In 1971, alongside Dr. George Miley, Sampson helped created the “gamma-electric cell,” an energy conversion device that turned powerful gamma rays into electricity. Somehow, Sampson’s invention was confused for being connected with the modern cell phone but he himself shot down the erroneous distinction. Sampson and Wiley’s invention did inspire the creation of technology used in cell phones and other devices for created power. Among Sampson’s inventions, which are mostly related to solid-fuel rockets, the gamma-electric cell is the best known.
Sampson is also a noted Black film historian and cinema buff. He is the author of seven books on the subject including, Blacks in Black Face: A Source Book on Early Black Musical Shows released in 2013.
Sampson has also gifted Jackson State University with a large portion of his collection of film memorabilia, which is housed in the H.T. Sampson Library at the school. The library is named for Sampson’s father, who was once the executive dean of Jackson State.
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Little Known Black History Fact: Henry Simpson was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
