AEIT, the official magazine of the Italian Electrotechnical Association, under the Latin adage "Radices amarae sed dulces fructus" (roots are bitter, but fruits are sweet) gives a survey of the long path that has finally brought the worldwide recognition of Antonio Meucci's pioneering work in the invention of the telephone. AEIT stresses the fact that they have strongly supported the whole research and that Meucci was only called "inventor of the telephone" after Basilio Catania found the proofs at the National Archives that he had developed the inductive load techniques 38 years before Pupin.
The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Florence and CNIT (National University Consortium for Telecommunications) have organized a meeting, at the prestigious Public Hall of the Florence's University, titled "From Antonio Meucci to perspectives of telecommunications." The lectures were all given in Italian. Professor Enrico Del Re, Director of CNIT, acted as moderator. The meeting was opened by Professor Augusto Marinelli, Chancellor, followed by Professor Franco Angotti, Dean of Engineering. The keynote address, titled "Antonio Meucci's Work and Personality" was given by Dr. Basilio Catania. Then, Dr. Claudio Martini, President of the Tuscan Region, lectured on "The Development Perspectives of the Tuscan Region". After coffee break, Dr. Camillo Di Vincenzo, of Telecom Italia, gave an extended account on "The New Challenges of the Telecommunication World: Convergence and Information Technologies". Two lectures were then given by Dr. Francesco Mottura of Selex Communications and Dr. Giuseppe Naldi of Selenia Marconi, dealing with "The Trend of Communications in the Globalization Era". The meeting was closed by Professors Vito Cappellini and Enrico Del Re who illustrated "The Contribution of the University to Research and Innovation."
Professor Vito Cappellini was so kind to show an original letter addressed to him and also to a number of Italian prominent persons in the field of telecommunications, in which Basilio Catania stimulated their interest in Antonio Meucci. The letter was dated July 4, 1989 and proved Catania's early commitment to the Meucci cause.
More information on this meeting, including TV streaming files, can be found in Internet at http://www.cnit.it/incontro.htm. All PowerPoint presentations can be downloaded from http://lenst.det.unifi.it/%7Emucchi/Presentazioni_MeucciDay.zip.
The Province of Florence, in
collaboration with the City Administration and the Tuscan-American
Association of Florence, has dedicated one of the 23-days
celebrations of the Genio Fiorentino (Florentine
Genius) to the genius of Antonio Meucci, May 31, 2005.
The 31 May celebration began at 9:30 AM at the Teatro della
Pergola--where Meucci began his technical career as assistant chief
engineer of the theater--with the projection of the fiction
"Antonio Meucci, l'italiano che inventò il telefono"
(Antonio Meucci, the Italian who invented the telephone)
for the high-school students, mostly from the Istituto Tecnico
Antonio Meucci of Florence. In the afternoon, beginning 3:00 PM, at
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, a conference was held on "Antonio Meucci:
dal telefono alle moderne tecnologie di comunicazione"
(Antonio Meucci: from the telephone to the modern communication
technologies."
After welcome speeches from Matteo
Renzi, President of the Province of Florence, Eugenio Giani,
Counselor of the City Administration and Sergio Pezzati, co-President
of the Tuscan-American Association, the opening lecture was given by
Hon. Dominic R. Massaro, Justice of the Supreme Court, New York.
After a brief account of Meucci's life and work, Hon. Massaro stated
that "without the proofs unearthed by Basilio Catania, no Resolution
from the US Congress would be issued."
Then followed Basilio Catania who made a passionate review of the
events that led to the US and the Canadian Resolutions (one in favor,
the other against Meucci) and stressed the fact that Hon. Massaro and
his "150th Anniversary Antonio Meucci Memorial Committee" did the
"impossible mission" to bring the Meucci case before the US Congress,
and John Calvelli pushed the Congress towards the approval of the
resolution, with the support of Italian-American Representatives, led
by Vito Fossella. Finally, John Calvelli, Chairman of Conference of
Major Italian American Organizations, also praised "Basilio's great
research" and stressed the fact that he (Calvelli) had been acting as
Legal Advisor of the Congress.
The conference was closed by Paolo Galluzzi, President of the
Florence's Istituto e Museo della Scienza, who illustrated the
initiatives to set up an itinerant exhibition of Meucci's inventions,
and Prof. Romano Frattacci, of the Department of Telecommunication
Engineering of the Florence University, who illustrated the WiMax
project, involving the whole province of Florence.
At Telecommunication Museum of Havana, Cuba, homage paid to Antonio Meucci, April 23, 2005.
At "Museo de las Telecomunicaciones" in Havana, Cuba, on April 23, 2005, at 10:00 AM , a meeting to honor Antonio Meucci for the 170th anniversary of his arrival to Havana was organized jointly by ETECSA (the Cuban Telecommunications Company), the SCHCT (the Cuban Society for the History of Science and Technology) and the Cultural Circle "B. G. Duns Scoto" of Roccarainola (NA), Italy.
On that occasion, the RAI Educational documentary Meucci Antonio Inventore was projected in the Conference Hall of the Museum, followed by brief interventions from the Museum Historian, José Fernández, the President of SCHCT, José Altshuler, and the President of the Cultural Circle B.G. Duns Scoto, Domenico Capolongo. The latter also offered a complimentary copy of the two-volume book "Antonio Meucci - L'inventore e il suo tempo" by Basilio Catania, to serve as the beginning of the future Museum library.
After refreshments offered by ETECSA, the numerous participants moved to the nearby Gran Teatro de La Habana, where a wreath was posed at the commemorative tablet honoring Antonio Meucci (see photo below).
RAI Educational broadcasts documentary on Antonio Meucci, March 28, 2005, 10:50 PM
Giovanni
Minoli On March 28, 2005, 10:50 PM,
the Italian TV Channel Raidue has broadcast a 53-minutes
documentary titled Meucci Antonio Inventore,
conducted by Giovanni Minoli, director of RAI
Educational as well as of the program La Storia Siamo
Noi (History Is Us). The documentary was authored
by Elisabetta Castana, Giulia Foschini and Giuseppe
Giannotti, the latter also acting as art director. Basilio
Catania was acknowledged as providing the historic and
scientific bases.
