These documents cover the years 1887-1901. They consist of correspondence and other documents relating to telegraph and telephone patents obtained by Edison while under contract to Western Union and later acquired by the American Bell Telephone Co. The correspondents include Edison, his patent attorney Lemuel W. Serrell, American Bell Telephone Co. President John E. Hudson, Western Union President Thomas T. Eckert, and patent attorneys Thomas D. Lockwood and W. W. Swan.