John Jackson James Forten Innovator Cards Ingenious Inventions Tour
James Forten John Jackson I was a young man during the American Revolution, when New Along with my brothers, in 1781, I bought the property on York City was occupied by the British. Before Wallabout Bay Wallabout Bay where the Brooklyn Navy Yard stands today. We became the home of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, British prison ships built a shipyard on the land, and provided jobs for skilled labor- occupied these waters. They captured anyone who disobeyed ers—many of whom were Irish immigrants—in this booming the British embargo. In 1781, I was fifteen years old and worked industry of wooden ship building. In 1798 workers at our ship- on the privateer Royal Louis. The British captured our ship, and yard built the USS Adams, the first Navy ship constructed on the I survived a seven-month sentence on the HMS Jersey, a Brit- property. A 28-gun wood warship, the Adams went on to have ish prison ship. I was lucky to survive, as nearly 12,000 men and quite a career—capturing boats in the West Indies during the women died aboard these ships! After the war, I was almost sold Quasi-War with France, fighting off Barbary Pirates on the into slavery, even though I had always lived as a free black man in North African Coast, and finally meeting its end when it was Philadelphia, my hometown. With another stroke of luck, a game burned by its own crew to avoid capture by the British during of marbles with the Captain’s son kept me from being sold to the War of 1812. Meanwhile, I sold our shipyard to the federal the West Indies as many other prisoners of African descent were. government for $40,000 in 1801. At that time, President John The Captain offered to send me to England for an education, but Adams authorized the establishment of a naval shipyard on the I proudly refused; I would never betray my American patriotism land, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard was born. by going to live with the enemy! Instead, I went back to Phila- delphia, where I apprenticed with a sail maker. There, I invented immigrants – people who come to live permanently in another a device to hoist sails, which made it easier to control the large country sails on the ships of my time. Eventually taking over the busi- ness as owner, I became one of the richest men in Philadelphia, Quasi-War – an undeclared war between the United States and France, fought mostly at sea, 1798-1800 and throughout my life, I worked tirelessly to end slavery. Barbary Pirates – pirates from the North African Coast, they fought two wars against the U.S. in 1801 and 1815 embargo – a government’s order to ban merchant ships from entering War of 1812 – a conflict between the United States and England, or exiting its ports 1812-1814 privateer – a privately owned armed ship, ordered by a government authorized – gave official permission or instruction to fight enemy ships apprenticed – worked for another in order to learn a trade hoist – raise or lift, often with the help of a mechanical device
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Image Credit: Portrait of James Forten, artist unknown; The Historical Society of Image Credit: Map of Wallabout Bay, 1810; New York State Archives. Pennsylvania (HSP), Leon Gardiner Collection.
✁ Skilled Worker: Joiner Henry Eckford Innovator Cards Ingenious Inventions Tour
Henry Eckford Skilled Worker: Joiner I served as chief naval constructor at the Yard from 1817-1820. I work with wood, and in the early 1800s, my skills as a craftsman That’s when I designed the USS Ohio, a 2700-ton, 74-gun wood- were indispensable to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Woodworkers en warship. Launched in 1820, the Ohio took three years to like me made every piece of each ship that we built by hand. build and was the first Navy Yard-built ship to launch. In my day, Plus, our skills were necessary to repair damaged ships. Instead the Ohio boasted the latest in ship technology. Sailors on board of pursuing my school studies, I developed my woodworking my ship were amazed by the ship’s speed, stability, and agility. expertise and tremendous nautical knowledge by observing The Navy needed a ship like the Ohio to help us with: our many experts at work as an apprentice. I was part of a team of private wartime missions, trading deals across the world, and explor- shipbuilders who worked on the USS Torch, Flambeau, Firefly, atory expeditions. I also designed the USS Grampus, a fast ship Spark and Spitfire. These ships were used by the U.S. Navy during built to catch smugglers and slave traders. the War of 1812. After the war, these ships became part of an important mission to catch Barbary Pirates on the North Afri- can coast. launched – set a boat in motion for the first time
stability – ability to stay upright and not fall over indispensable – absolutely necessary agility – ability to move quickly and easily expertise – advanced skill or knowledge expedition – voyage with a specific purpose nautical – concerning sailors or sea navigation smugglers – people who move goods illegally into or out of a country apprentice – work for another in order to learn a trade War of 1812 – a conflict between the United States and England, 1812-1814 Barbary Pirates – pirates from the North African Coast, they fought two wars against the U.S. in 1801 and 1815
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Image Credit: U.S. Ship of the Line Ohio: 104 guns, published by Nathaniel Currier, Image Credit: Gunboat construction inset image from “Scenes in the Brooklyn circa 1847; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Navy Yard,” Harper’s Weekly, August 21, 1861; Brooklyn Navy Yard.