The life and work of Antonio Meucci were illustrated in the
documentary with the aid of a number of interviews, external
shots--both in Italy and abroad--revivals, video clips,
photographs etc.
Interviews were given by Basilio Catania, Dominic Massaro
(Justice of New York Supreme Court), José Altshuler
(President of the Cuban Academy of Sciences), Eusebio Leal
(Historian of the City of Havana), Vito Fossella (Member of
the US House of Representatives), Louis Leonini (of the
Garibaldi-Meucci Museum), Cosimo Ceccuti (Florence's
Historian), Paolo Pini (Chief engineer of the Florence's
Teatro della Pergola). Extensive interviews with Edwin S.
Grosvenor, nephew of Alexander Graham Bell, as well as clips
from AT&T films of June 30, 1931 (Thomas Watson's
lecture) and 1926 ("50 Years of Telephone History") were
also included in the documentary.
The documentary has met with unusually high success (for
that time slot): it marked ca. 10% share of total TV
audience and ca. 1,200,000 spectators.
TV fiction "Antonio Meucci, l'italiano che inventò il telefono" on air March 28-29, 2005, 9:00 PM
A TV fiction titled Antonio Meucci, l'italiano che inventò il telefono (Antonio Meucci, the Italian who invented the telephone), in two parts, each lasting about two hours, was broadcast by the Raiuno TV Channel March 28 and 29, 2005 at 9:00 PM. The TV play was co-produced by RAI Fiction, Lux Vide and RAI Trade,with Matilde and Luca Bernabei producers. Art Director was Fabrizio Costa. Among the cast, Massimo Ghini playing Antonio Meucci and Tosca d'Aquino playing Ester Meucci.
Telephone cards homaging Meucci issued in Havana, Cuba, November 30, 2004
On the occasion of the
"Fourth IV Round Table on Italian Immigration and Presence
in Cuba", organized by Dr. Domenico Capolongo, former
vice-president of ETECSA, the latter issued two new
telephone cards, paying homage to Antonio Meucci who
immigrated to Havana in 1835 and made his first telephone
experiments there in 1849. A young researcher, Richard
Roselló Socorro, contributed to the Round Table with
his paper "Antonio Meucci y sus años habaneros:
1835-1850". The idea of issuing
telephone cards homaging Antonio Meucci was first proposed a
few months ago, on the occasion of the inauguration of the
Museum of Telecommunications in Havana. ETECSA is the Cuban
Telecommunication Company, with ca. 30% share participation
by Telecom Italia.
The two telephone cards
issued by ETECSA
Per fili e per segni, Genoa, Italy, November 3 - December 31, 2004
An exhibition titled "Per fili e per segni" (Through wires and signs) has been organized in Genoa, at Fiera del Mare - Padiglione D (hrs. 10 am -6 pm), by AICA and FIDA Inform, stressing the Italian contribution to Information and Communication Technology (ICT), past, present and future. An important place is dedicated, for what concerns the Communication Technology, to Antonio Meucci and Guglielmo Marconi, for their contribution to the wire and wireless communication respectively. Basilio Catania, as a member of the Scientific Committee, furnished the historical background about the invention of the telephone.
Antenna, October
2004
[Vol. 17, No.
1, p. 3-4 ]
Antenna, the Newsletter of the Mercurians, a Special Interest Group of the Society for the History of Technology, features an essay by Basilio Catania, titled The 'Telephon' of Philipp Reis, where the performance of Reis's telephon transmitter and receiver are discussed, with reference to tests coducted in 1932 by the British Post Office and later by the Division of Electricity and Modern Physics of the Museum of American History (SmithsonianInstitution) in Washington, D.C. The Editor of Antenna, Andrew J. Butrica, also offers in the same issue biographical inserts and beatiful photographs relating to both Phlipp Reis and Charles Bourseul, whose early vision might have inspired the work of the former. By kind permission of the Editor, a reduced version of this paper is posted on a separate page of this site.
ETT--European
Transactions on Telecommunications, May-June 2004 Professor Achille Pattavina,
in his Editor-in-Chief's
Editorial, announces
the appointment of Dr. Basilio Catania as Responsible Editor
of the "Historian Corner" of the scientific magazine
European Transactions on Telecommunications.
[Vol. 15, No. 3,
p. 153]
Bulletin of Science,
Technology & Society, April 2004
[Vol. 24, No.
2, p. 115-137 ]
The Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society--which has published in the past two important papers on Antonio Meucci--now features another paper by Basilio Catania, titled "Antonio Meucci, Inventor of the Telephone: Unearthing the Legal and Scientific Proofs." This paper substantially reproduces the author's lecture at the University of New York of October 11, 2000, now available in print from Sage Publications. The text encompasses a few items that were added by the author in his lectures delivered in Canada during the author's visit in April 2003. The paper also deals with the events that preceded the US House Resolution No. 269 of June 11, 2002, acknowledging the primacy of Antonio Meucci in the invention of the telephone and were decisive to the passing of the same.
Presentation of the book
"El Teléfono en Cuba 1849-1959," Havana, Cuba, February 25-27,
2004
[Cuban Society
for the History of Science and Technology (SCHCT) &
ETECSA]
During its Fourth National
Congress on the History of Science and Technology, the
Sociedad Cubana de Historia de la Ciencia y la
Tecnología (SCHCT) has presented the book "El
Teléfono en Cuba 1849-1959," published in cooperation
with the Cuban Telecom Company (ETECSA). The book contains
papers from Basilio Catania (dealing with Antonio Meucci's
pioneering experiments of 1849 in Havana), Miguel
González, Roberto Díaz Martín,
Secretary of SCHCT, and José Altshuler, President of
SCHCT.
"Stolen Inventions
-- After 113 years Meucci is the inventor of the telephone, also in
the USA" Quark, February 2, 2004
[Vol. 37, p.
