Correspondence - Edison, Thomas Alva., 05/25/1922-06/07/1922

File — Box: 1, Folder: 2

Identifier: 34191

Collection-level Scope and Content Note

From the Collection:

The Thomas Armat Papers consist of a few letters to Thomas Armat and members of his family and 67 glass negatives with photos of documents and early motion picture devices. The correspondence includes 1 letter from Thomas Edison to Armat crediting Armat with the invention of the motion picture projector and 1 letter from Orville Wright to Armat regarding the Smithsonian Institution. Many of the photos are of legal documents for a case, Armat Motion Picture Company v. Edison Manufacturing Company.

Bulk dates: 1895 - 1946 Span dates: 1895 - 1978 Extent: .75 LINEAR FEET

Dates

05/25/1922-06/07/1922

Collection-level Access Restrictions

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Extent

From the Collection: 1.0 Cubic Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Shelf Location

8/12/7R

Container Summary

3 letters from the Laboratory of Thomas A. Edison regarding a dispute between Thomas Armat and the Smithsonian Institution. In the early 1920's, the Smithsonian displayed a motion picture device co-invented by Thomas Armat and C. Francis Jenkins but labelled it as the invention of Jenkins alone. Includes 1 TLS (w/ copy TLS and envelope) signed by Thomas Edison (25 May 1922) to Armat in support of his claim against the Smithsonian, giving Armat full credit for the invention of the motion picture projector which Edison marketed in 1896. Also includes 1 TLS from William H. Meadowcroft (7 Jun 1922), Assistant to Mr. Edison, to Armat enclosing a copy of a letter from Edison to Charles D. Walcott of the Smithsonian supporting Armat's claim against the museum. The copy of Edison's letter to Walcott (7 Jun 1922) contains a signature of Thomas Edison, but may have been signed for him by Meadowcroft or a secretary. Photographs and glass negatives of the two Edison letters can be found elsewhere in the collection.

Subjects and Associated Physical Materials

ARMAT, THOMAS - CORRESP.: Typed Letter Signed

EDISON, THOMAS ALVA - CORRESP.: Typed Letter Signed

JENKINS, C. FRANCIS - REFERENCE: Typed Letter Signed

VITASCOPE - REFERENCE: Typed Letter Signed

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION - CORRESP.: Typed Letter Signed

WALCOTT, CHARLES D. - CORRESP.: Typed Letter Signed