✁ Robert Fulton Edward Robinson Squibb Innovator Cards Ingenious Inventions Tour
Edward Robinson Squibb Robert Fulton I came to the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1852, after serving as a I believed in the power of new ideas, especially concerning surgeon on U.S. ships during the Mexican-American War. ships. In 1807, when wooden sail ships powered by the wind During my service, I couldn’t believe the poor quality of ruled the seas, I worked with my father-in-law, Robert L. Livings- medicines that were supplied to the Navy, and I was certain ton, to build the first commercially successful steam-powered these medicines were dangerous to my patients. I arrived ship, Clermont. I also had an interest in designing innovative at the Yard during a time of growth for the Brooklyn Naval weapons, and with some funding from the government, I Hospital, whose building was completed at the Navy Yard site in developed what I called a “torpedo,” an underwater explosive 1840. There I worked with Surgeon B.F. Bache to open a labora- designed to attack enemy ships. My torpedo was tested here at tory where I was able to create and test out new, more effective the Brooklyn Navy Yard, but it failed to explode during tests, and medicines. One of my greatest inventions was a pure and con- the project was dropped. The U.S. Government still believed in sistent form of ether, an anesthetic that had been developed in my ideas, however, and during the War of 1812, work began on the 1800s but had proven too unreliable to use safely. Before my ship Demologos, the first steam-propelled warship. Built at anesthesia was invented, surgery was extremely painful and the Yard in 1814, the ship boasted a top speed of six miles per often deadly for patients. My invention was invaluable during hour, and it was armed with sixteen guns. The war ended just the Civil War, when amputations and other surgeries became a as Demologos was finished, so my ship never saw combat. After routine part of life on the battlefield. I also invented a new kind my death in 1815, Demologos was renamed Fulton. Many of my of medicine chest, a life-saving device that could be carried by technological ideas were not fully realized until fifty years after soldiers in the field. My company, which became part of today’s my death. Bristol-Meyers Squibb, sold many products around the world. commercially – intended to make a profit surgeon – a doctor who performs surgery (operations) on people steam-powered – operated by the force of vapor produced by boiling Mexican-American War – the first armed conflict between the United water States and Mexico, 1846-1848 innovative – brand new, using advanced and original methods anesthetic – a substance that makes someone unable to feel pain War of 1812 – a conflict between the United States and England, unreliable – not consistent or able to be trusted 1812-1814 anesthesia – branch of medicine concerned with administering boasted – took pride in pain-numbing medication invaluable – extremely useful amputation – removal of a limb (arm, leg, hand, etc.)
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Image Credit: Women bottling Squibb Mineral Oil, V1973.5.784 Photographic; Image Credit: Steam Battery Demologos; General arrangement diagram, Bristol-Myers Squibb, ARC.202; Brooklyn Historical Society. copied from Charles B. Stuart, Naval & Mail Steamers of the United States, 1853; Naval History and Heritage Command. ✁ William McAlpine John Ericsson Innovator Cards Ingenious Inventions Tour
John Ericsson William McAlpine I’m the engineer who designed the USS Monitor, which became I was the chief project engineer on Dry Dock 1, the first dry the first ironclad warship used by the Union Navy during the Civil dock built to repair boats at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Building War. But my ships – including the Monitor – were not all success- Dry Dock 1 was not easy: construction began in 1841 and took es at first. My first ship made by the U.S. Navy was the USS Prince- ten years to complete! My engineering knowledge proved ton. This 700-ton steamship showcased my latest innovation, up to the task, and when the Dry Dock was finally finished a pivoting 12-inch gun. Unfortunately, the gun was not installed in 1851, we could boast the latest in technological advances in correctly, and misfired during a demonstration, killing the ship repair and construction. For the first time in our nation’s Secretary of the Navy and several others. After that tragedy, my history, a steam-powered pile driver was used to lay the career almost ended. But during the Civil War, President Lincoln granite and wood foundation for the site. Before steam power, ordered my designs for a ship to rival the Confederacy’s Vir- teams of men had to use their own strength to hammer piles ginia. The USS Monitor was built in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neigh- into the ground by hand—a much longer and more difficult pro- borhood in just 100 days and then brought to the Brooklyn Navy cess. The Dry Dock works with a gate and pump system: when Yard, where it was outfitted with its turret and guns. But yard a ship comes in for repair, the gate closes and water is pumped workers weren’t used to my innovative design. They followed an out to allow workers to access the bottom of the ship. When the old practice of stuffing rope and tar around the turret to act as ship is fixed, the water is pumped back in, the gate opens, and a seal, rather than following my designs for a metal seal. The old the ship sails away. Dry Dock 1 is now the third-oldest naval dry system failed, and water began to pour into the ship. Luckily, the dock, and it is still used today to repair ships. Monitor survived and went on to face the Virginia in battle. boast – take pride in ironclad – covered or protected with iron pile driver – a machine for driving piles into the ground Union – the northern states during the U.S. Civil War, 1861-1865 piles – long, narrow columns made of wood, concrete, or steel, de- innovation – a new method, idea, or product signed to add support in the ground during construction of a building or other structure pivoting – turning on a central point granite – a type of hard rock misfired – failed in setting off foundation – the base of a building or other structure, usually below Confederacy – the southern states that seceded from (left) the United ground level States during the Civil War, 1861-1865 outfitted – supplied with or having equipment added turret – a rotating, armored holder for a gun
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Image Credit: USS Monitor, Transverse hull section through turret; published Image Credit: Dry Dock 1, Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, December 1870; circa 1862; Naval History and Heritage Command. Cornell University Library, Making of America Digital Collection.
