Silvio A. Bedini: Historian Emeritus for Smithsonian, dead at 90
Silvio A. Bedini, 90, historian emeritus at the Smithsonian Institution and an expert on timekeeping and the history of early American scientific instruments, died of pneumonia Nov. 14 at Suburban Hospital. He lived in Washington.
Mr. Bedini was recruited to the Smithsonian in 1961 and became assistant, then deputy, director of what was then the National Museum of History and Technology.
He wrote more than 20 books, starting with "Early American Scientific Instruments and Their Makers" (1964), followed by "The Life of Benjamin Banneker" (1971), "Thinkers and Tinkers: Early American Men of Science" (1975) and "With Compass and Chain: Early American Surveyors and Their Instruments" (2001).
He also wrote a number of books about Thomas Jefferson and a book on Hanno, a white elephant given to Pope Leo X in 1514 by the King of Portugal.
In 1978, Mr. Bedini became the keeper of rare books at the Smithsonian's Dibner Library. He retired in 1978 but continued to work as historian emeritus until his death....
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Mr. Bedini was recruited to the Smithsonian in 1961 and became assistant, then deputy, director of what was then the National Museum of History and Technology.
He wrote more than 20 books, starting with "Early American Scientific Instruments and Their Makers" (1964), followed by "The Life of Benjamin Banneker" (1971), "Thinkers and Tinkers: Early American Men of Science" (1975) and "With Compass and Chain: Early American Surveyors and Their Instruments" (2001).
He also wrote a number of books about Thomas Jefferson and a book on Hanno, a white elephant given to Pope Leo X in 1514 by the King of Portugal.
In 1978, Mr. Bedini became the keeper of rare books at the Smithsonian's Dibner Library. He retired in 1978 but continued to work as historian emeritus until his death....