,a £d Uoru

A SELECTIVE MICROFILM EDITION PARTY (1911-1919)

Thomas E. Jeffrey Senior Editor

Brian C. Shipley Theresa M. Collins Linda E. Endersby Editors

David A. Ranzan Indexing Editor

Janette Pardo Richard Mizelle Peter Mikulas Indexers

Paul B. Israel Director and General Editor

Sponsors

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey National Park Service, Edison National Historic Site New Jersey Historical Commission Smithsonian Institution

A UPA Collection from

tjjjf LexisNexis-

7500 Old Georgetown Road • Bcthesda, MD 20814-6126

Thomas A. Edison Papers

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey endorsed by

National Historical Publications and Records Commission 18 June 1981

All rights reserved. No part of this publication including any portion of the guide and index or of the microfilm may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means— graphic, electronic, mechanical, or chemical, including photocopying, recording or taping, of information storage and retrieval systems-w ithout written permission of Rutgers, The State University ofNew Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

The original documents in this edition Historic Site at West Orange, New Jersey.

re from the archives at the Edison National

ISBN 978-0-88692-887-2

THOMAS A. EDISON PAPERS STAFF (2007)

Director and General Editor

Paul Israel

Senior Editor Thomas Jeffrey

Associate Editors Louis Carlat Theresa Collins

Assistant Editor David Hochfcldcr

Indexing Editor David Ranzan

Consulting Editor Linda Endersby

Visiting Editor Amy Flanders

Editorial Assistants Alexandra Rimer Kelly Enright Eric Barry

Outreach and Development (Edison Across the Curriculum)

Theresa Collins

Business Manager Rachel Wcisscnburgcr

BOARD OF SPONSORS (2007)

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey National Park Service

Richard L. McCormick Maryanne Gerbauckas

Ziva Galili Michelle Ortwein

Ann Fabian

Paul Clemens Smithsonian Institution

Harold Wallace

New Jersey Historical Commission Marc Mappen

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD (2007)

Robert Friedel, University of Maryland Louis Galambos, Johns Hopkins University Susan Hockey, Oxford University Thomas P. Hughes, University of Pennsylvania Ronald Kline, Cornell University Robert Rosenberg, John Wiley & Sons Marc Rothenberg, Joseph Henry Papers, Smithsonian Institution Philip Scranton, Rutgers University/Hagley Museum Merritt Roe Smith, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS

We thankfully acknowledge the vision and support of Rutgers University and the Thomas A. Edison Papers Board of Sponsors.

This edition was made possible by grant funds provided from the New Jersey Historical Commission, National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and The National Endowment for the Humanities. Major underwriting has been provided by the Barkley Fund, through the National Trust for the Humanities, and by The Charles Edison Foundation.

Wc are grateful for the generous support of the IEEE Foundation, the Hyde & Watson Foundation, the Martinson Family Foundation, and the GE Foundation. We acknowledge gifts from many other individuals, as well as an anonymous donor; the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies; and the Edison Electric Institute. For the assistance of all these organizations and individuals, as well as for the indispensable aid of archivists, librarians, scholars, and collectors, the editors are most grateful.

A Note on the Sources The pages which have been filmed are the best copies available. Every technical effort possible has been made to ensure legibility.

PUBLICATION AND MICROFILM COPYING RESTRICTIONS

Reel duplication of the whole or of any part of this film is prohibited. In lieu of transcripts, however, enlarged photocopies of selected items contained on these reels may be made in order to facilitate research.

EDISON GENERAL FILE SERIES 1917

ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE FOR 1917 CAN BE FOUND IN THE NAVAL CONSULTING BOARD RECORDS, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS SERIES

Edison General File Series 1917. Honors and Awards (E-17-50)

This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to Edison's awards and honors. Also included are offers of distinctions and awards as well as invitations to ceremonies, that Edison declined because of his aversion to attending formal events. Similar material can be found in E-17-52 (Invitations). The four selected items for 1917 consist of correspondence between Edison and Edgar F. Smith, provost of the University of Pennsylvania, concerning an honorary doctorate that the University wished to confer upon Edison. The inventor ultimately declined the honor, claiming that his work for the government prevented him from attending the commencement exercises One of the letters contains the following comment by Edison: if I must face Crowd I would rather not accept. The degree I received from Princeton laid me up three days."

