These letters, all dating from 1881, relate to the display of Edison's illuminating system at the Paris Electrical Exposition. Many of the documents are in French. Most of letters are written to Georges Berger, commissioner-general of the Exposition. Correspondents include the banking firm of Drexel, Harjes & Co., requesting information about the Exposition on Edison's behalf; Philip Walker, secretary of the U.S. Commission, regarding the installation of Edison's lighting system; and Theodore Puskas and Joshua F. Bailey, Edison's official representatives, requesting a dynamometer for use with the display. There are also letters from Berger to Charles Batchelor, Edison's chief assistant, and to Puskas and Bailey, praising Batchelor's installation of the exhibit and discussing the removal of a steam engine at the close of the Exposition.

Only those documents pertaining directly to Edison's inventions and interests have been selected. Routine letters and those containing duplicate information have not been selected.