Process Paper:
My topic for the history fair is Nikola Tesla. I chose him as my topic because I read a book about him a year or two ago called “Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikola Tesla”, and I remember being intrigued by his eccentricities and shocked by how , I was surprised he hadn’t become a household name. He was a stereotypical “mad scientist”, from his obsessive-compulsive habits to his lack of relationships (platonic or otherwise) to his face-melting, tank-destroying, super-secret Atomic Death Ray (or Teleforce Beam, whatever). My purpose for this project is to educate people about this amazing man and hopefully encourage them to research him on their own (and get a passing grade ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ).
To conduct my research, I started out by visiting the Regency Park and Hudson Library. I used the library’s website to locate books related to my topic, then recorded the necessary information on a piece of paper, which was later transferred onto my website. Next, I came across a collection of patents and other documents of Tesla’s on eBay, all compiled on a DVD. One important resource I used was documentaries about Nikola Tesla. Two that really stood out were “Nikola Tesla: The Genius Who Lit The World” and “Tesla: Master of Lightning”.
I selected a website as my presentation category. I chose a website because, when compared to things like drama (performance category), technology is what I am most experienced in. Another positive of choosing the website category is being able to keep track of my sources and information with ease, as well as the lack of a strict word limit (exhibit category). To create my website, I went to nhd.weebly.com and made an account. I was inspired by the layout of more popular websites, and received feedback from kids my age to see what is most appealing. The most enjoyable part of making this project was choosing the visual aids. Alternatively, the most frustrating was trying to navigate weebly.com and separating/organizing information into different sub-pages.
Nikola Tesla is the epitome of a “mad scientist”. It is speculated that he had disorders like autism and OCD, making him “different” from the people around him. Keep in mind that he lived in a time where being “different” could cost someone their job, their pride, and even their life. Despite this, Nikola Tesla held his head high and became arguably one of the most influential scientists of all time. Without him, we wouldn’t have any of the appliances in our house that run on electricity (plug-in). Unfortunately, some people have to same way of thinking even today, which is why Nikola Tesla can be used as a role model for people like him. This is one of the reasons why he is considered such an amazing leader.
To conduct my research, I started out by visiting the Regency Park and Hudson Library. I used the library’s website to locate books related to my topic, then recorded the necessary information on a piece of paper, which was later transferred onto my website. Next, I came across a collection of patents and other documents of Tesla’s on eBay, all compiled on a DVD. One important resource I used was documentaries about Nikola Tesla. Two that really stood out were “Nikola Tesla: The Genius Who Lit The World” and “Tesla: Master of Lightning”.
I selected a website as my presentation category. I chose a website because, when compared to things like drama (performance category), technology is what I am most experienced in. Another positive of choosing the website category is being able to keep track of my sources and information with ease, as well as the lack of a strict word limit (exhibit category). To create my website, I went to nhd.weebly.com and made an account. I was inspired by the layout of more popular websites, and received feedback from kids my age to see what is most appealing. The most enjoyable part of making this project was choosing the visual aids. Alternatively, the most frustrating was trying to navigate weebly.com and separating/organizing information into different sub-pages.
Nikola Tesla is the epitome of a “mad scientist”. It is speculated that he had disorders like autism and OCD, making him “different” from the people around him. Keep in mind that he lived in a time where being “different” could cost someone their job, their pride, and even their life. Despite this, Nikola Tesla held his head high and became arguably one of the most influential scientists of all time. Without him, we wouldn’t have any of the appliances in our house that run on electricity (plug-in). Unfortunately, some people have to same way of thinking even today, which is why Nikola Tesla can be used as a role model for people like him. This is one of the reasons why he is considered such an amazing leader.
Bibliography:
Primary Sources:
Electrocuting an Elephant. Edison Manufacturing Company, 1903. Film.