Approximately 40 percent of the documents have been selected. The unselected items consist of letters to which Edison did not respond, along with material that duplicates the information in the selected documents.

a

H rf

May fifth

% La„m.v<J 'i-aJLU*'

c ,, *(gsi- <Ww»l

ieJ} ^Lt.^6

My dear Mr. Edison! ' v

The Trustees of the University of Pennsyl¬

«4«-

vania at their last meeting unanimously agreed to confer upon you the honorary degree of DOCTOR OF LAWS at our next Commencement, which will he held on June twentieth in the Metropolitan Opera House of this City, at ten o'cloclc in the morning.

The Statutes of the University require that recipients of degrees shall he present- in person.

Hoping that it will he agreeable to you to have me advise the Trustees of your acceptance of the degree, and with my personal congratulations,

MR. THOMAS ALVA EDISON, West Orange, N. J.

Very sincerely yours,

/ Provost.

3 04 0

V

. V' ‘ /May twenty-fourth

<y- , V> 1917

IV.

My dear Mr. Edison:

In reply to your letter received some days ago let me say that the University requires the recipients of honorary degrees to appear at Com¬ mencement. You wouldn't need to face and audience, nor to say one word. You simply rise and words are said to you, while you have the privilege of turn¬ ing your hack to the audience.

I hope you will find it convenient and agree¬ able to be with us. Please advise me.

Faithfully yours

' i?

-j- 'J\ t-t cX?

THOMAS A. EDISON, ESQ. East Orange, N. J.

fourteenth 10 17

To

My dear Mr. Edison:

On June twentieth at ten o'clock ^Ln the Metropolitan Opera House in the City of Phila¬ delphia, the University or Pennsylvania will hold its Commencement Exercises. Honorary de- grecswill he conferred, and as you know, the Board has unanimously chosen you to he the re¬ cipient of the degree of Doctor of Laws.

I trust that you will find it convenient to he with us and thus keep intact the line of distinguished gentlemen whom we hope to honor on that occasion.

Yours sincerely,

Mtt. THOMAS A. EDISON, East Orange, N. J.

Dr. iidpar F. Smith, Provost,

. Univorsity of Pennsylvania ,

: Philadelphia, Pa. '

Uy dear Doctor: _ *

Boplyinp to yOur ostoomed favor .‘of the 14th instant, let mo say 'that it trill • bo utterly impossible for me to attend the. Com¬ mencement Exorcises of the Univorsity of Pennsyl¬ vania on V/ednoBday next.

I "am in tho’ heart of soma important . Govornnont1 ttorl: trhich requires ray constant atten¬ tion. Unfortunately, X foel obliped to pot a little sleep once in a tthilo, but for most of this trook I have only avorapod' about throe hours sloop a flay.

I am suio that in view of existing con¬ ditions, you and tho Board v;ill not_deon me. un¬ gracious nor unapprociativo • of the desire to honor moin tho manner' you havo stated.

Edison General File Series 1917. Insurance [not selected] (E-17-51)

This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to both corporate and personal insurance. The documents for 1917 pertain to insurance on Edison's factory buildings. This business was handled by various Edison officials, including Arthur C. Frost of the Insurance Service Department. Many of the documents concern payments made for fire losses in the Aniline Plant and in the Disc Blank Manufacturing Division, as handled by fire adjusters Miller & Maltbie. There are also Construction and Maintenance Division shop orders, inventories of equipment in damaged buildings, and accounts of losses. None of the items show evidence of Edison's personal involvement.

Edison General File Series 1917. Invitations (E-17-52)

This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to banquets, luncheons, lectures, and special events to which Edison was invited. Similar material can be found in E-17-50 (Honors and Awards) The two selected items for 1 91 7 consist of telegrams exchanged between Edison and Edward J. Doyle of the Commonwealth Edison Co regarding a celebration dinner for longtime Edison associate Samuel Insull.

Less than 5 percent of the documents have been selected. The unselected material includes unsolicited invitations, tickets, and printed programs, along with routine responses stating that Edison was too busy or unwell to attend or that he was away on government business.

