People during Benediction, as Dwight D Eisenhower becomes the 13th President of Columbia University in New York. Guests seated in front of the memorial library. Spectators singing. Scene of crowd. Scenes of various buildings of the University.
A film titled, 'Fish by the million brings silver lining' shows people in large number catching Smelt on the banks of river Columbia at Kelso in Washington. People use fishing nets to catch Smelt during a record run and collect them in containers,sacks and boxes to earn a living.
Professor Pierre Joliot tests uranium disintegration in Columbia University, New York. Joliot uses Geiger-Muller counter and notes down the readings. He controls the voltage. Joliot uses Geiger-Muller counter with a standard uranium source as placed on GM tube and take it off. A voltage control equipment is shown.
Dr. George Pegram explains the military possibilities of uranium fission in Columbia University in New York. He calls navy department on phone telling them that Dr. Fermi will call on them to explain the military possibilities of uranium fission. Views of a telephone. Studio reenactment : (Navy Commander Office) Scientist leaves the office after an interview with a commander and a Lieutenant. The navy commander thanks the scientist and asks that be kept informed. View of the scientist. The navy commander says good day to the scientist.
Role of United States Coast Guards. Ice breaking activity being undertaken by the Coast Guard cutters. A cutter breaks ice in the frozen Columbia river.
Audio only. 'This I Believe' radio network program episode. Essay on Chairman of Columbia University, Sociology Department, Robert M Maciver. He speaks about his ways of observing things when he was young. He further explains that we never learn things and the causes of things. We learn more about things and the things change amazingly as we learn but we never learn to explain their being. We discover the atom and it becomes another form of energy. It’s hard to explain the form of energy. If someday energy turns out to be something else again, we are no nearer explaining than before. He says that everything belongs forever with other things, but how it belongs and will belong he cannot comprehend. He speaks that we have something in common, the common pulse, the common life, a common destiny. He adds that the wonder is within him, encompasses him and lies forever beyond. Knowing no name for it, he calls it God.