This is a video taken of the elephant named “Topsy”, who was electrocuted by Thomas Edison as part of an anti-alternating current demonstration. It provides visual aid and demonstrates the length that Tesla and Westinghouse’s competitor went to ruin Tesla’s reputation. It is a primary source because it is an event from the “War of Currents” caught on tape.
Electronic Motor Control System. Westinghouse Electric Corporation, assignee. Patent US382280 A. 1 May 1888. Print.
This is the patent for the alternating current system (A/C). This invention started the “War of Currents” between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. It is a primary source because it contains a description written by Nikola Tesla himself. He explains how it works, as do the diagrams attached to the original document.
Tesla, Nikola, and Ben Johnston. My Inventions: The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla. Williston, VT: Hart Bros., 1982. Re-print of original 1919 version.
This is an autobiography written by Nikola Tesla. In this book, Nikola Tesla tells the story of his life. He was 63 when he wrote this. It is a primary source because it was written by Nikola Tesla.
Tesla, Nikola. Niagara Falls Opening Ceremony. Niagara Falls, New York. 12 Jan. 1897. Speech.
This is a speech that Nikola Tesla gave at the Niagara Falls Opening Ceremony in 1892. In this speech, he talks about building the first hydroelectric power plant with George Westinghouse. It is a primary source because it was written and delivered by Nikola Tesla.
Tesla, Nikola. “Some Personal Recollections”. Ed. Samuel Cohen. Scientific American, 5 June 1915. Print.
This is an article written by Nikola Tesla himself in the magazine “Scientific American” about his lifestyle and the process he went through before inventing the alternating current system (A/C). It is a primary because it was written by Nikola Tesla.
Secondary Sources:
Goldman, Harry, and Cameron B. Prince. “Tesla News”. Nikola Tesla Universe. Web.
This is a website dedicated entirely to Nikola Tesla. It includes things like quotes, books, patents, etc. This is a secondary source because it is written ABOUT Nikola Tesla, not BY Nikola Tesla.
Metzger, Th. Blood and Volts: Edison, Tesla, and the Invention of the Electric
This is a book about the invention of the electric chair. It provides information about the death of William Kemmler in relation to the War of Currents. It is a secondary source because it did not provide a first-hand recollection.
Nikola Tesla: The Genius Who Lit The World. Dir. Ljubo Vujovic, Aleksander Mirincic, and Henry Jensionka. Perf. Spiro Guberina. 2004. DVD.
This is a documentary about Nikola Tesla. It tells about a lot of major events in his life that are important to my project. It is a secondary source because it was directed by someone other than Nikola Tesla, and he does not appear in the documentary.
O’Neill, John J. Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikola Tesla. New York, NY: I. Washburn, 1944. Print.
This is a biography about Nikola Tesla. It includes a lot of personal stories told by him. This is a secondary source because it was written by John J. O’Neill, not Nikola Tesla.
Carlson, W. Bernard. Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age. Print.
This is a biography about Nikola Tesla. It provided information about the radio-controlled boat. It is a secondary source because it was written by Bernard Carlson.
Cheney, Margaret. Tesla: Man Out of Time. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1981. Print.
This is a biography about Nikola Tesla. This book provided a lot of information about the relationships that he had with famous people like Mark Twain. It is a secondary source because it was written by Margaret Cheney.
Tesla: Master of Lightning. Dir. Robert Uth, Perf. Stacy Keach and Elisabeth Noone. PBS, 2007. DVD.
This is a documentary about Nikola Tesla. This one goes into more detail about the “War of Currents”, as well as other biographical facts. He does not appear in this film, nor did he contribute to the making of it, therefore it is a secondary source.
Cawthorne, Nigel. Tesla: The Life and Times of an Electric Messiah. New York: Chartwell, 2014. Print.
This is a biography about Nikola Tesla. It gave me a lot of information about his childhood and early adulthood in particular. It is a secondary source because it was written by Nigel Cawthorne.
Electrocuting an Elephant. Edison Manufacturing Company, 1903. Film.
