Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Baird-Atomic Inc. Time Capsule |
Object Name |
Capsule, Time |
Object ID |
2013.018 |
Description |
Metal box (likely aluminum) with lid affixed with six screws. Top and four sides have engraved metal plaques attached with black glue. Top plaque reads: "On October 4, 1968 Baird- Atomic, Inc., laid the cornerstone / to this building and placed within this box selected items. These / items reflect not only the character of the company, but also the / current interests and activities, both social and economic, of the / United States of America at the present time. // A list of the items enclosed appears on one side of the box, and / a duplicate list has been placed inside. Much of the information / has been recorded on microfilm, which indicates the present stage of this process.// Of particular interest is the 1 microcurie of cesium 137, which / can be used as a time measure. An accurate indication of the / time elapsed since October 1968 can be obtained by measuring the / half-life of the radioactive cesium at the time the box is opened. // In placing these items for some future discoverer, we are all / curious about how they will compare with items currently in use / at that future date." Side plaque 1 reads : "OFFICERS OF BAIRD-ATOMIC. INC. / AS OF OCTOBER 1968 / WALTER S. BAIRD / Chairman of the Board / DAVID T. SHULTZ / Chairman of Executive Committee / JOHN M. DEMPSEY, JR. / President / JACK M. MEDZORIAN / Vice President and Treasurer / IRL D'ARCY BRENT II / Vice President / JOHN R. LEEMAN / Vice President / DAVID A. LOW / Vice President / MELVIN E. SHEPHERD / Vice President / ANTHONY C. ROSE, JR. / Assistant Treasurer" Side plaque 2 reads: "Items Placed in Cornerstone Time Capsule / 1. Roll of Microfilm / 2. B-A Diffraction Grating / 3. B-A Optical Interference Filter / 4. B-A Radiation Source 1mc Cesium-137 / 5. Sound Tape, classical music (Swan Lake Ballet) / 6. Sound Tape, popular music (The Beatles) / 7. Proof Set of current coins from U.S. Mint, 1968 series." Side plaque 3 reads: "Items on Microfilm / Pertaining to Baird-Atomic / 1. Original charter / 2. Annual Reports for last ten fiscal years (October 1 / to September 30) / 3. Photographs of Former Plants / Palmer Street, Cambridge / 33 University Road, Cambridge / 130 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge / 95 Second Avenue,, Waltham / 4. Photographs of present Company Officers / 5. Photographs of Cornerstone-laying Ceremony / 6. Program of Cornerstone-laying ceremony / 7. News story of Cornerstone-laying Ceremony / 8. Map of Bedford noting Baird-Atomic plant site and / surrounding companies / 9. LIst of Baird-Atomic patents / 10. Pictures of some current B-A instruments / 11. Catalog of Airborne Instruments / 12. B-A Personnel as of October 4, 1968 / 13. B-A Employee Benefit Plan / 14. Issue of "The Spectrum," the newspaper written by / and for B-A employees." Side plaque 4 reads: "Items on Microfilm / Pertaining to the World in General / 1. Map of the World / 2. List of Town, State, and federal officials as of / October 4, 1968 / 3. Pictures of typical cars and airplanes / 4. Pictures of typical male and female fashions / 5. Map of international exhibition, EXPO 67 / 6. Menus from typical restaurants / 7. Typical flight schedules from Logan International / Airport, Boston, to various parts of the United States. / 8. Farmer's Almanac / 9. Typical U.S. postage stamps." |
Date |
1968 |
Dimensions |
H-7.56 W-5.5 D-5.5 inches |
Material |
Metal, Cesium-137 |
Made |
Baird-Atomic, Inc. |
Search Terms |
Baird-Atomic, Inc. Time Capsules Future History Spectroscopy Science Education Baird, Walter S. |
Provenance |
Time capsule was taken from the building by donor and stonemason just before the building was vacated. Capsule to remain sealed for 100 years. |