Ed Westcott, right, was the only official photographer in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project in World War II, a top-secret project to build the world’s first atomic bomb. Westcott is pictured above with D. Ray Smith, Y-12 National Security Complex historian and newspaper history columnist. (Photo courtesy D. Ray Smith)
A Tuesday program will focus on the construction of the city that is now Oak Ridge through Ed Westcott photographs.
The program is titled “The Building of the Atomic City—the Ed Wescott Photographs.” It will be presented by Emily Hunnicutt, Ed Westcott’s daughter, and Don Hunnicutt, Westcott’s son-in-law.
Westcott was the official photographer for the federal government in the city, which was once known as Clinton Engineer Works, during World War II. Oak Ridge was built as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project, a program to build the world’s first atomic bombs, before Germany could.
The Tuesday program is at noon at the University of Tennessee Resource Center at 1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike. It includes a lunch, and it’s sponsored by Friends of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, or FORNL. This meeting is open to the public.
A program notice said the Hunnicutts will use Westcott’s photographs in a PowerPoint presentation that will reflect on the construction of the city, Y-12 (now Y-12 National Security Complex), K-25 (now Heritage Center or East Tennessee Technology Park), and X-10 (now Oak Ridge National Laboratory) in the 1940s.
“Ed is known world-wide for his outstanding photographic images, which have been used in numerous books, magazines, educational films, and museum exhibits,” the event notice said. “His daughter Emily and son-in-law Don have digitized and cataloged many of Ed’s photographs and enjoy presenting programs on Oak Ridge History to various groups in Oak Ridge and surrounding communities.”
The UT Resource Center is the white-colored building between Taco Bell and Applebee’s at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Rutgers Avenue. Use the canopy entrance at the southwest (back) corner of the building. There is plenty of parking.
Here is the meeting agenda:
- 11 a.m.—Socializing and coffee
- 11:30 a.m.—Lunch (catered by the Soup Kitchen, cost $8)
- 12 p.m.—Lecture begins
- 12:45 p.m.—Questions and answers
- 1 p.m.—Adjourn
For $8, the Soup Kitchen offers you at least two choices of hot soup, half sandwich (with pickle and chips), dessert, and beverage (iced tea or hot coffee).
The public is welcome. Bring a friend. As always, registered professional engineers who attend shall receive one (1) PDH certificate.
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