Lawrence V. Smith Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS Coll 171

Staff Only

Scope and Content

Collection contains photographs of Lawrence V. Smith and John Baxter creating the Chemistry for Today film course program. Also includes news clippings about the program, biographical information on Smith, and further information on the program.

Dates

Creation: 1958 - 2012
Creation: Majority of material found within 1958 - 1959

Creator

Smith, Lawrence V. (Lawrence Victor), 1931-2010. (Person)

Access

University Archives collections are available for research. Portions of the collections may be restricted due to the requirements of applicable state and federal laws, including but not limited to FERPA and HIPAA, and in accordance with best practices as defined by the Society of American Archivists.

Biographical/Historical Note

Chemistry for Today was a 160 episode film course to teach high school students an introductory course for chemistry. It was produced by Encyclopedia Britannica Films at the University of Florida. Dr. John F. Baxter, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Florida, was the presenter for the course. Filming the course allowed for students to view chemical experiments and phenomena in a new way that may not have been possible in their high school classroom.

John F. Baxter was Head of the Division of General Chemistry at UF and served as the Chairman for the Committee on Institutes and Conferences, Division of Chemical Education, American Chemical Society.

Lawrence V. Smith won two Emmy awards for his photography. He was a native of Chicago and received a degree in Chemistry from Iowa State University, and worked on a PhD in Biochemistry before being drafted into the Korean War in 1954. His work includes working as a cameraman in Cuba during Castro’s revolution, which won him his first Emmy. He also served as Director of Photography for “Wild Kingdom” from 1960-1967, and served as a cameraman for ABC-TV during the early days of the Vietnam War, earning him a second Emmy. Smith owned several independent film companies in Jacksonville, Florida and served as the official JaxPort photographer.