Susquehanna Steam: Three Centuries of Speculation in Northeastern Pennsylvania

From the 1750s to the present day, Salem Township in northeastern Pennsylvania has been a site of financial speculation and the social changes it sets in motion. 

In her latest book project, Dr. Nancy Campbell, professor of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, uncovers the many superimposed layers of speculation and extraction that have left Salem Township with a complex series of social legacies and infrastructures. From land wars and coal mines, to nuclear plants and data centers, Campbell traces three centuries of speculation in one small location. 

In support of her research, Dr. Campbell received funding from the Center for the History of Business, Technology, and Society at the Hagley Museum and Library