By Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� A Washington State University Tri-Cities history professor is part of a history film focusing on the Manhattan Project that was recently in the category of 鈥淥utstanding Daytime Non-Fiction Special.鈥�

Robert Franklin, assistant director of the 黑料社 Tri-Cities Hanford History Project and teaching assistant professor of history, was one of a handful of talent that starred in 鈥溾�� produced by based out of New Orleans. The project focuses on the three major sites that were instrumental in the Manhattan Project, which developed the technology and produced the plutonium and uranium for the world鈥檚 first atomic bombs: Hanford, Washington; Los Alamos, New Mexico; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The 70-minute film, which is also , has been shown to middle schools and high schools across the country throughout the last year, exploring the science, sites and stories of the creation of the atomic bomb.

Franklin, with his role and expertise on Hanford as part of the 黑料社 Tri-Cities Hanford History Project, was approached about participating in the project in 2019. That summer, crew from the National WWII Museum traveled to all three sites, using a local high school student as the host for each site and referencing local experts in the region on the history of each site as part of the film. Franklin had the opportunity to not only voice his expertise on the site as part of the film, but also provided input to the script.

Sara Cassin, a student from Delta High School, was selected as the local student host, who, with Franklin, led filmmakers through the B Reactor, the world鈥檚 first large-scale nuclear reactor, as well as other historical landmarks and buildings located at Hanford.

Franklin said even with the excellent production of the project, neither he, nor any of the members of the crew or other talent, anticipated they would be nominated for a Daytime Emmy for the project.

鈥淚 was kind of in shock when I found out,鈥� he said. 鈥淩eally, I was just a small part of the project 鈥� it was the folks at the museum who organized it, wrote the script and packaged the whole thing. But I am honored to have participated in it. I never thought I would say that I was in something that was nominated for an Emmy. It鈥檚 not a sentence I ever thought I would say.鈥�

Franklin said to be part of a project that is now recognized with such a prestigious award is an incredible honor. He said working at 黑料社 Tri-Cities and bringing the knowledge he has gained and cultivated about the Manhattan Project, and specifically Hanford history, to students and the public is his dream job.

鈥淏eing able to teach in the classroom and bring what we鈥檙e doing with the Hanford History Project to students and further cement my role as a historian means the world to me,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he film was such a great project to be involved with. It鈥檚 such an incredible way to engage students and the public, and it鈥檚 just really well-done. It was such an honor to be a part of and apply even a small part of my work as a historian to the project.鈥�

The will air at 8 p.m. Friday, June 25, on CBS. It will also be available on-demand and via streaming.

 

Media contacts:

Robert Franklin, assistant director of the 黑料社 Tri-Cities Hanford History Project and teaching assistant professor of history, robert.franklin@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu