Seminar Room Dedicated to Melvin Kranzberg

Posted May 8, 2015

Through the generous support of the B & B Stern Foundation, the Melvin Kranzberg Seminar Room has been established in the Old Civil Engineering Building (Old CE), home of the School of History, Technology, and Society (HTS).

Kranzberg served as a Georgia Tech faculty member from 1972 to 1988 and was instrumental in the establishment of HTS and development of the field. He founded the Society for the History of Technology and served as the first editor of its journal, Technology and Culture. The Melvin Kranzberg Chair in the History of Technology in HTS is endowed in his honor.

Present for the dedication were donor Reed Catlett (photo center), a member of the Kranzberg family and a trustee of the Foundation; HTS Chair Steve Usselman (right); and John Stern, director of the B & B Stern Foundation and a member of the Ivan Allen College Advisory Board. Stern has lectured in the seminar room about his experiences fostering innovation in the global apparel industry. 

Dean Jacqueline J. Royster observed that the seminar room, formerly room #104, is the essence of HTS, the place where students and faculty interact to share the latest research and entertain visitors from around the globe. The room is affectionately called “The Mel” and is the site for the HTS Speaker Series and other seminar events.

Formally dedicated during the Ivan Allen College Day celebration on April 7, the room showcases a photograph of Dr. Kranzberg, a dedication plaque, and framed presentation of Kranzberg's Laws.

Kranzberg's Laws

1) Technology is neither bad nor good; nor is it neutral
2) Invention is the mother of necessity
3) Technology comes in packages big and small
4) Although technology might be a prime element in many public issues, nontechnical factors take precedence in technology policy decisions
5) All history is relevant, but the history of technology is most relevant
6) Technology is a very human activity - and so is the history of technology.

Photo: John Stern, Reed Catlett, HTS Chair Steve Usselman