RECEIVED AT

233 MAIN ^T- ^ R A NQEi N?8’

THOS A EDISON ,

ORANGE NU.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY OF CHICAGO INVITES YOU TO A SMALL AMD INFORMAL DINNER AT THE CHICAGO CLUB CHICAGO MONDAY EVENING JUNE TWENTY FIFTH AT HALF AFTER SIX OCLOCK AM ALSO REQUESTS YOUR PRESENCE AT A MEETING OF THE COMP ANY S OFFICERS AND EMPLOYES TO BE HELD. THE SAME EVENING AT HALF AFTER EIGHT OCLOCK IN CUSTOMERS HALL EDISON BUILDING SEVENTY TWO WEST ADAMS STREET IN COMMEMORATION OF MR SAMUEL INSULLS TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE

COMPANY AMD ITS PREDECESSORS PLEASE EDISON BUILDING CHICAGO.

REPLY TO E.J. DOYLE MO' SIGNATURE 6 A

SECRETARY

Edison General File Series 1917. Lectures [not selected] (E-17-53)

This folder contains requests for Edison or members of his staff to deliver lectures or speeches. Also included are routine replies stating that Edison never made speeches and could not be induced to do so under any circumstances.

i

i r

Edison General File Series 1917. Legal - General [not selected] (E-17-54)

This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to general legal topics. The three items for 1917 are routine legal documents that do not pertain to Edison personally.

Edison General File Series 1917. Legal - Litigation (E-17-55)

This folder contains correspondence and other documents concerning legal cases involving Edison or companies in which he had an interest. Among the items for 1 917 are 34 pages of notes by Edison on court cases relating to the rights of patent holders. Among the cases prominently mentioned are Adams v. Burke (1873), Bauer & Cie v. O'Donnel (1913), Straus v. Victor Talking Machine Co. (1917), and Motion Picture Patents Co. v. Universal Film Mfg. Co. (1917) Also included are communications with Delos Holden, general counsel of the Legal Department, about a case coming up before the U.S. Supreme Court in January 1 91 8 about the validity of the Columbia Phonograph Co.'s price contract system with its dealers. In addition, there are items regarding a case against former employee Wilfred S. Dowling and a lawsuit threatened by A.M. Wood & Co., one of the suppliers for Edison's chemical plants.

All of the documents have been selected.

January 26,1017.

Ur.' Delos Holden:

Herewith I hand you a batch of correspondence with A. ll. hood 1 Company, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., relating to Iron Don inf-s for the aniline i-lunt. ale cor.oepdndpnees dates from 'January 21,1916 to June 17', 1016. I v:ub ro- liuoeto'd to send this correspondence to you ao you may -’■wish to use it in View of the suit which has boon threatened by A. li.’ !'■■■ Co., Inc.

law Eondinf; herewith a carbon copy of this memorandum and 'will he much obligee if you yivo ,no' a receipt thereon for this correspondence

-.if - '

Hr* CtarlOB Edi con,

Hr. 8. B. Eembort,

Hr. TJ. H. Eeddawcroft.

Hr. H. F. Hiller,

Hr. G. A. Hois tor.

She oooe against L'r. W. S. Dowling is called far tomorrow, lay 2nd, 1917, and you aro under subpoena to appear at the Essex County Court House at lOsOO A.H. on that date.

Hr. John S. Rogers, howevor, advises no tint he v;ill be at the Court House tomorrow morning ana will call us up if our presence io required. It is possible, of oourso, tint tho case will bo post¬

poned and Hr. Rogers in this way can save us all some valuable time.

Either Hr. Rogers or the writer will inform you tomorrow morning as to tho neooesity for appearing*

R.

EDISON PRIMARY BATTERY DIVISION

30 Church Street, New York November 30th,J917.

Ur. Thomas A. Edison,

Washington, D. C.

My dear Ur. Edisom-

An important case comes up for hearing before the U. S. Supreme §£urt about January 5th or shortly there¬ after, It involve invalidity of price contract system of the Columbia Graphone Company, that is, the validity of the license^ agreement which they enter into with their dealers, and as their system is slmUMv to onraythe; validity of our system will un¬ doubtedly be apSelSTSy^tlne disposition of this case. It is the first tins a case of this kind has come before the Supreme Court.

