The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

[This note covers the entire Edison Electric Light Company of Europe, Ltd., Records.]

These records cover the years 1885 and 1887-1894. Most of the documents pertain to the financial, legal, and general administrative affairs of the company, including bond issues, patent matters, and minutes of board of directors' meetings. There are also items regarding relations between the company and its associated European firms. Among the correspondents are Samuel Insull, who served at various times as president and secretary of the company; Alfred O. Tate, secretary and treasurer; and Sherburne B. Eaton, Edison's personal attorney and company counsel. There are also letters to and from Louis Rau and other officials of the Compagnie Continentale Edison. Some of the documents from the 1890s are water damaged and may be difficult to read. A finding aid is available at the Edison National Historical Park.

Approximately 20 percent of the documents have been selected. The following categories of documents have not been selected: correspondence and other items regarding routine stock matters, including transfers of shares, inquiries about the stock's value, and stockholder lists; routine reports and meeting announcements; canceled checks and other routine financial documents; duplicate copies of selected items; and documents that duplicate the information found in selected material. Most of the records for the period 1880-1886 were integrated into the Document File and published in Thomas A. Edison Papers, Part II (1879-1886).