113]
Quark, the most
renowned Italian magazine of popular science, features an
article, titled "Stolen inventions: After 113 years Meucci
is the inventor of the telephone, also in the USA"
(translation from Italian). The paper quotes the Resolution
No. 269 from the US House of Representatives and announces
the forthcoming Resolution No. 223 from the US Senate, both
recognizing Meucci's priority in the invention of the
telephone. The author notes that both recognitions "mostly
stem from Basilio Catania's investigative work and his
perseverance," as steadily applied from 1989 (his retirement
year) to date.
Nicoletta
Salvatori,
Director of "Quark"
"Giustizia per
Meucci" La Stampa / Tuttoscienze, Turin, Italy, January 7,
2004
Science writer, Vittorio
Ravizza, features a long and detailed article in the
Tuttoscienze section of the Turin's newspaper La
Stampa (Editor in Chief: Piero Bianucci), telling the
story behind the US House of Representatives' Resolution No.
269 recognizing Antonio Meucci's priority in the invention
of the telephone. The determining role of Basilio Catania's
research is highlighted. Ravizza also reviews Antonio
Meucci's first experiments of 1849 in Havana, Cuba, marking
the beginning of the electrical transmission of speech, as
well as Meucci's many pioneering achievements in the field
of long distance telephone transmission.
Vittorio
Ravizza
"Meucci Day"
Notiziario Tecnico Telecom Italia, December, 2003
[p.
109-128]
The technical magazine of Telecom Italia -- the major Italian telecommunication company, features an extended reportage of the "Meucci Day" celebrated in Rome on May 28, 2003, in the presence of the President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and of the major political and Telecom authorities. The lead article (p. 109-117) is from the Editor of the magazine, Dr. Rocco Casale, who illustrates in detail the whole ceremony also reproducing the speeches from the Telecom Minister, Maurizio Gasparri, the US Ambassador in Italy, Emil Skodon, and Basilio Catania. Two more articles follow, both authored by Basilio Catania, one (p. 109-117) recounting the story of the invention of the telephone by Antonio Meucci, the other (p. 118-128) recounting the story of the vindication of Antonio Meucci's priority.
"How electrotherapy
gave birth to telephony," European Transactions on
Telecommunications, November-December 2003
[Vol. 14, No.
6, p. 539-552]
This paper, authored by Basilio Catania, deals with Antonio Meucci's early experiments, performed in Havana (Cuba) in 1849, evidencing how his discovery of electrical transmission of speech stemmed from his experiments on electrotherapy. It faithfully describes his said experiments, framing them in the state-of-the-art of the time, for what concerns the application of electricity to both medicine and telecommunications. A noteworthy feature is the comparison of Meucci's experiments of 1849 with Dolbear's experiments of his "static telephone" as widely discussed in his lecture before the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on 31 August 1883.
The Board of Directors of ETT--European Transactions on Telecommunications, in consideration of the many contributions of the author in the field of the history of telecommunications, has proposed to appoint Basilio Catania as Editor of the "Historian Corner" of the same magazine.
"L'Ora della
Verità" (Time for Truth), Omar Nuovo, November 2003
[Year 6, p.
8-17]
Marco
Parsini Omar Nuovo, A
cultural magazine from Fondazione Omar, Novara,
Italy, directed by Dr. Marco Parsini (former Secretary
General of the Italian Electrotechnical Association),
reports the speech "L'Ora della Verità" (Time for
Truth) given by Basilio Catania at the "Meucci
Day" in Rome on May
28, 2003, with photographs of shake hands with Carlo Azeglio
Ciampi, President of Italy. It also shows the photograph of
H.M. Don Juan Carlos 1°, King of Spain, delivering the
Eurotelecom
Prize to
Catania. In the same issue, Dr. Parsini reproduces the first
part of a paper by Catania, titled "Sulle tracce di Antonio
Meucci--Appunti di viaggio" (On the tracks of Antonio Meucci
-- Travel notes," published on L'Elettrotecnica in
October 1992, that confirms the early and unbiased
engagement of Basilio Catania towards uncovering the truth
on the invention of the telephone.
Cuban Historical Society Honors Basilio Catania -- Havana, Cuba, November 12, 2003
José
Altshuler, President, Sociedad Cubana de Historia de la
Ciencia y de Tecnología The Sociedad
Cubana
de Historia de la Ciencia y de Tecnología (Cuban
Society for the History of Science and Technology), presided
by Professor José Altshuler, and under accord of its
Executive Council, confers a diploma to Basilio
Catania,
Resolution for
Recognition of Antonio Meucci introduced in U.S. Senate, September
10, 2003
U. S. Senator
Jon S. Corzine of
New Jersey, introduced Resolution No. 223 "Expressing the
sense of the Senate that the life and achievements of
Antonio Meucci should be recognized, and for other
purposes." 108th Congress, First Session, September 10,
2003. The text of this Resolution broadly follows the text
of the U.S. House of Representatives Res. No. 269, passed
June 11, 2002 (see below). It can be accessed through the
Library
of Congress site.
U.S.
Senator Jon S. Corzine
"How Antonio Meucci Invented the Telephone," Accenti Magazine, Cover Story, July-August 2003
Accenti,
"The Canadian Magazine with an Italian Accent," offers its
readers what we believe is the most exhaustive and accurate
story of the invention of the telephone by Antonio Meucci.
Its publisher, Domenic Cusmano (photo at left), has made a
study of Basilio Catania's papers and conferences and has
harmonically combined in a self-standing article (generously
credited to Basilio Catania) the salient and most critical
issues surrounding the invention of the telephone, that have
recently obtained recognition by the US House of
Representatives, and may possibly obtain analogous
recognition by the US Senate.
Domenic
Cusmano
The article is followed by an extended interview with
Basilio Catania, touching on several hot issues, such as the
Canadian motion pro Bell and the Bell-Meucci dichotomy.
We recommend this paper, written in an elegant and
fascinating style, and featuring high-quality photos. It has
been reproduced in several issues of "Puglia Review"
(Canada), starting from Vol. V, No. 4, Winter
2003
Antonio
Meucci remembered in Superquark, a TV show by RAI Uno
television, August 5, 2003
During the evening TV show,
Superquark, the
scientific survey
conducted by the renowned anchorman Piero
Angela, the life and
scientific work of Antonio Meucci was illustrated, also with
reference to the recent US Congress recognition of his
merits. An interview with Basilio Catania was broadcast,
regarding his discovery of the scientific proofs that have
helped in obtaining said recognition.