✁ Thomas Ustick Walter Ada Eugenia von Böös-Farrar Innovator Cards Ingenious Inventions Tour
Ada Eugenia von Böös-Farrar Thomas Ustick Walter In 1907 I made history by singing into a phonograph horn set up I’m the architect who designed Building 92 in 1858. At that time, by inventor Lee De Forest in his Manhattan laboratory. I was born in the building was used as the U.S. Marine Corps Commandant’s Sweden and had studied at the Swedish Royal Academy of Residence. Back in my day, the Marines were a vital part of the Music, but my concert performances did not compare to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, as they served as guards while the Navy Yard impact I made on that day. While I sang “I Love You Truly” from expanded. Building 92 was part of a 3.5-acre complex that in- Lee’s Manhattan laboratory, a young engineer named Oliver cluded Marine Officers’ Quarters, Barracks, and a Gate House. Adams Wyckoff heard my voice through his headphones at the Today, Building 92 is the only remaining building from that com- Brooklyn Navy Yard—on board the USS Dolphin. My singing that plex. As for me, I became one of the most important architects in day came to be known as the first radio broadcast of a song. De 19th-century America. I was one of the founders and first presi- Forest became a pioneer of radio broadcasts for entertainment dents of the American Institute of Architects, and I designed the purposes, and he was one of many inventors who helped de- dome of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC. velop radio as we know it today. For the Navy, the invention of
radio meant a great improvement in communication for people on board ships. commandant – officer in charge quarters – rooms or lodgings
barracks – large building or group of buildings where many soldiers phonograph – an early record player that used cylinders to record are lodged and reproduce sound gate house – a building at the main entrance or front gate, often used pioneer – one of the first to develop an activity or new area of for protection against enemies knowledge
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Image Credit: Portrait of Ada Eugenia von Böös-Farrar; photograph courtesy of Image Credit: Portrait of Thomas Ustick Walter; National Archives and Records Rebecca Bugge. Administration - Northeast Region.
✁ Construction Worker, Building 92 Innovator Cards Ingenious Inventions Tour
Construction Worker, Building 92 Nurse, Brooklyn Naval Hospital Like more than 20 percent of the construction workforce on the I was a member of the Nurse Corps, and worked at the Building 92 adaptive reuse project, I live in Brooklyn, in one of Brooklyn Naval Hospital during the 1920s and 1930s. Built the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s surrounding neighborhoods. In 2007, on site at the Navy Yard in 1838, the Naval Hospital had always the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) employed women to assist with patient care. But in 1908 the took control of the building, which was close to collapse. Local Nurse Corps was established, creating strict requirements contractors played an important role in remaking Building 92, for nurses-in-training that led to improvements for patients. which opened its doors to the public in the fall of 2011. This Women in the Nurse Corps had to be between 22 and 28 years project has not just introduced the public to the Navy Yard, but old, unmarried, and “physically qualified” for the work. In addi- it has also brought jobs to the local community. Designed by tion to taking care of patients, it was our job as nurses to keep two architecture firms, Beyer Blinder Belle and workshop/apd, the accurate records, especially as medicine was becoming so new Building 92 utilizes the latest in green technology. With a advanced. Many of us nurses also lived at the Yard in the Nurses’ solar screen to reduce glare and control temperature, captured Quarters, which were built in 1919 and provided housing for rainwater used for toilet plumbing, and many other environ- 130 people. By the time World War II broke out in 1939, women mentally-friendly features, Building 92 has become a model for nurses were helping to run the Naval Hospital, and we continued sustainable design. to do so through the end of the war in 1945.
