Part Of: Edison General File Series -- 1918

[E1879-F] (E-18-79) Submarines

This folder contains correspondence and other items relating to Edison's well-known interest in submarines and antisubmarine warfare during World War I. The documents consist primarily of unsolicited suggestions from the general public about how to defeat submarines. Among the selected items for 1918 is a letter to the Scientific American regarding their article on a new non-ricocheting shell for use against submarines. Also included is a letter to James D. Ross, superintendent of lighting for Seattle, Washington, about the idea of using magnetic lines for submarine detection. Other correspondents include submarine pioneer Simon Lake and Edison's Llewellyn Park neighbor Harry T. Shriver.

Approximately one third of the documents have been selected. The unselected items consist of unsolicited suggestions that received no substantive reply, along with letters of transmittal and acknowledgment.

Most of Edison's correspondence concerning submarines, including additional letters to and from James D. Ross, can be found in the Naval Consulting Board and Wartime Research Papers, Special Collections Series.

Courtesy of Thomas Edison National Historical Park.

Show all folders in the Edison General File category >>