The Meucci Day celebrated in Rome, at the Lecture Hall of the Ministry of Communications, May 28, 2003
In the presence of the President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and of many authorities, a celebration of Antonio Meucci's priority in the invention of the telephone was held on May 28, 2003, at the Lecture Hall of the Italian Ministry of Communications in Rome. After a welcome speech by the Minister of Communications, Maurizio Gasparri, and greetings by the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Rome, Emil Skodon -- who called Meucci a "brilliant scientist"-- Basilio Catania was honored to give the keynote address, relating to the history of Meucci's vindication that led to the US Congress Resolution no. 269 recognizing Meucci's priority in the invention of the telephone. Nicholas Negroponte, head of the Media Lab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed with considerations on future advanced technologies likely to emerge from the developments following the invention of the telephone. The celebration was brilliantly concluded by Piero Angela -- the well-known scientific anchorman of RAI Television -- who illustrated the principles of telephone transmission, aided by some useful animations, and re-proposed a few clips of a TV movie on Antonio Meucci, made by RAI in 1973. Prof. Giordano Bruno Guerri, President of Fondazione Ugo Bordoni, acted as a moderator, and also gave a brief introduction on the subject.
The Minister of Communications, Maurizio Gasparri, warmly congratulated Basilio Catania at the end of his speech. After the end of the celebration, President Ciampi also congratulated Catania (see photographs below, kindly supplied by the President's office). Among the other authorities expressing their appreciation to Catania was the Nobel Prize for Physics, Prof. Carlo Rubbia, and Vice Premier Gianfranco Fini (Premier Silvio Berlusconi being engaged abroad).
A special exhibition on Meucci's life and inventions, as well on Catania's research on the subject, was set up by the Historical Museum of Communications in an area adjacent the Lecture Hall, and was illustrated to President Ciampi and other authorities by the Curator of the Museum, Dr. Barbara Desimio. The Istituto Superiore of the Ministry of Communications issued and distributed to the attendees a special monograph, authored by Basilio Catania, titled "Antonio Meucci: una vita per la scienza e per l'Italia" (Antonio Meucci: His life for science and Italy). A reprint by the review of the Italian Electrical Association (AEI), also authored by Basilio Catania, titled "Antonio Meucci--Storia di una rivendicazione" (Antonio Meucci--History of his vindication) was also distributed.
The whole celebration was live broadcast by RAI television, Channel 1, with the comments of journalist Dino Sorgonà, who referred to Catania as "the scientist and researcher who has allowed Meucci's redemption." Lucia Annunziata, RAI's President, was among the attending authorities.
The President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, congratulates Basilio Catania after the celebration and before leaving the Lecture Hall.
Special stamp issued for the occasion by the Philatelic Section of Poste Italiane. Special cancellation was available at a Post Booth near the Hall.
Impressive Tour
organized in Canada by Frank Gucciardo and Franco Gaspari
Montréal, Que - Ottawa, ON - Toronto, ON, April 7-16,
2003
 Franco Gucciardo |
Franco Gucciardo,
President, Consulta Meta I.M., Montréal, QC,
and Prof. Franco Gaspari, Dept. of Electrical & Computer
Engineering, University of Toronto, ON, President of
Comites, have organized an extended tour in Canada,
having Dr. Basilio Catania lecturing in both Universities
and Italian-Canadian organizations about the legal and
scientific proofs by him discovered on behalf of Antonio
Meucci. PowerPoint presentations were done, followed by
answers to questions posed by the many and distinguished
attendees. Extended interviews appeared in the press as well
as in radio and TV programs, both Canadian and Italian.
Canadian Minister Sheila Copps declined an offer for a
private demo but conceded to address historical and
scientific Canadian bodies for furnishing useful
information. |
 Franco Gaspari |
AEI, Official Magazine of Associazione Elettrotecnica ed Elettronica Italiana, March 2003
The March issue of AEI magazine issues a paper by Basilio Catania titled "Antonio Meucci, storia di una rivendicazione" ("Antonio Meucci, History of a Vindication"), whereby the author highlights the long path that has led to the final recognition of Meucci's merits by the US House of Representatives with its Resolution No. 269 passed on June 11, 2002. The author also complains of the distortion of the facts, as appeared in most Italian newspapers on or after June 2002, and of some press releases issued by some interested parties, that jumped on the news towards boosting a role on their own behalf.
Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, December 2002
The December issue of the
Bulletin featured an essay by Basilio Catania titled "The U.S.
Government Versus Alexander Graham Bell: An Important Acknowledgment
for Antonio Meucci". It deals with the important trial between
the U.S. government and Alexander Graham Bell, which was initiated in
June 1885 and ended in November 1897 with neither a winner nor a
loser. The proceedings contain a large and authoritative body of
evidence in the case for the priority of Antonio Meucci's invention
of the telephone.
Antonio Meucci honored in Florence, 14 December 2002
Florence Municipality and
the Tuscan-American Association (presided by Hon. Sergio
Pezzati) celebrated the recent US Congress Resolution No. 269,
recognizing Antonio Meucci's merits in the invention of the
telephone, in the historic "Hall of the Two Hundreds" at Palazzo
Vecchio. A conference titled "Antonio Meucci, inventor of the
telephone: the legal and scientific proofs" was held on the occasion
with various lectures.
Basilio Catania gave the keynote address. Prof. Paolo Galluzzi,
President of the Florence's "Museum for the History of Science,"
announced a forthcoming exhibition on Meucci at the Museum, to be
also brought in other cities. Hon. Dominic R. Massaro outlined the
legal bases of the action leading to the US Resolution. A message
from Hon. Vito Fossella was read by the Moderator, Dr. Eugenio Giani.
