These clippings cover the year 1915. Most of the items are taken from newspapers, but there are several longer magazine articles as well. Many of the clippings relate to Edison's opinions about the war in Europe, his appointment as chairman of the newly formed Naval Consulting Board, and the use of Edison storage batteries in submarines. Also included are clippings concerning the fire of December 1914 and subsequent rebuilding efforts; the debate about the respective merits of brick and concrete structures; and the report of the National Fire Protection Association and National Board of Fire Underwriters, which attributed the fire to the lack of protective measures on the part of the Edison company, mistakes by the West Orange Water Co., and an undermanned local fire department. Some of the articles report tensions between the West Orange Fire Dept. and the Edison company's brigade of volunteer fire fighters.
In addition, there are clippings regarding Edison's plans to shut down his cement plant at Stewartsville, New Jersey, because of slumping sales; the deaths of longtime associates Charles E. Chinnock and H. Ward Leonard; Edison's receipt of various medals and honors; his views on protecting the chemical industry through trade laws; and his development of a miner's lamp and a powerful portable searchlight. There are also many items pertaining to the visit by Edison and Henry Ford to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco; their meeting with botanist Luther Burbank; their trip to Los Angeles; and Edison's attendance at the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego.
Approximately 20 percent of the clippings have been selected. Most of the unselected items are duplicate versions of stories about Edison's appointment to the Naval Consulting Board and his trip to California. Also unselected are clippings, unrelated to Edison, about submarines, the war, and the California expositions.
Most of the news stories about the fire of December 1914 and its aftermath can be found in Cat. 44,509 and Cat. 44,510 in the Scrapbook Series. Hundreds of additional clippings about the Naval Consulting Board and Edison's visit to California can be found in Cat. 44,452, Cat. 44,453, and Cat. 44,454 in the Scrapbooks Series.
[SC15057A], Clipping, Boston American, July 14th, 1915 1915-07-14