Henry T. Sampson facts for kids

Henry Thomas Sampson Jr. (born April 22, 1934 – died June 4, 2015) was an American engineer, inventor, and film historian. He is best known for creating the gamma-electric cell in 1972. This special device was designed to create extra power from the protective shield of a nuclear reactor. Sampson also wrote important books about African Americans in film, radio, and television history.

Early Life and Education

Henry Thomas Sampson Jr. was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on April 22, 1934. His parents were Henry T. Sampson Sr. and Esther B. Sampson. He went to Lanier High School in Jackson and graduated in 1951.

After high school, he attended Morehouse College in Atlanta. He then transferred to Purdue University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1956. Sampson continued his studies, getting a Master's degree in engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1961. He also earned a Master's degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1965. In 1967, he received his PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the same university. He was the first African American to earn a PhD in nuclear engineering in the United States.

Early Career and Military Service

From 1962 to 1964, Henry Sampson served in the United States Navy. After his time in the Navy, he worked as a chemical engineer. He was employed at the U.S. Naval Weapons Center in China Lake, California. There, he worked on materials for solid rocket motors.

Sampson also became the Director of Mission Development for the Space Test Program. This was at the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, California. During his time there, Sampson led a team of engineers. They worked on developing and operating several space satellites.

Work at Aerospace Corporation

As a director at the Aerospace Corporation, Henry Sampson studied different ways to power large satellite programs. These included nuclear power, solar power, and other advanced methods. He also created a computer program to predict how well hybrid cars and city buses would perform.

The Air Force asked Sampson and his team for technical help. They needed support to launch 13 satellites into low Earth orbit. Sampson was also part of the team that prepared for the first launch of Milstar. Milstar is a satellite system that provides secure communication for the U.S. military around the world, especially during wartime.

Key Inventions and Patents

Henry Sampson held several important patents. A patent is a special right given to an inventor. It means no one else can make, use, or sell their invention for a certain time. His inventions included special systems for rocket propellants and explosives. These were important for solid rocket motors.

On July 6, 1963, Sampson received a patent with George H. Miley. This patent was for a type of gamma-electric cell. This device creates a high voltage (a type of electrical force) from radiation sources. It mainly uses gamma radiation. The idea was to use it to create extra power from the protective shield of a nuclear reactor. The patent also noted that this cell could work as a detector. It had advantages because it could power itself and was cheaper to build than older detectors.

Film Historian and Author

Besides his work as an inventor, Sampson was also a well-known film historian. He wrote a book called Blacks in Black and White: A Source Book on Black Films. This book looked at African-American filmmakers from the early 20th century, who were often not given enough credit. He also wrote The Ghost Walks: A Chronological History of Blacks in Show Business, 1865-1910.

Sampson also made documentary films about African-American filmmakers. In 2005, he published a large two-volume work. It was titled Singin' on the Ether Waves: a Chronological History of African Americans in Radio and Television Programming, 1925–1955.

In 2011, Sampson gave his large collection of historical film items to Jackson State University. This collection is now kept in the H.T. Sampson Library. The library is named after his father, H. T. Sampson Sr., who was a former executive dean at Jackson State University.

Awards and Recognition

Henry Sampson received several awards and honors for his work.

• From 1964 to 1967, he received an award from the United States Atomic Energy Commission. This was for his excellent service at the U.S. Naval Weapons Center.
• In 1983, the LA Council of Black Professional Engineers honored him for "Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Engineering."
• Also in 1983, he received the "Robert H. Herndon Black Image Award" from the Aerospace Corporation.
• In 2008, he was given the "George Washington Carver Renaissance Inventors Award."
• In 2009, the University of Illinois College of Engineering presented him with the "Alumni Award for Distinguished Service."