture Hall in the Hoyt Science Center.
Levy, an expert in science and technology, will present “From Pemmican to Palembang: Eclipse Expedition Collections at the Library of Congress.” During his presentation, he will explore manuscripts from three notable eclipses: 1860 in northern Saskatchewan, 1889 in coastal Angola, and 1926 in Sumatra. Each expedition provided valuable insights into the relationship between science and empire as well as human encounters that shape scientific knowledge.
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, Levy brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this topic. This event is sponsored by the Department of History at Westminster College in collaboration with the Office of Professional Development and Community Engagement. Following the lecture, attendees are welcome to join a reception for light refreshments.
