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Many lawsuits were brought by the Edison Electric Light Co. during the 1880s and 1890s. Most of these concern Edison's basic patent for lamp filaments (U.S. Patent 223,898). The most important case was published in Thomas A. Edison Papers, Part II (1879-1886): Edison Electric Light Company v. United States Electric Lighting Company (the "Filament Case"). Entered into the record of that case were testimony and exhibits from the patent interference proceeding, Sawyer and Man v. Edison, and from two earlier electric light cases [not selected]: Consolidated Electric Light Company v. McKeesport Light Company (the "McKeesport Case") and Edison Electric Light Company v. Westinghouse, Church, Kerr & Company (the "Trenton Feeder Case").

There are a few suits concerning other aspects of electric light and power technology. Two of these cases have been partially selected: (1) Electric Railway Company of the U.S. v. The Jamaica and Brooklyn Road Company; and (2) William Kemmler v. Charles F. Durston. Both cases contain testimony by Edison and his assistants, along with exhibits pertaining to their work.

Not selected are (1) two briefs concerning points of law affecting the Edison Electric Light Co.'s attempts to secure the lamp patent; and (2) two binders containing court decisions from all the lamp patent cases.

Courtesy of Thomas Edison National Historical Park.