Tom Swift and the birth of American techno-optimism

It's the hundredth anniversary of the publication of the first Tom Swift novels.  Wikipedia notes:

The Tom Swift books have been credited with laying the foundations for success of American science fiction and with establishing the edisonade (stories focusing on brilliant scientists and inventors) as a basic cultural myth….

A number of prominent figures, including Steve Wozniak and Isaac Asimov, have cited "Tom Swift" as an inspiration….  According to Wozniak, reading the Tom Swift books made...