The Attorney for the Columbia Company, with whom I am well acquainted, has spoken about the case to me several times stating that he would be glad to have any suggestions from us or our co-operation in preparing the brief. A few days ago he called me on the Phone , and suggested that we Join with them in retaining a Ur. Daniel Kirby to argue the case. It is a case in which four questions are certified to the Supreme Court by the Circuit Court of Appeals of the 7th Clrouit. Three of the questions relate/ as to whether or not the Court would have Jurisdiction under the pattsmod, laws and whether price cutting would constitute infringement and the fourth question is broader and might include unpat^er^d articles.

The Columbia Attorney informed me that the Viotor Company would con¬ tribute the services of JameB 11. Beck to argue the fourth question.

Ur. Kirby is not so far as I know a Fatjfanji/ Lawyer and neither is Ur. Beck. It seemed to me that' it is very important that a Patten#/ lawyer take some part at least in the arguement and upon talking it over with Ur. Wilson and Ur. Maxwell it seemed to all of us that the, best plan would be for us not to Join in retaining Ur. Kirby, but instead of this to contribute the services of Ur. Bull.

I have talked the matter over with Ur, Bull and find that he is willing to take up this oase for us and prepare a brief and argue it, if permitted/for which his service oharges would not exceed $2,000. The reason why he might not be permitted to argue the case 1b that ordinarily the Supreme Court would not hear morgjjihan two Attorneys representing the same party/to wit the Columbia Party. It would be possible, however, to file the brief in any event. If the

DICTATED TO AND TRANSCRIBED FROM THE EDISON DICTATING MACHINE

Columbia Company decline our offer, it would then be in order to secure permission of the Court to file the brief on behalf of ^ Thomas A. Ediajyi, Incorporated as amicus curiae .for the reason 7S?!L/" although we will not a part^tte areinterested in the decision of the case.

ig'fivor any »f t

Before going 'M0> any »f the matter I should like to have your approval and as the time is very short, it would be better for you to telegraph me.

Very truly yourB,

RECEIVED AT 238 MAIN ST.

ORANGE, N. J.

22 NYR 11 ,

MA WASHINGTON DC 948 AM DEC 4 W H MEADOWCROFT

EDISON LABORATORY ORANGE NJ

INFORM HOLDEN I CONSENT TO EXPEND TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ENGAGING

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Edison General File Series 1917. Milan, Ohio [not selected] (E-17-56)

This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to Edison’s birthplace. There are only two items for 1917: an unsolicited letter asking if Edison went to school in Milan and a routine letter of acknowledgment regarding a photograph of the old family home.

Edison General File Series 1917. Miner's Safety Lamp (E-17-57)

This folder contains correspondence and other documents concerning Edison's battery-powered safety lamp. The two items for 1917 relate to Edison’s hope to sell his mining lamps to the Japanese firm of Mitsui & Co. for use in their Chinese coal mines. The correspondents are Harrison G. Thompson, general sales manager of the Edison Storage Battery Co.; William H. Meadowcroft, Edison's personal assistant; and Walter Stevens, manager of the Export Division of Thomas A. Edison, Inc.

All of the documents have been selected.

July 17,1917.

Ur . H . G. Thompson :

You probubly know of the big firm of Mitsui & Co., ltd., who huvo hundreds of • Agoriciee, which aro -located in all parts of 'the World. "hey have many industries , and huvo factories, shops and lurabor milln, niinos, otq.

Mr. Edison has had considerable dealings with them, and wo ai-e very good friends. Ur. Shuns o Takaki, one of thoir representatives who was in IIov;

York up to a few months ago is non the Manager of ono of their branches at' Tientsin, China. Ho has sent IJr. Edison the onclosod postal curd picture showing the men at work in a mine with gas masks on. You will seo Hr. Edison's note "How about Mining Lamps?"

I think it would be a. good thing if you wrote to Mr. Takaki, c/o Mitsui Susoan Xaisha, Lta., Tientsin, China, and told him that Hr. Edison has -shown you tho card and call his .attention to our Mining Lamps, giging him full particulars and pricos. Mitsui fc Co. are liberal purchasers 'of everything that ii up to date.

V.' . H . MEA IjOYi CROFT .

