Archive of Thomas A. Edison's Writings
The comprehensive edition of Thomas Alva Edison's papers, known as The Papers of Thomas A. Edison, is a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike. This collection offers a detailed insight into Edison's life, work, and vision, spanning his inventions, business dealings, and collaborative industrial research that shaped the modern technological world.
The collection includes laboratory notebooks, diaries, business records, correspondence, and related materials. These documents are available in both a digital edition and a 9-volume book edition, with each volume downloadable at no cost. To access the collection, researchers and scholars can visit the Thomas A. Edison Papers - History Vault or the digital edition page linked via archival and academic resources.
One of the most significant pieces in this collection is the drawing for the Phonograph, which Edison created in the year 1880. This drawing is a testament to the early stages of sound recording technology and is considered a significant piece of American inventive history. The Phonograph drawing is preserved at the National Archives.
Edison, the American inventor who lived from 1847 to 1931, is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory. He is best known for inventing or developing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Edison applied the principles of mass production and large-scale teamwork to the process of invention.
A microfilm collection containing approximately ten percent of the 5 million pages of Edison documents at the Edison National Historic Site was funded by the NHPRC. This microfilm collection, which covers the years 1850-1919 and consists of 288 microfilm reels, is accessible to researchers and the public. The publication of information about the Phonograph drawing by Thomas A. Edison is handled by Rutgers University, and the drawing itself is part of the collection at Rutgers University.
For those interested in exploring more about Edison's life and work, the comprehensive edition of his papers can be found at the website: https://edison.rutgers.edu/. This edition is considered invaluable for studying the history of science, technology, and American culture in relation to Edison’s innovations. The Phonograph drawing by Thomas A. Edison, as well as the rest of the collection, offers a unique perspective on the development of technology and the mind of one of America's greatest inventors.
- The comprehensive edition of Thomas A. Edison's papers, which offers a unique perspective on the development of technology, is available in both a digital edition and a 9-volume book edition.
- The Phonograph drawing, a significant piece of American inventive history and a testament to the early stages of sound recording technology, is part of the collection at Rutgers University.
