The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

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These documents consist primarily of items written by Theodore Miller Edison (1898-1992), the youngest child of Thomas Edison and his second wife, Mina Miller Edison. The dated correspondence is from 1908, 1922, 1926, and 1932. There are also a few undated items from Theodore's childhood and various writings dating from the 1950s through the 1980s. The earliest document is a whimsical two-page essay by Madeleine relating a discussion with Charles about the "problem" of "our little brother Theodore viewed in the light of past, present, and future events." There are several drafts of this essay, none of which are complete. A letter addressed to "Father," dated November 2, 1908, was composed and written by Mina and signed by her as "Ted." It contains a detailed account of the Halloween barn dance at Glenmont. An undated letter to Madeleine in Mina's handwriting, possibly from November 1905, mentions another Halloween party. The 1932 item is a letter from Theodore to Mina renouncing his share in her inheritance and explaining his plan to turn over the stock inherited from his father to the employees of Edison Industries. Also included are three reminiscences by Theodore from the 1970s and 1980s about his father and about growing up at Glenmont.

The items not selected include a Christmas card to Ted and Elaine Sloane, 1938; a folder of published and unpublished writings, including a 1968 reprinting of Theodore's 1966 New York Times essay opposing U.S. involvement in Vietnam; a 1976 photograph of Theodore and his wife Ann; obituaries of Theodore and Ann (who passed away two months after Theodore); and a series of handwritten letters by David Sloane regarding Theodore.