Table of Contents
| The difficulty in writing a book of
this sort is not in finding enough information. Pennsylvania's
technological history is so rich and full that the problem is in
deciding what to include. This book is aimed at giving sufficient detail
on the societal and technological stories to permit both an
understanding and appreciation of the significant historical
achievements without bogging the reader down in interesting but
consuming information. The electronic format permits ease of selection
of material. The younger or casual reader can navigate easily around
deeper, theoretical aspects of a given technology, which would be of
more interest to a student or practitioner of engineering and
technology. Sections are included that present solely a series of
historical images on given topics and are linked to specific towns or
regions in the state.
Part 1 focuses upon four basic
technological elements that helped to build the infrastructure of modern
society: Canals, Lime & Cement, Iron & Steel, and Waterworks.
Each of these areas is traced clear back to the founding days of the
commonwealth in the 1600's. Their development and the lives of those
involved form a segment of this multi-part story.
Specifications: Building Pennsylvania Part 1 is a CD-ROM book with over 700 pages of text, charts, tables, illustrations and hundreds of antique, photographic images that tell the story of Pennsylvania’s technological history. The book is intended for reading on a PC with Windows. Reading software is included on the CD-ROM along with instructions for installation on a PC. It is viewed best on a 15" or larger screen. About the Author: Tom Rich is a professor of mechanical engineering at Bucknell University. He has been at Bucknell for over twenty years. Originally from Pittsburgh, Tom graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1965 and did his graduate work at Lehigh University from 1965 to 1969. In addition to teaching mechanical engineering, he served as the Dean of The College of Engineering at Bucknell for 11 years. The current work is a result of the author’s extensive research into the topics and his travels around Pennsylvania to seek out information and photograph remains of the State’s historical treasures.
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