Emily Gear, curator of "Garibaldi-Meucci Museum" of Staten Island,
NY, informed the audience that every effort is now made in the USA to
obtain an analogous Resolution from the US Senate. Dr. Giuseppe
Tillia, Manager of Data Marketing & Web Services of Telecom
Italia spoke of the many developments that originated from the
invention of the telephone.
During the following press conference Counselor Eugenio Giani
announced that the City of Florence will celebrate Antonio Meucci's
birthday, each year, by suitable ceremonies.
Sons of Italy Honors Basilio Catania as "Vindicator" of Antonio Meucci, Washington, DC, 21 November 2002
The Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) has officially recognized telecommunications scholar Dr. Basilio Catania of Turin, Italy, for his research documenting Italian inventor Antonio Meucci's contributions to the development of the telephone. The award was presented to Catania at an October 12 banquet ceremony in Rome by OSIA National President Robert Messa. A press release (see also OSIA current releases) was issued by the Sons of Italy News Bureau, where, among other, it was stated that "Catania's discoveries have been published in a number of scientific magazines and have been also filed with the U.S. Congress in support of a resolution acknowledging Meucci's merits."
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Inauguration of the "Antonio Meucci Centre" in Montreal, Canada, 18 October 2002
Franco Gucciardo, an
information-systems analyst of Montreal, Canada, officially
inaugurated the "Antonio
Meucci Centre" at
the Casa d'Italia community center in the heart of
Little Italy, on Jean Talon St., Montreal (Qc). This
occurred at the 113th anniversary of the death of Antonio
Meucci. Bill Brownstein of the Montreal
Gazette tells
the story in his essay "Does name Meucci ring any Bell? --
It has been proven that Meucci was the inventor of the
telephone." A Media conference was held
in the morning of the same day, Franco Gucciardo providing
the initial information release. Then, the question and
answer session was linked to Dr. Basilio Catania from Turin,
that Gucciardo introduced as " the soul of the current
research on Meucci." Gucciardo and Catania were also
interviewed by Loreen Pindera of Radio Canada (listen it at
http://www.cbc.ca/) The annexed exhibit "Antonio
Meucci: Discoverer of Telephony" was open to public from
Friday morning, October 18, till Sunday evening, October 20,
and was visited by over 300 people of all ages.
Franco
Gucciardo holds two Meucci telephones
Articles on the US Congress Resolution, June-September 2002
Among the many articles published, we suggest reading the following:
Toronto, Canada, Corriere Canadese, 12 July 2002
Antonio Maglio, reporter of the Corriere Canadese, an Italian newspaper of Toronto, Canada, publishes a detailed essay titled "Meucci ha inventato il telefono. Ecco le prove" ("Meucci invented the telephone: Here are the proofs"). His article includes an interview with Basilio Catania, "author of the research that has led to the recognition of the Italian scientist Antonio Meucci, by the US Congress." He also expressed Basilio Catania's availability to share with Hon. Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage , the results of his research on Meucci.
Canadian House of Commons: Motion to Recognize Bell adopted, 21 June 2002
Minister of
Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps A motion proposed by the
Minister of Canadian Heritage SHEILA COPPS (see photograph
at left) was adopted by the House of Commons to officially
recognize Alexander Graham Bell, as the inventor of the
telephone. The motion simply recited "This
House affirms that Alexander Graham Bell of Brantford,
Ontario and Baddeck, Nova Scotia is the inventor of the
telephone."
No motivation for this statement was given in the
motion. Even later,
Minister Copps declared: "He
is an inspiring example of a Canadian inventor who, by his
ingenuity and his perseverance, contributed to the
advancement of knowledge and the progress of
humanity,"
without giving any rationale and without mentioning the name
of Antonio Meucci. The US Congress Resolution
no. 269 was introduced by one member of the House of Commons
as follows: ".
. . . The minister must be aware now of the silly goings on
in the United States capital where the U.S. house of
representatives passed a motion claiming that somebody other
than Alexander Graham Bell invented the
telephone."
US 107th Congress: House Resolution No. 269 by Hon. Fossella passed, 11 June 2002
Hon. Vito
Fossella Resolution No. 269,
submitted by Hon. VITO FOSSELLA to the US House of
Representatives on 17 October 2001 "expressing
the sense of the House of Representatives to honor the life
and achievements of 19th Century Italian-American inventor
Antonio Meucci, and his work in the invention of the
telephone," passed
the House of Representatives during the evening session of
11 June 2002, with two thirds majority. Mr. VITO FOSSELLA
concluded his presentation of the Resolution, stating:
"I
ask for the passage of this resolution to honor the life and
achievements long overdue of Antonio Meucci, a great Italian
American and a former great Staten
Islander." Many
other HR
Members rose to support
Mr. Fossella's proposal. Among them, Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of
Virginia, who stated: "Meucci
should be remembered with other innovators, like Edison, the
Wright Brothers, and Marconi, whose vision and tenacity
changed our lives for the better."
This event has met with wide resonance all over the world.
Hon. Jo
Ann Davis
US 107th Congress: Speech of Hon. Rush D. Holt supporting H-269 Resolution, 11 June 2002
Hon. RUSH D. HOLT, House
Representative of New Jersey, rose "in
support of legislation considered by the House this week
which calls attention to an under recognized historical
figure, Antonio Meucci , and his work on an invention that
we today know as the telephone."
After having reviewed the life and work of the
Italian-American inventor, he concluded as follows:
"The
world of science and invention is a highly competitive one,
where inventors compete to make and market their
discoveries. It is only right that we call attention to the
work of one brilliant inventor who history has not given his
proper due, and who made enormous contributions toward the
invention of this device. I urge support for the
bill." [from US
Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks - June 14, 2002,
Page: E1065]
Hon.
Rush D. Holt
US 107th Congress: Resolution submitted by Hon. Fossella, 17 October 2001
On 25 September 2001, Hon. Vito Fossella of New York, submitted a Resolution to the House of Representatives "Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to honor the life and achievements of 19th Century Italian-American inventor Antonio Meucci, and his work in the invention of the telephone." This resolution has been referred to the Committee on Government Reform.
