This collection consists primarily of letters exchanged between Edison and Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, along with related correspondence. Many of the typewritten letters are accompanied by drafts in Edison's hand. The documents in this folder are from March 1917. They pertain to a mask developed by Edison to prevent sulphurous gas from the smoke stacks of ships from harming the splash observers (spotters) stationed on the tops of the masts. According to Daniels, "the spotter is a very busy man and requires the absolutely free use of hands, feet, and eyes, and even the gas masks supplied to men in the turrets would inconvenience him in his duties considerably." Related material can be found in Report 22.
This project is described on p. 183 of Lloyd N. Scott's Naval Consulting Board of the United States.
[X128C19A], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to Josephus Daniels, March 19th, 1917 1917-03-19
[X128C19B], Letter from Josephus Daniels to Thomas Alva Edison, March 21st, 1917 1917-03-21
[X128C19C], Letter from Josephus Daniels to Thomas Alva Edison, March 27th, 1917 1917-03-27