Tennessee Valley: The Birth of TVA, 1936

This comprehensive silent film from 1936 chronicles the transformative projects of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Reel 1 captures the monumental engineering feats, including dam construction, power generation, and the harsh realities of the pre-TVA landscape like flooded rivers, eroded lands, and abandoned farms. It includes President Roosevelt's appeal to Congress for the TVA's creation, showcasing key developments like Wilson and Norris dams. Reel 2 focuses on the ongoing construction of Norris Dam, with detailed scenes of labor and machinery, and visits by notable figures like Mrs. Roosevelt. Reel 3 explores the new community of Norris, its infrastructure, and worker facilities, alongside the construction of Wheeler Dam. Reel 4 illustrates environmental management techniques like tree clearing, brush burning, and soil conservation. Lastly, Reel 5 contrasts traditional farming with the benefits brought by TVA's electrification, showcasing improvements in agriculture, the flow of water over dams, and the transformation of urban and rural life through electricity.