These records, which cover the years 1868-1884, consist of correspondence and other unbound documents pertaining to Edison's relationship with Western Union and affiliated companies such as the Gold and Stock Telegraph Co. and the American Speaking Telephone Co. Included are letters from Edison to Western Union president William Orton, his successor Norvin Green, and other company officials regarding his quadruplex and acoustic telegraph and his carbon telephone—an invention that grew out of his work on acoustic telegraphy. Also included is an caveat (preliminary patent application) for a fire alarm, a patent application for improvements in the acoustic telegraph, and a pamphlet by the Gold and Stock company promoting Edison's new telephone. Other documents deal with Edison's contractual relationship with Western Union and with the American Bell Telephone Co., which acquired the rights to Edison's telephone patents after the merger of the American Speaking Telephone Co. and the Bell Telephone Co. in 1879