[The following note describes a series of volumes and has no documents attached to it. For that reason, a "no Documents found" message will appear if the "List Documents" button at the bottom of the note is used. To see the documents in the volumes described here, use the "Which Series Notes?" button to enter the Series Notes or use the "Next Text" button to move to the first item in the series.]

This set of books comprises scrapbooks, logbooks, notebooks, and other bound items that do not have archival N- or PN-numbers. The books contain material regarding orders of equipment to outfit the laboratory, the administration of experimental projects, inventory and supplies, as well as recording information for phonograph cylinders, labor records, and other administrative items. Some of the material that pertains to the outfitting of the new laboratory is by Edison. Most of the material, however, is by unidentified storekeepers and office personnel.

Only four books have been selected. Books that deal mainly with inventory and supplies, labor records, and shop orders have not been selected. Also not selected is a notebook used by A. Theo E. Wangemann to list musical recordings for phonograph cylinders. A transcription of this book can be found in Allen Koenigsberg, Edison Cylinder Records, 1889-1912 (New York, Stellar Productions, 1969): 109-133.

Records not selected

Order Books

These sixteen books cover the period January 1886-January 1897. The books contain order stubs, nos. 1501-11000, listing equipment and supplies ordered for the New York and West Orange laboratories. There are both gaps and duplication of order numbers among the books.

Scrapbook, E-6579-5

This scrapbook covers the period May 1887-August 1891. The book contains approximately thirty catalogs and advertising circulars for scientific and technical apparatus and office supplies.

Scrapbooks, Supplies

These two scrapbooks cover the period August 1887-March 1891. They were used primarily by an unidentified employee, and include one brief note by Charles Batchelor. The books contain clippings from various suppliers' catalogs and brochures, along with attached correspondence regarding orders of chemicals and other supplies for the West Orange laboratory.

Notebook, Cat. 618

This notebook covers the period November 1887-July 1891. It was used primarily by an unidentified employee and includes some entries by Arthur E. Kennelly. It contains an inventory of chemicals, herbs, cereals, and other material kept in stock at the laboratory. The book was used only to note receipt of the supplies. Headings regarding the location, use, and reordering of material are blank.

Notebook, E-2531, Cat. 1410

This notebook covers the period May 1889-April 1892. It was used by A. Theo E. Wangemann and an unidentified employee to list recording information made for phonograph cylinders. Each entry notes the date of the production, and the musician, instrument, and composition recorded. Pages 200-205 list recordings made on special order for various employees, associates, and friends of Edison, as well as cylinders produced for Emperor William II of Germany, Herman von Helmholtz, and Emil Rathenau. A transcription of this book can be found in Allen Koenigsberg, Edison Cylinder Records, 1889-1912 (New York, Stellar Productions, 1969): 109-133.

Notebook, 1890-1893

This notebook covers the period November 1890-October 1893. It was used by an unidentified employee to record the time worked each week by various laboratory personnel. The weekly compilations are incomplete, as they do not list every person on the laboratory payroll.

Notebook, Chemical Analyses

This notebook covers the period June-July 1891. The book contains the record stubs of ore assays and other chemical analyses, nos. 2-83, performed by Jonas Walter Aylsworth and Joseph W. Harris. Stub nos. 1 and 34 have been removed from the book.

Receiving Books

These two books cover the period January-June 1898. They were used by an unidentified experimenter to record daily deliveries of equipment and supplies.