[The following note describes a series of volumes and folders 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 and folders 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 collection covers the years 1856-1974. It contains correspondence, technical notes and drawings, legal documents, and other items pertaining to Thomas Edison from childhood to death, along with documents relating to many of his business associates. Many of the documents concern the long friendship between Edison and Henry Ford. The collection is divided into ten series.

Series I: Manuscripts (Boxes 1-12). This series contains letters to and from Edison, business correspondence between the Edison and Ford offices, Edison family correspondence, general correspondence from Edison associates, and non-correspondence such as addresses and articles. The documents are arranged in the following subseries: (1) Thomas Alva Edison Correspondence (Boxes 1-3); (2) Thomas A. Edison-Henry Ford Office Correspondence, 1914-1931 (boxes 4-7); (3) Thomas A. Edison Family Correspondence, 1879-1959 (box 8); (4) Menlo Park Restoration (box 9) [not selected]; (5) General Correspondence (boxes 10-11); and (6) Non-Correspondence (box 12).

Series II: Thomas Alva Edison Notes, Drawings and Sketchbooks (Boxes 13-14).This series contains technical notes and drawings signed by Edison or attributed to him, along with other technical material.

Series III: Documents (Boxes 15-16). This series contains agreements, blueprints, contracts, deeds, financial data, and mortgages.

Series IV: Patents (Boxes 17-25) [not selected]. This series contains copies of Edison’s U.S. patents.

Series V: Edison Pioneers (Boxes 26-46). This series contains correspondence, biographical tributes, and other documents relating to members of the Edison Pioneers, an organization of individuals who were associated with Edison during his career. Also included is a set of notebooks by Charles L. Clarke, chief engineer of the Edison Electric Light Co. of New York. The documents are arranged in the following subseries: (1) Individual Edison Pioneers (Boxes 26-42); (2) General Edison Pioneer Information and Activities (box 43) [not selected]; (3) Constitution and By-Laws of the Edison Pioneers (box 44) [not selected]; and (4) Correspondence between the Edison Institute and Descendant Family Members (boxes 45-46) [not selected].

Series VI: Edison Artifacts (Box 47). This series includes a wide assortment of memorabilia and artifacts ranging from a tinfoil recording allegedly made by Sarah Bernhardt to the wedding invitation of Edison's daughter Madeleine. The one item selected for publication appears with the selected documents from Series VII.

Series VII: Printed Matter (box 48). This series consists of articles, addresses, and pamphlets relating to Edison’s career and family.

Series VIII: Recording Artists (boxes 49-109) [not selected]. This series contains material pertaining to various Edison recording artists.

Series IX: Photographs [not selected]. This series was unprocessed at the time the collection was edited.

Series X: Oversize Material. This series contains oversized blueprints, drawings, maps, and articles. Also included is a bound inventory of William J. Hammer's collection of light bulbs.

Courtesy of the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village Research Center.