This is a video taken of the elephant named “Topsy”, who was electrocuted by Thomas Edison as part of an anti-alternating current demonstration. It provides visual aid and demonstrates the length that Tesla and Westinghouse’s competitor went to ruin Tesla’s reputation. It is a primary source because it is an event from the “War of Currents” caught on tape.
Electronic Motor Control System. Westinghouse Electric Corporation, assignee. Patent US382280 A. 1 May 1888. Print.
This is the patent for the alternating current system (A/C). This invention started the “War of Currents” between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. It is a primary source because it contains a description written by Nikola Tesla himself. He explains how it works, as do the diagrams attached to the original document.
Tesla, Nikola, and Ben Johnston. My Inventions: The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla. Williston, VT: Hart Bros., 1982. Re-print of original 1919 version.
This is an autobiography written by Nikola Tesla. In this book, Nikola Tesla tells the story of his life. He was 63 when he wrote this. It is a primary source because it was written by Nikola Tesla.
Tesla, Nikola. Niagara Falls Opening Ceremony. Niagara Falls, New York. 12 Jan. 1897. Speech.
This is a speech that Nikola Tesla gave at the Niagara Falls Opening Ceremony in 1892. In this speech, he talks about building the first hydroelectric power plant with George Westinghouse. It is a primary source because it was written and delivered by Nikola Tesla.
Tesla, Nikola. “Some Personal Recollections”. Ed. Samuel Cohen. Scientific American, 5 June 1915. Print.
This is an article written by Nikola Tesla himself in the magazine “Scientific American” about his lifestyle and the process he went through before inventing the alternating current system (A/C). It is a primary because it was written by Nikola Tesla.
Secondary Sources:
Goldman, Harry, and Cameron B. Prince. “Tesla News”. Nikola Tesla Universe. Web.
This is a website dedicated entirely to Nikola Tesla. It includes things like quotes, books, patents, etc. This is a secondary source because it is written ABOUT Nikola Tesla, not BY Nikola Tesla.
Metzger, Th. Blood and Volts: Edison, Tesla, and the Invention of the Electric
This is a book about the invention of the electric chair. It provides information about the death of William Kemmler in relation to the War of Currents. It is a secondary source because it did not provide a first-hand recollection.
Nikola Tesla: The Genius Who Lit The World. Dir. Ljubo Vujovic, Aleksander Mirincic, and Henry Jensionka. Perf. Spiro Guberina. 2004. DVD.
This is a documentary about Nikola Tesla. It tells about a lot of major events in his life that are important to my project. It is a secondary source because it was directed by someone other than Nikola Tesla, and he does not appear in the documentary.
O’Neill, John J. Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikola Tesla. New York, NY: I. Washburn, 1944. Print.
This is a biography about Nikola Tesla. It includes a lot of personal stories told by him. This is a secondary source because it was written by John J. O’Neill, not Nikola Tesla.
Carlson, W. Bernard. Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age. Print.
This is a biography about Nikola Tesla. It provided information about the radio-controlled boat. It is a secondary source because it was written by Bernard Carlson.
Cheney, Margaret. Tesla: Man Out of Time. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1981. Print.
This is a biography about Nikola Tesla. This book provided a lot of information about the relationships that he had with famous people like Mark Twain. It is a secondary source because it was written by Margaret Cheney.
Tesla: Master of Lightning. Dir. Robert Uth, Perf. Stacy Keach and Elisabeth Noone. PBS, 2007. DVD.
This is a documentary about Nikola Tesla. This one goes into more detail about the “War of Currents”, as well as other biographical facts. He does not appear in this film, nor did he contribute to the making of it, therefore it is a secondary source.
Cawthorne, Nigel. Tesla: The Life and Times of an Electric Messiah. New York: Chartwell, 2014. Print.
This is a biography about Nikola Tesla. It gave me a lot of information about his childhood and early adulthood in particular. It is a secondary source because it was written by Nigel Cawthorne.