US 107th Congress: "Speech by Prof. Basilio Catania," 5 September 2001
Hon. ELIOT L. ENGEL of New
York, rose at the House of Representatives
"to
tell our colleagues about Antonio Meucci, who is one of
history's forgotten inventors. I would like to take this
opportunity now to insert into the
Congressional
Record
excerpts
of a lecture of Prof. Basilio Catania that he gave in
October 2000 at New York University."
This important achievement
also crowns the commitment and the efforts of the
150th
Anniversary Meucci Memorial Committee
of New York, chaired by Hon. Dominic R. Massaro, Justice of
the Supreme Court of the State of New York, to obtain
Congress recognition of Antonio Meucci's merits.
Hon.
Eliot L. Engel
Toronto, Canada, Corriere Canadese, 5 August 2001
Antonio Maglio, reporter of the Corriere Canadese of Toronto, Canada, published an extended essay on Antonio Meucci, titled "Story of the true creator of the telephone &endash; How Alexander Graham Bell took credit for Antonio Meucci's invention" An Italian version of the same article appeared on the same magazine on 16 June 2001, under the title "Il telefono è italiano. End of story &endash; Antonio Meucci lo inventò e lo brevettò 130 anni fa, ma fu Alexander Graham Bell ad arricchirsi con esso."
San Francisco, CA, Commonwealth Club, 1 August 2001 4:45 PM
Alfred P. Cavagnaro, Attorney, Past President of the Italian-American Cultural Club "Il Cenacolo", lectured at the International Relations Section of the prestigious Commonwealth Club, on "Who's the Real Inventor of the Telephone - Meucci or Bell?". The lecture explored the Meucci-Bell controversy, including certain evidence pointing to Meucci's primacy in the invention of the telephone. During the lecture, Tony de Nonno's cassette "Antonio Meucci, The Father of the Telephone" was projected and copies of Basilio Catania's paper "Antonio Meucci Telephone Pioneer" were distributed to each attendee, upon permission of Sage Publications.
Rome, Istituto Diplomatico "Mario Toscano," July 2001
The Istituto Diplomatico "Mario Toscano" has issued a 132-page booklet, titled "Incontri 2000 II" containing texts of all interventions and discussions at the Round Table "Florence - Havana - New York: an action of truth and justice for Antonio Meucci." The Round Table (see below) was organized in July 2000 by the same Institute in collaboration with the "Istituto Italo-Latinoamerican," both reporting to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The texts reported in the booklet are in the original language of the speakers, i.e. Italian, Spanish and English. A limited number of copies is available from the Istituto Diplomatico, upon written request (email address mistretta@esteri.it).
US 106th Congress: "In Recognition of Antonio Meucci," 24 May 2001
Hon. ELIOT L. ENGEL of New York, rose at the House of Representatives "to bring to the attention of my colleagues the efforts of Professor Basilio Catania of Turin, Italy. [...]. Following years of meticulous research, Professor Catania is now trying to bring to light the merits of Mr. Antonio Meucci, who claimed that he and not Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. In October 2000, at New York University, Professor Catania presented 'Antonio Meucci, Inventor of the telephone: Unearthing the Legal and Scientific Proofs.' [...] Had Mr. Meucci been able to afford the ten-dollar fee to extend his 1871 caveat from the United States Patent Office beyond 1874, the Bell patents could never have been issued and we would have a very different vocabulary today in discussing telecommunications issues. [...]"
[From US Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks p. E931]
RAI International, Zoom #173, 11 February 2001
Sunday, 11 February, 2001, RAI, the Italian National Broadcasting Company, has broadcast a long and detailed interview of Claudio Angelini, Editor and Bureau Chief of RAI International, New York, NY, to Basilio Catania, on the occasion of the lecture of the latter, held on October 10, 2000 at the New York University - Casa Italiana , titled "Antonio Meucci, Inventor of the Telephone: Unearthing the Legal and Scientific Proofs." This interview has been broadcast in three time slots, for a total of about 12 minutes. More information can be obtained from http://www.raicorp.net/zoom.
Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, February 2001
The Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society (Sage Publications, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA), features a 21-page article by Basilio Catania, titled "Antonio Meucci: Telephone Pioneer." This paper contains an essay on Antonio Meucci's life and inventions, with particular reference to his pioneering research on the telephone.
Book available at the "Library of Congress" and the "New York Public Library"
Since the beginning of 2001, the 2-vol. book by Basilio Catania "Antonio Meucci - L'inventore e il suo tempo" is available from both the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library at the following locations:
|
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LC Control
No. 00309516 ISBN 8872940311 (v. 1,
Addendum); 8872940427 (v. 2) LC
Classification TK6018.M4 C38
1995 Dewey Class
No. 609/.2 B
21 Other System
No. (OCoLC)ocm4263381 Call No. TK6018.M4 C38
1995 -- Request
in Jefferson or Adams
Bldg General or Area Studies Reading Rms |
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Location Humanities-Gen.
Research Call No. JFL
99-538 |
US 106th Congress: "Tribute to Antonio Meucci", 15 December 2000
Soon after the beginning of the 106th Congress, Hon. BILL PASCRELL, Jr., of New Jersey, in the House of Representatives, has filed a Congressional paper (see Congressional Records - Proceedings and Debates of the 106th Congress- First Session), titled "Tribute to Mr. Antonio Meucci." In his paper, Hon. Pascrell noted: "For too long Antonio Meucci has been only a footnote in our history books . . . His legacy deserves more. Remember that a Federal Court in the 1880's found that Meucci's ideas were significant to the invention of the telephone and that the Secretary of State at the time issued a public statement that 'there exists sufficient proof to give priority to Meucci in the invention of the telephone.' "
Encarta 2001, December 2000
Microsoft Encarta 2001, Italian Edition, features profiles of many contributors to the invention of the telephone, such as Antonio Meucci, Philipp Reis, Charles Bourseul, Elisha Gray, Innocenzo Manzetti, as well as revised profiles of Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison. In addition, it offers an essay by Basilio Catania on Meucci, Bell and the Invention of the Telephone.
