1881

Caravalho, D.N., fl. 1881

Photograph signed

Title: The Edison 250-light dynamo.

Signed by principal lighting engineer, Charles L. Clarke. Depicts generator body with six stacks, larger than the 150-light dynamo. Printed text on mount identifies Edison Machine Works as the site of the dynamo's production. Pencil inscription below title reads, "1881." While some parts of the image are faded, most of the dynamo's composite parts appear in clear focus. See GLC07616.06 for the 150-light dynamo.

GLC07616.07

1919

Keystone View Company

Photograph

Title: The most famous inventor of the age, Thomas A. Edison in his laboratory

Stereocard of Edison in his laboratory. Biographical sketch of Edison is printed on verso.

GLC07616.08

1906-1908

Edison, Thomas Alva, 1847-1931

Photograph

Title: Five rare kinetososcope (moving pictures) still photos

The still photos are: #1 "The Terrible Kids" (scene 9) 10.5 x 13.2 cm, "A Dumb Hero" (scene 5) 12.5 x 15.0, "Bridal Couple dodging cameras" (scene 5) 13.2 x 15.7, "A Race for Millions" (scene 4) 13.1 x 15.7, "Tale the Autumn Leaves Told" (scene 5) 13.2 x 15.7. With Library of Congress copyright stamp on verso, noting date received and copyright number assigned.

GLC07616.09

24 June 1797

Cruger, Nicholas, fl. 1766-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses Knox's business in New York and relays a message from his wife to Mrs. Knox. Also includes a table of the weather patterns, such as temperature and barometric pressure, for the month of May.

GLC02437.06993

May 15, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

Marked "Copy." Letter in a secretarial hand. Says that Joel Barlow, later known as one of the Connecticut Wits, will deliver this letter. Knox identifies Barlow as the author of "The vision of Columbus," a long epic poem in heroic couplets. Barlow went to Europe as an agent for a company that wanted to sell western lands to French emigrants. Knox says Barlow is traveling with the son of Nathanael Greene, George Washington Greene, who is to study with Lafayette in France. Says Catharine Greene and Colonel Wadsworth have written him on the subject of "Master Washington's education," and he will…

GLC02437.03874

19 June 1782

Lamb, John, 1735-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he has, pursuant to Knox's instructions, sent Captain [William] Stevens to Secretary at War [Benjamin] Lincoln with a section of a howitzer shell and a request that Lincoln order Mr. [John Jacob] Faesch to produce the number of shells Knox requested. Lamb also asked General Lincoln to give Captain Stevens an order to the Financier for enough money to "defray his expences," but Lincoln said he did not need to go to the Financier until the shells were cast. Also relates that Captain Patten mentioned a machine in Springfield "for cutting Elevating-Screws" and asks Knox to order…

GLC02437.01457

1810

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Book

Title: Torpedo War, and Submarine Explosions

The book illustrates different methods of torpedo and submarine defense, that Robert Fulton invented himself. Contains 5 illustrations.

GLC03107.05318

29 August 1790

Jeffries, John, fl. 1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jeffries writes to Knox thanking him for his kindness. Says he fears more for his wife whose "constitution" is particularly vulnerable, which also prevents Jeffries from traveling from Boston. Asks Knox to present a copy of his [aerial] narrative to the President of the United States, George Washington.

GLC02437.04705

3 October 1783

Bushnell, David, 1740-1826

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Weekly return for the corps of Sappers and Miners]

Lists men by status, rank and file. Written at Constitution Island.

GLC02437.02612

22 July 1791

Phillips, Samuel, 1752-1802

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says that for the past several years he has been trying to make gunpowder "to as great a degree of perfection as I was able." Claims he supplied large amounts to the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. States the "Essaymaster for this state" determined it was equal in quality to English gunpowder. Notes Israel Holt, the bearer of this letter, will offer some samples. Knows that Knox wants "to promote the manufacture of an article so essential to our national safety, and the Interest of your native State in particular..." Can give a small quantity now and a larger amount in…

GLC02437.05079

January 23, 1793

Russell, Thomas, fl. 1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written in Russell's hand, but is signed by both Russell and James Sullivan. References a letter they wrote to Knox on 9 December 1792. That letter received no answer, so they are repeating its contents in this letter. They are writing in their capacity as committee members appointed by the directors of the Middlesex Canal Company. The directors are happy that Knox is friendly to their plan. Says they are under "a greater necessity to procure a man who is skilled in the business of Canalling who can point us to the place where under all circumstances, the canal ought to be cut." Heard…

GLC02437.05791

February 1, 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to James Sullivan

Apologizes for not responding to Sullivan's earlier request for information on a canal engineer from Europe who recently arrived in Philadelphia (see GLC02437.05964). Knox waited to write until the engineer, Mr. Weston, an Englishman, arrived in the city from the countryside. This still has not happened. Will ask Mr. Morris if Mr. Weston can be spared to help on Sullivan's project at the Middlesex Canal Company. Knox says he cannot speak for Weston's abilities, but that the company in Philadelphia is satisfied with his work. Tells Sullivan the project will succeed only if they have a good…

GLC02437.06037

28 March 1773

Oliver, Andrew, 1731-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Returns a copy of the Nautical Almanac for 1774 because it is missing pages containing calculations of the eclipses of Jupiter's satellites for the month of May. He wishes to exchange it for a complete one. Oliver one of the founders of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the American Philosophical Society. He published an "Essay on Comets" the previous year.

