These documents relate to the benzol absorption plant built by Edison at the works of the Cambria Steel Co. in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The selected items pertain to design and operation issues in which Edison took a direct interest. Included are documents relating to the sale of toluol to the British Chemical Co. of Canada for the manufacture of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and the closure and dismantling of the plant in 1918 at the conclusion of Edison's agreement with the Cambria Steel Co. Also included are daily production reports prepared by plant manager John Bacon, Jr., bearing comments by Edison, along with communications from William H. Meadowcroft, who managed Edison's chemical business. Other correspondents include engineer William H. Mason, who oversaw the construction of the plant, and John T. McDermott of the Efficiency Service Dept.

Approximately 5 percent of the documents have been selected, including all substantive items relating to Edison's interests or involvement in the Johnstown plant. The unselected material includes correspondence regarding production, shipping, and repair; numerous additional daily reports, some of which contain marginalia similar to that on the selected items; and a variety of financial and technical documents.