This follows Bill Gates' statements in Global Encarta proves truth can be relative (New York Post, 27 March 1997):
"Did the American Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone? Or was it the Italian-American Antonio Meucci? In a forthcoming Italian version [of Encarta], Meucci is credited with developing the first rudimentary telephone in 1854 and filing preliminary papers with the U.S. patent office in 1871: In 1876 another inventor, A.G. Bell, patented a similar device. . . . Bell obtained fame and wealth, while Meucci died in poverty."
Time Magazine, November 30, 2000
Excerpt from "Man-made Marvels" by Daniel S. Levy
[...] CONTROVERSIES: Who Gets Credit? [...] THE TELEPHONE: Was It Bell, Gray, Reis or Meucci?
"In 1856, Italian Antonio Meucci set up the world's first phone line, on Staten Island, N.Y. But he never marketed his idea. A few years later the German Johann Philipp Reis made a device he dubbed a telephone, over which he transmitted music. Alexander Graham Bell knew of Reis' experiments, and by 1876 had created the modern phone. A few hours after Bell filed his patent papers, Elisha Gray submitted an application for his own phone. Since Bell was first to apply, he reaped the glory."
Havana (Cuba), November 28, 2000
The book "Primeros Experimentos Telefónicos de Antonio Meucci - La Habana 1849-1999 (Aniversario 150)" was presented by Sociedad Cubana de Historia de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, at Museo Finlay, in the frame of the "Week of the Italian Culture". The 194-page book includes translation in Spanish of many articles by Basilio Catania, as well as all interventions at the Havana's celebrations of November 1999 and reproduction of panels displayed at the corresponding Exhibition.
New York City Council, October 12, 2000
The Council of the City of New York passed unanimously Resolution No. 1566, "calling upon the United States Congress to acknowledge the primacy of Antonio Meucci in the invention of the telephone and declare his moral vindication for this great achievement in the service of science and all mankind." Notice of this resolution has been posted in Italian by ANSA, Rome, on 8 November, 2000.
New York University, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, Tuesday, October 10, 2000 at 6:45pm
At Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò of the New York University, 24 West 12th Street, New York, Professor Basilio Catania of Turin gave the lecture:
Prof. Catania, author of "Antonio
Meucci - L'inventore e il suo tempo," Vols. 1 & 2 (STET 1994,
1996) is the vindicator of Meucci's rightful place in the forgotten
pages of American history, according to the announcement posted by
Casa
Italiana.
The lecture was preceded by an introduction from the Honorable Judge
Dominic Massaro, Chairman of the "150th Anniversary Antonio Meucci
Memorial Committee". Tom Redington, Public Relation Manager of the
Committee, issued a press
release on the event.
Announcements were issued by Business
Wire, the Daily
Illini Online,
New
York University and
Ricciardi
Technologies Inc. (RTI).
Telcotimes
posted a comment by Daniel Schulman "Who
Invented the Telephone?" in
their site, on October 11, 2000.
Frank Williams and Mike Azzara, Staff Writers of the Staten Island
Advance, posted an article on Staten
Island Live titled
"Who
invented the telephone? New evidence backs
Meucci", also
on October 11, 2000.
Full text of Basilio
Catania's lecture
at the New York University is reported in another page of this
site.
Following Catania's lecture a dinner was held at "Tiro a Segno" in
New York with many distinguished personalities (see photo
below)
Seated from left Hon. Dominic R. Massaro, Chairman, Hon. Frank J. Guarini, Chairman NIAF; Professor Basilio Catania, Hon. Giorgio Radicati, Consul General of Italy in New York, and Paul Pope. Standing from left: Hon. Jack Comb, President Italian American Legal Defense & Higher Education Fund, Martin G. Picilio, Esq. President Tiro A Segno, Katherine D. LaGuardia M.D., Dr. Comm. Joseph A. Zagame, Professor Filomena Ricciardi, translator of Professor Catania's works and Dr. Lucio Caputo, Executive Vice President, Gruppo Espositorio.
New York City Council, Office of the Speaker, Tuesday, October 10, 2000 at 12:00 am
Hon. Peter F. Vallone, Speaker of the
Council of the City of New York, welcomed in his office Prof. Basilio
Catania, vindicator of Antonio Meucci as the true inventor of the
telephone, Hon. Dominic Massaro, New York State Supreme Justice,
Prof. Filomena Ricciardi, translator of Prof. Catania's scholarship
in America, and John Calvelli, Esq., President of the Conference of
Presidents of Major Italian-American organizations. Hon. Vallone
presented Professor Catania with the apple-shaped bell of the
Speaker.
Notice of this event was given in all major Italian-American
newspapers and magazines in the United States of America.
Cathedral of St. Patrick, New York City, October 9, 2000 - 9:30 AM
His Excellency, Edward M. Egan, J.C.D., Archbishop of New York, celebrated the 23rd Annual Columbus Day Mass, with large participation of citizens, Authorities and distinguished Italian-American guests. Among them: the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, H.E. Sergio Vento, the Ambassador of Italy to the United States, H.E. Ferdinando Salleo, the Consul General of Italy, Hon. Giorgio Radicati, the Speaker of the New York City Council, Hon. Peter F. Vallone, the Chairman of the "150th Anniversary Antonio Meucci Memorial Committee", Hon. Dominic R. Massaro, Justice, together with many members of said Committee and their guest, Professor Basilio Catania of Turin, who has performed extensive research on Antonio Meucci.
In addition to the Choir, Cantor and Organist of St. Patrick Cathedral, the bands of Carabinieri and Bersaglieri performed the National hymns of the United States and Italy, as well as typical military marches.
H.E. Edward M. Egan, in his homely, praised the contribution of Italians in every sector of human activity, particularly mentioning, for the scientific field, Alessandro Volta, Guglielmo Marconi, Enrico Fermi and Antonio Meucci. Regarding Meucci, H.E. Egan said "Many believe, after the movie by Don Ameche impersonating Bell, that Bell is the inventor of the telephone. Wrong! It is Antonio Meucci!" This passionate statement of his was followed by a flood of applause from the floor.
