[SB510-F] Cat. 44,509
Item set
Title
Description
This scrapbook contains clippings from December 1914-February 1915 relating to the fire on December 9 that began in the film inspection building and destroyed or damaged more than half of the buildings in the West Orange laboratory complex. Included are eyewitness accounts of the fire itself and Edison's reaction to it, along with articles about the death of employee William H. Troeber, salvage efforts during and after the fire, and the performance of Edison's "fireproof" concrete buildings. There are also several reports of the fire from French newspapers. In addition, there are clippings pertaining to the aftermath of the fire, including Edison's commitment to rapid rebuilding; the role of his wife, Mina Miller Edison; speculation that he might relocate from West Orange; and an offer of financial assistance from Henry Ford. An article from the February 1915 issue of Edison Phonograph Monthly deals with reconstruction and includes many photographs, as do the assessments published in Engineering News and other engineering journals. The spine is inscribed "Edison Fire 1914." The book contains 93 numbered pages, a few of which are blank. Related clippings can be found in Scrapbook, Cat. 44,510.