These documents cover the years 1881-1892, with most of the items dating from 1884-1885. They relate primarily to experiments conducted by Edison for the American Bell Telephone Co. Included are items pertaining to Edison's contractual arrangements with the Bell company. Also included are copies of Patent Office decisions on three Edison telephone applications. Among the correspondents are Edison, his business associate Ezra T. Gilliland, Bell officials John E. Hudson and Theodore N. Vail, and patent attorneys Thomas D. Lockwood and Chauncey Smith.