Annual Scholar Incentive $1,000
Awards were presented by the Archbishop to several high school
graduates of Italian descent, who were just going to college and had
manifested sound academic achievement, as well as active Catholic
Faith.
Rosebank (Staten Island), NY (USA) 29 July 2000
On the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the arrival in New York of Giuseppe Garibaldi - the Great Liberator - a ceremony was held at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum in Rosebank (Staten Island), NY. Riccardo Chioni reported at length on the ceremony in the America Oggi's issue of 3 August 2000, including an interview to Hon. Dominic Massaro, Justice of the Supreme Court, New York, as well as Chairman of the "150th Anniversary Meucci Memorial Committee."
A proclamation for the Day was read, for Governor Pataki, by Claudia Massimo Berns. Special cancellation in favor of Meucci and Garibaldi was granted by the US Post Office, thanks to the initiative of the renowned philatelist Joseph Zagame. The Film Producer-Director Tony De Nonno announced his intention to make a movie on the life and work of Antonio Meucci.
Hon. Massaro pointed out in his interview to America Oggi that in Havana (see report below) Professor Catania has extensively shown the proofs of Meucci's priority in the invention of the telephone and that Catania is expected, in next October, to lecture at the New York University to highlight the many scientific aspects that demonstrate said assertion.
Rome (I), 7 June 2000
At Palazzo Santacroce in Rome a Round Table titled "Florence - Havana - New York: an action of truth and justice for Antonio Meucci" was organized jointly by the Istituto Italo-Latinoamericano and the Istituto Diplomatico "Mario Toscano", both reporting to the Italian Ministry of the Foreign Affairs. The audience included ambassadors and officers of the Latin American Embassies, Authorities, representatives of RAI, Telecom companies, etc. The round table was introduced by Ambassador Bernardino Osio, Secretary General of the Istituto Italo - Latinoamericano, and the speakers were Basilio Catania, Dominic Massaro, Domenico Capolongo and José Altshuler. The closing remarks were by Minister Franco Mistretta, Director of the Istituto Diplomatico " Mario Toscano". Texts of the interventions can be obtained from Istituto Italo-Latinoamericano, P. Benedetto Cairoli 3, 00186 ROMA, Tel. (+39) 06 684921, Fax (+39) 06 6872834, Email info@iila.org
New York, NY (USA), 1 May 2000
On April 29, 2000, the Governor of the State of New York, George E. Pataki, proclaimed the 1st of May the "Meucci Day" of the State of New York, to commemorate the "150th Anniversary of Antonio Meucci's Arrival in New York". Likewise, the Mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, proclaimed the 1st of May the "Meucci Day" of the City of New York. Governor Pataki stated that "the basic concept of the telephone was born in Meucci's laboratory in 1849. . ." while Mayor Giuliani highlighted that "the federal case against Bell for fraud. . . was dismissed following the expiration of Bell's patent. . . and the issue [of who invented the telephone] was not resolved." (see America Oggi, New York, 23 April 2000, p.16B-17B and 29 April 2000, p. 26).
On May 1st, many distinguished personalities attended the "Meucci Day", hosted by the Italian Historical Society of America, represented by its president, John La Corte Jr. Among the distinguished guests were: Ambassador Sergio Vento, Italy's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Minister Giorgio Radicati, Consul General of Italy in New York, Hon. Dominic Massaro, Justice of the Supreme Court of New York, Joseph Scelsa, director of the John Calandra Institute of the Columbia University of New York, Hon. Edward Re, former Judge of the International Court of Commerce, the renowned philatelist Joseph Zagame and many others.
The day commenced with a US Post Office ceremony for a special cancellation in favor of Meucci, which took place in the Lafayette High School, 2630 Benson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. This was followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Monument dedicated to Antonio Meucci in Meucci Square, at the intersection of Avenue U, 86th Street and West 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY. The two proclamations for the day were read, for Governor Pataki, by Claudia Massimo Berns, and, for Mayor Giuliani, by Katherine La Guardia, niece of Fiorello La Guardia, former Mayor of New York. An extensive report of the day can be found in America Oggi, New York, 3 May 2000, p.24.
At the end of the day, it was announced that a legal-scientific conference will take place in October, 2000, at the New York University, to promote further actions for the recognition of Antonio Meucci as the first inventor of the telephone.
US Post Office special cancellation for the 150th Anniversary of Antonio Meucci's Arrival in New York City
Havana (Cuba), 19-25 November 1999
In In the frame of THE WEEK OF THE ITALIAN CULTURE IN CUBA, 19-25 November 1999, it was celebrated the
An Exhibition and Lectures relating with this event were held at La Lonja del Comercio and the Basílica Menor de San Francisco de Asís, respectively.
Upon permission from the organizers, we are glad to reproduce the layout of the Exhibition, as well as the English translation of the content of the displays. Click below to see the displays.
Other independent recognitions of Antonio Meucci's merits, though from different viewpoints, can be found in Bill Gates' paper in Business Times; in the Sala Meucci of the Italian Electrical and Electronic Association (AEI); in the Museo Storico, the Italian Telecom Museum in Rome; in the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum of Staten Island, NY (USA), also linked to by Artcom and by "SILive" (Staten Island Live); in the Antonio Meucci Centre of Montreal (Canada); in a brief History of the Telephone from Philippines Telecom; in Historia de Telecomunicaciones from Sinaloa University of Mexico; in La storia della comunicazione (in Italian); in What Italy Has Given The World; in Loch Ness Earthquakes - Nessie's Grotto; in Meucci Story from the Italian Historical Society of America; and an unconventional approach by Gerry Vassilatos in the Journal of Borderland Research; in Norvegian, by Håkon Styri Antonio Santi Giuseppe Meucci.
Also worth to be visited are the sites of Important Italian-American Associations in the USA, such as H-ItAm Discussion Network, H-Net Discussion Logs - h-itam, American Italian Historical Association, (other site here), The National Italian American Foundation, One Stop Italian America, UNICO National, Inc., and journals as FraNoi, based in Chicago, IL, and The Italian Tribune, Italian American Weekly Newspaper since 1931.
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