Matthew Farfan

Reginald Fessenden, the first man in history to send wireless broadcasts of voice and music, and the inventor of the sonic depth finder and over 500 other inventions, is the subject of the book, Radio's First Voice.

Fessenden (1866-1932), who was a native of the Eastern Townships, proved many of Guglielmo Marconi's theories wrong. He succeeded in sending voice messages while Marconi, his arch-rival, could only transmit by Morse code. Ironically, Fessenden had to fight for recognition all of his life, while Marconi reaped the financial rewards and the glory.

After his death in 1932, Fessenden was all but forgotten -- that is, until Ormond Raby, a freelance writer in Toronto, "re-discovered" him in 1966. Raby worked for years to have Fessenden recognized as the true "Father of Radio," finally publishing a book about him in 1970. That book, Radio's First Voice, was a limited edition and quickly went out of print. Recently, however, it has been re-issued by the Canadian Communications Foundation to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of radio. In the words of Foundation President Ross McCreath, "[we have] made this edition available to libraries, schools, and broadcasters across the country" because it is "the goal of our Foundation is to preserve Canada's broadcasting history."

The twenty-eight chapters of Radio's First Voice take readers on a journey through Fessenden's life from his birth in East Bolton, through his boyhood in Ontario, his studies at Trinity College School in Ontario and Bishop's College in Lennoxville, his early scientific experiments, his productive (and at times tumultuous) years as a scientist, and finally, his efforts on behalf of his country during the First World War.

Radio's First Voice is aimed at the general public, including younger readers. Written as a narrative, as its sub-title suggests, it is the "story" of a great inventor. Very readable, it is filled with dialogue, and its "storyness" at times makes us feel as though we are reading a novel. However, two sections of fascinating archival photographs remind us that we are not reading a work of fiction.

This edition of Radio's First Voice, by Ormond Raby, is 161 pages, illustrated, and available in hard-cover. Published in 2001 by the Canadian Communications Foundation of Toronto, it may be procured at the offices of the Townshippers' Association, (819) 566-5717; or directly from the publisher. Retail price: $14.95.

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