July

84th 1917.—

Ur. W. H. Iteadoworofti-

yqqp „ of ,» 17th Ihtt., IIM » Mr. H.Q. Thompson.

rs -ss? ».rsr ......

tlon.

a^Tfew weeks ^f^toaeTaS wuTi^all probability

of the lamps nay be folly explained to him, we a Ur. Takald. as per your suggestion.

a communicating with.

V/ALTEH 5TEVEN3

FHP/C

Edison General File Series 1917. Mining - General (E-17-58)

This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to mines and minerals to be bought, sold, surveyed, worked, ortested. Among the items for 1917 are letters from W. E. Sterne regarding a nickel deposit near San Diego; an offer to buy Edison's cobalt mining property in the Temagami Forest reserve of Ontario; and a request to consult Edison's surveys of mining property in New Jersey.

Approximately 20 percent of the documents have been selected. The unselected items include requests for information that did not receive a substantive response from Edison, along with routine correspondence about the transmittal and receipt of samples.

Juno 16,l'Jl2.

Hr. 17. K. 3 tor. no,

£60 0 second Stroot,

Sail Diego, Cal.

Dear Sir

Your favor of tho sth instant was reeoivod and ’shown to Hr. Edison. Shd^saaplos of nickel oro also camo to hand .

lie wishes no to say that whilo ho is very much intorestod, boing a largo ucor of nic3:ol, you should not consider him as a pocsiblo participator in your project, as ho could not pocsihly go into any mining end milling operations.

Hours vojy truly,

Assistant to Ur. Edison.

A/S401. ’

E. STERNE

, y ys / / ,

- A /

^yr.lJ ' iA°lV

^ . .j . j ii / ' V

y V y Mu

n niokel and oonpel t

ke imported duty /

;. This will likely b

rt/

Hr. V. H. Mandoworaft,

Orange, *. J.

Dear Sir: —

Canada intenda placing a heavy export duty fining in that country, 'the U. S. haa permit tod tho matte free but haa an import duty on tho refined prod’

under tho naff aot no* in oourae of preparation, daturally the price of nickel will be enhanced. ”e have a lar.ce deposit of the ore, of good quality, tho nine bains on patented land owned by our company, and adjoining claims that are direct¬ ly in the path of the ore body. So are not raining promoters or nyaoulatoi property ia held by a few men that have engaged in other lines of work. Tor in¬ stance, Mr. Hibbard, Gen. Supt. of the Santa Fe Ry Co., Mr. Harris, Chief Engineer of the a ana oompany, ray brother, brother-in-law and myself have for years been manufacturing gasoline engines, and members of our families. Ouff problem haa been to solve the refining of the nickel. 7a oan nine the ore and transport it oheaply to the dook3j but the refining of it is unsolved. Mr. Edison, and those surround¬ ing hira, are resourceful and I thought you night work out a solution, on a snail soale, and let the nine increase the size of the plant. !7e have at least five thousand tons of pure ore in sight and believe the hidden tonnage to bo large.

Y?e have been unable to find a smelter that would treat the of teohnioal knowledge and are willing to divide er grade of There ought

are in need a a fair basis. 7e have a high

} than is rainad in the Sudbury distriot, exoept the Vermillion nine, be a great deal of money in it for some one.

Youre truly.

iSto

UlZ. X^MisiynJL- .

July 2, 191?.

Ur. VI. E. Sterno,

2600 Second Stroot, San Diego, Cal.

Your favor of the 2Eth ultimo was rocoivcd and I have shown it to Ur. Edison. Ho Wishes rao to usl: you to oond an uvororo cnnplo of the ore. Ho lays emphasis on tho idoa that it would ho hotter to sond a poor average rather than a good 'average, for ho says' "2horo 1b no sonso in foiling one’s self".

Ho a ay a ho will look into tho natter and sco if it is possibl to got on inoxpons ivo procoss.

You oont no a sample of the ore, hut Hr. Edison thinks you had ) erhaps -bo.ttor send, another sanplo uoloctod in view of tho above remakks. Please address tho sample to rao.

Yourc vory truly.

tocistant to Hr. Sdioon.

{

A/3L10,

d

Mr Thomas A. Edison, Orange ,W. J. Bear Sir;-

Worth Bay, Sept