Lives and times

Introduces the life of George Eastman, founder of the Kodak company, discussing his childhood in New York, his early jobs, and his invention of a way to take photographs using film on a roll instead of individual plates.

Describes the early life and business career of William Wrigley, Jr., the founder of Wrigley's gum.

Examines the life and many interests of eighteenth-century inventor and artist Robert Fulton, focusing on his development of the first large steamboat that worked.

Introduces the life of Samuel Morse, discussing his childhood in Massachusetts, his early inventions and career as an artist, and his development of the telegraph, as well as the special code used to send messages.

Tells the life story of Eli Whitney and describes the impact of his major inventions, the cotton gin and mass production, on the world.

Introduces the life of Madam C. J. Walker, who invented hair-care products for African Americans, founded factories and beauty schools, and organized one of the first national meetings of businesswomen in the United States.

Tells the life story of German-American jeans creator Levi Strauss, describing his childhood, the reason his invention came to be, and works of charity his company performs.

Introduces the life of H. J. Heinz, who started one of the first companies to make processed food, buying his brothers' food company and renamed it the H.J. Heinz Company in 1888.

Introduces the life of Clarence Birdseye, who invented a quick-freeze method to preserve the fresh flavor of food and founded the Birds Eye Frosted Foods company in 1929.

A simple introduction to the lives and work of the two brothers who invented the first engine-driven flying machine.