The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

This letterbook covers the period October 1903-July 1904. Most of the correspondence is by Edison and John F. Randolph. There are also letters by Walter S. Mallory, Frederick P. Ott, and others. Many of the items relate to the Edison Portland Cement Co. plant at Stewartsville, New Jersey, which began operation in September 1903. There is also correspondence concerning the technical and commercial development of Edison's alkaline storage battery and its use in electric vehicles. Included are letters to Herman E. Dick regarding the possible foreign exploitation of the storage battery, along with a letter to John Jacob Astor suggesting that he invest in the Edison Storage Battery Co. In addition, there are letters to John V. Miller pertaining to the Mining Exploration Co. of New Jersey and to Edison's search for nickel in the Sudbury district of Ontario and in other locations. 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 relating to Edison's interest in ore milling, mines, and ores. There is a letter to Francis Arthur Jones from Randolph's assistant, John A. Boehme, delineating the organizational structure of the West Orange laboratory and a letter from Edison to attorney Frank L. Dyer giving him "sole and entire charge of my patent work." A few items refer to the domestic phonograph business, Edison's experiments with x-rays, and his interest in acquiring samples of radium. Among the items relating to family and personal matters are letters concerning the launch Mina, purchased in February 1902, and a letter containing Edison's recollections of the lighting of Menlo Park in December 1879.

The label on the front cover contains the following notation: "T.A. Edison - Letter Book. from Oct. 22 - 1903 to July. 25 - 1904." There is a label on the spine with similar information. The book contains 499 numbered pages and an index. Approximately 25 percent of the book has been selected.