Part Of: Edison General File Series -- 1918

[E1887-F] (E-18-87) World War I

This folder contains correspondence and other documents pertaining to World War I, which ended on November 11, 1918, and its aftermath. Included is a letter from Edison written in support of the Belgian Army, along with printed circulars from British novelist Ethel H. Alec-Tweedie regarding American support for the war and food economization efforts in Britain. Also included is a request signed by Charles Edison and five other senior company officials for Thomas Edison make a recording of a speech entitled "Let Us Not Forget," which he did on December 30, 1918. This was reportedly the first time the inventor had ever "permitted his voice to be recorded for the public."

Approximately 5 percent of the documents have been selected. The unselected material includes a wide range of unsolicited letters, printed documents, clippings, and essays sent to Edison in an effort to attract his attention. None of the items bear Edison's comments beyond the initial "E," and none received a substantive reply.

Courtesy of Thomas Edison National Historical Park.

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