Renowned Manhattan Project photographer Ed Wescott, right, is pictured above with city historian D. Ray Smith. (Submitted photo)
The Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association will celebrate renowned photographer Ed Westcott’s 96th birthday on Saturday. Westcott was the official government photographer in Oak Ridge during World War II, and if even you don’t know him, there is a good chance you have seen his wartime photos.
Oak Ridge was built during the war as part of the Manhattan Project, a top-secret federal program to build the world’s atomic weapons, and Westcott’s photos can be seen in businesses around town, in historical presentations, and in news stories.
His birthday celebration on Saturday is one of the city’s 75th anniversary events. The celebration, which includes special activities with Westcott, is scheduled from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, January 20, at the Midtown Community Center at 102 Robertsville Road.
“Please make your plans now to stop by and wish our own local celebrity a happy 96th birthday!” ORHPA said. “You won’t want to miss this opportunity to see 40 of Ed’s most familar images framed and on display. This is a traveling exhibit of select images that has been displayed at the East Tennessee History Center, the National Archives at Atlanta, and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.”
There will be cake and punch, ORHPA said.
“But we plan to have several surprises for both Ed and those of you who attend,” ORHPA said.
Here is a link to a trailer of a documentary film about Westcott. You can see the full feature film in Blu-ray at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
You can learn more about this and other 75th anniversary events here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Ed Westcott (Submitted photo)
Ed Westcott was the official government photographer in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project, a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II. (Submitted photo)
Do you appreciate this story or our work in general? If so, please consider a monthly subscription to Oak Ridge Today. See our Subscribe page here. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today.
Copyright 2018 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Dale says
Happy Birthday, Ed Wescott. What a great guy and Oak Ridge treasure!
David Alexander says
I Just Wanted to Commend the founder of this website on an exemplary journalistic endeavor. Excellent reporting and much more up-to-date information than the local news services.I have found them to be woefully inadequate, my wife and I are regular readers, and I highly recommend subscribing to this website. for Impartial and intelligent reporting on the news that matters to the people of oak ridge there is no parallel. The information supplied about the labs and government influence here is just not available anywhere else on the web. Really good job guys.
johnhuotari says
Thank you, David. We appreciate your support.