adaptive reuse – process of making something new out of an old accurate – correct in all details structure World War II – the most widespread war in history, involving most of contractors – people who provide materials or labor to do a job the world’s nations; fighting took place throughout Europe, Asia, and green technology – environmentally-friendly practices for conserving North Africa, 1939-1945 energy or resources sustainable – capable of being self-supportive, without overusing natural resources
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Image Credit: Construction Worker; photograph by Saul Metnick. Image Credit: Photograph of nurses, visitor and patient in wheelchair; National Archives and Records Administration - Northeast Region, the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
✁ Meredith Wisner Baldev Duggal Innovator Cards Ingenious Inventions Tour
Baldev Duggal Meredith Wisner I’m the president and founder of Duggal Visual and Energy So- I work for the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation lutions, a 21st-century graphics and energy company housed (BNYDC) as the Yard’s 21st-century archivist. What does that right here at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. When I came to this coun- mean that I do? For one, I manage collections of more than try from India, I arrived with $200 and a one-way ticket. I started 40,000 maps, plans, photographs, and other documents re- out processing photographs in my bathtub, which inspired me lated to the Yard’s past. But my job isn’t just about piecing to- to create the first deep tank processing system for large photos. gether the story of the Brooklyn Navy Yard as a naval shipyard Like so many innovators of the Navy Yard from previous genera- from 1801-1966. The most exciting part of my job is that I use tions, I am committed to using the latest technology. Also like these historical documents to inform today’s Yard and future my predecessors, I value quality, skilled craftsmanship. Today, projects here. For example, when we refurbished Building 92 while I continue to work with visual images, my latest passion is from the old Commandant’s quarters into the museum you’ll be developing new energy products. My company has installed 50 visiting, I provided plans from Thomas Ustick Walter’s 1858 de- wind- and solar-powered streetlamps at the Yard. As our com- sign. With plans from the archive, we were able to identify an pany grows, I know that our technological and environmental unused sewer pipe that engineers transformed into a water stor- advancements will allow me to leave a better world behind. age tank that became part of the building’s green technology plan to capture rainwater for reuse in toilet plumbing. This envi- ronmentally-friendly plumbing was just one of the features that innovators – people creating new ideas, methods, or products helped Building 92 to receive LEED Platinum status, which is the predecessors – people who came before in the same job or place highest standard for sustainable building design. By using im- craftsmanship – made by someone who is highly skilled in a craft portant documents from the past to help the 21st-century Yard thrive, I hope that future generations will be able to enjoy the spirit of innovation that has guided the Yard throughout its past.
archivist – a person who maintains collections of historical documents shipyard – a place where ships are built and repaired refurbished – renovated or rebuilt green technology – environmentally-friendly practices for conserving energy or resources thrive – grow or develop well
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Image Credit: Baldev Duggal in front of large printer; photograph by Robert Clark. Image Credit: Meredith Wisner in the archives at the Brooklyn Navy Yard; photograph by Jamera McNeil.
✁ Michelle Greene Innovator Cards Ingenious Inventions Tour
Michelle Greene Nigel Friday I am a sculptor with a studio at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. My I’m the mechanic supervisor for GMD Shipyard, New York Har- functional sculptures can be seen around the grounds of the bor’s largest dry dock facilities. We use Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Yard: in 2010 I created park tables made from recycled ship doors, historic dry docks, while using 21st-century technology to and in 2008 I designed bike racks made from railroad tracks repair large vessels in need. This is an all-weather job; we that used to run throughout the Yard. Working here at the Yard work in all kinds of conditions because the job needs to get has had a big influence on my work, and I have created pieces done. Being a mechanic is dangerous and difficult. Our tools that incorporate the Yard’s rich history and its commitment to require expert knowledge of how to work safely. Just as other sustainable design. Through my work here, my goal is to pre- Yard craftsmen did for generations, I work with a skilled and serve the industrial beauty of the Yard while providing useful experienced team of carpenters, mechanics, and other ship new spaces for 21st-century Yard workers and visitors to enjoy. experts. I love this hands-on physical work; at the end of the day, I’m proud of the hard work I’ve done, and the customers leave
happy. functional – designed with a practical and useful purpose
sustainable – capable of being self-supportive, without overusing natural resources dry dock – a dock that can be drained of water to allow repair of the bottom of a ship industrial – relating to the manufacturing of goods in factories vessels – ships or large boats
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Image Credit: Table made by Michelle Greene; photograph by Michelle Greene. Image Credit: Portrait of Nigel Friday; photograph by Robert Clark.
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