The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

This letterbook covers the period January-October 1903. Most of the correspondence is by Edison and John F. Randolph. There are also letters by Walter S. Mallory and others. Many of the items relate to the construction and financing of the Edison Portland Cement Co. plant at Stewartsville, New Jersey. Included are references to the fire at the plant in March 1903 that killed eight workers. There is also correspondence concerning the technical and commercial development of Edison's alkaline storage battery and its use in electric vehicles, including a series of letters to Herman E. Dick regarding its possible foreign exploitation. In addition, there are letters pertaining to the Mining Exploration Co. of New Jersey; Edison's search for nickel in the Sudbury district of Ontario and in other locations; and to the organization of the New Jersey Patent Co. Also included are letters regarding the erection of the iron ore concentration plant in the Dunderland region of Norway, in connection with the Edison Ore Milling Syndicate, Ltd., along with other items pertaining to Edison's interest in ore milling, mines, and ores. There are a few letters dealing with the domestic phonograph business, as well as a letter describing the deleterious effects of x-rays on Edison's laboratory assistant, Clarence Dally. Among the items relating to family and personal matters are several letters concerning the sale of the house at Menlo Park owned by Edison's oldest daughter, Marion Edison Oeser; a letter from Edison to the town council of West Orange protesting the granting of a liquor license; and a list by Edison of his five "most important inventions."

The label on the front cover contains the following notation: "T.A. Edison - Letter Book. -from- January 8 -1903- to -October 22- 1903." There is a label on the spine with similar information. The book contains 498 numbered pages and an index. Approximately 25 percent of the book has been selected.