Taming the Electrical Fire: A Conference on the History and Cultural Meaning of the Lightning Rod

A conference on the history and cultural meaning of the lightning rod was held November 3-6, 2002 at the Bakken Library and Museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA).  The conference was supported in part by generous donations from the Otto Schmitt Foundation and from Mr. Thomas F. Peterson,  Jr.  A selection of some of the conference papers, along with other papers, is currently being prepared for publication.

Although in general it is difficult to give the exact date of a scientific discovery or the invention of a technical device, it is sometimes possible to name an event that - at least in retrospect - is inseparably connected with such an achievement. One such event was the demonstration of the electrical nature of lightning that took place in Marly near Paris on May 10, 1752, an event linked both to the development of the lightning rod as well as to Benjamin Franklin. This event provided the occasion to hold a conference on the history of the lightning rod. Our intent was not simply to commemorate the 250th anniversary of a major technological achievement, but also to fill one of the desiderata in the history of science and technology. Feeling that this device, its development, and implications deserved comprehensive scholarly attention, we  approached the subject matter from a wide variety of perspectives: namely,  history of science and technology, cultural studies, history of mentality and literature.

What were the symbolic and metaphorical uses of the lightning rod, e.g., in enlightened politics? Which role did the acceptance of this device play in discourses on the "taming of nature"? The discussions on the prospective value (and danger) of this artificial device as well as its moral implications were paradigmatic for public discourses, particularly in the enlightenment. The commodification of the lightning rod, related economic aspects, its appearance in fire insurance policies as well as its use by the military are also of relevance.

We were further interested in different protection mechanisms against lightning, for example more traditional ones. The conference did not solely  focus on the second half of the eighteenth century, but  followed the developments in the 19th century and beyond. Of equal importance was a comparative element, which was achieved  by contrasting the introduction and uses of lightning rods in different countries and cultures.

 The conference was set up as a "workshop" in which all speakers and a limited number of audience members attended the entire conference in order to assure continuity and cohesiveness in the discussions.  (See program and abstracts below.).

Peter Heering
University of Oldenburg
E-mail: peter.heering@uni-oldenburg.de

Oliver Hochadel
University of Vienna
E-mail: oliver.hochadel@univie.ac.at

David Rhees
Executive Director
The Bakken Museum
E-mail: last name @thebakken.org