GLC02437.00046

19 April 1773

Oliver, Andrew, 1731-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written on same sheet as Knox's reply to Oliver's last letter (see GLC02437.00046), in which Oliver requested a new copy of the Nautical Almanac for 1774 because pages were missing. Knox promises to return Oliver's Almanac to him with a fixed page. Oliver acknowledges Knox's response and requests some additional books. Among them are the annual registers for 1771 and 1772, "A Treatise of Artificial Magnets," "Tables of Time," "Pilgrim's Progress," and the 5th volume in "A General Dictionary Historical and Critical," which Oliver lost in a house fire in 1760. Oliver one of the founders of…

GLC02437.00053

January 25, 1862

Scientific American

Newspaper

Title: Scientific American. [Vol. 6, no. 4 (January 25, 1862)]

GLC00005.02

29 July 1776

Webb, Samuel Blachley, 1753-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Upon the direction of George Washington, provides a letter of introduction for a Mr. Belton, who was recommended by a member of the Continental Congress, to make "some experiments on the Enemies Ships." Requests that Knox assist Belton, give him three canons, and keep the operation a secret. At the time, Webb was one of Washington's aides.

GLC02437.00399

29 March 1790

Miranda, Francisco de, 1750-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Wishes to introduce Knox to a friend of his, Count Paolo Andreani from Milan, Italy, who intends to visit America. Describes him as a top "diletante in Chimistery, and natural history, in Europe." Asks him to introduce Count Andreani to General Washington.

GLC02437.04563

8 June 1794

Maunsell, John, fl. 1724-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions the French Navy has been cruising on the American coast. Discusses the recent discoveryby his brother, a man of science, in potato cultures. Informs Knox his brother [William Maunsell] sent a packet that explains the discovery, which he is forwarding to Knox. Requests Knox presents this packet to President George Washington. Comments he would like to hear what the president's opinion was on the matter. See GLC02437.06066 for further information on William Maunsell's letter to John Maunsell explaining his discovery.

GLC02437.06114

February 2, 1791

Miranda, Francisco de, 1750-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for his letter of 6 September 1790. Writes he is pleased "to see the flourishing State in which N. America is grown...and wished that my own poor miserable Country in the South, could say the same." Comments on the plans for the new militia and says he agrees with Knox that "the forme of the Roman Legion is infitely [sic] superior to any other Organization or military arangement [sic] we know yet!"

GLC02437.04848

February 24, 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to John Nazro

Has not considered Nazro's letter because "by law the mode of obtaining patents has been altered." Encloses the circumstances of the new law, which passed on 21 February. When he applies under the new law he will obtain his patent.

GLC02437.06050

October 5, 1862

Hughes, Alfred, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Hughes

The weather; discussion with Rev. Dr. Baldwin about the origin of the races; photographs of his children; low opinion of Judge [Thompson] for not writing or assisting them.

GLC02166.082

8 November 1862

Renshaw, Richard T., 1822-1879

Letter signed

Title: to Henry K. Davenport

Reports "a most successful trial of one of the Machines for blowing up vessels constructed by Second Assistant Engineer John L. Lay." Describes the trial, during which a "Sch'r of sixty tons floated over catching the wires and blowing her to atoms." Mentions that three other explosives are being built and promises to send drawings to Davenport. Lay invented the spar torpedo, which was used by the United States Navy to sink the C.S.S. Albemarle in 1864. He later invented the Lay dirigible submarine torpedo. Davenport was senior officer of the Union Navy in North Carolina Sounds.

GLC02254.05

circa 1775-1776

Document

Title: [Description of an impregnable floating engine]

Provides both a drawn and written explanation of the design of a vessel "constructed to destroy Barges, Tenders, Ships, Towns, Castles, & Magazines." Made of iron and wood, the vessel has an octangular design "in order to annoy the Enemy upon all Quarters." Notes that the size and artillery can be adjusted. The word "Taliacotius" appears at the end.

GLC02437.00233

circa 1775-1776

Document

Title: [Plans for siege of Boston Harbor][incomplete]

Discusses an oil fire at Nantucket, raises questions about plans to use an oil fire to destroy British ships in the Boston Harbour, and suggests making "an experiment on some small pond." A fragment from the middle of a document. For more on the plans to attack Boston Harbor see GLC02437.00231.

GLC02437.00234

10 June 1791

Macpherson, John, ?-1775

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Macpherson writes seeking Knox's assistance. Claims he is very poor and does not have "Two Shillings on the Earth." Boasts of what he has done for the nation, claiming "I have enriched it more than any other ever did of my Station." Poverty got him thinking that he could repeat the success he had lecturing on natural philosophy, but he has since given up that idea. Has an interest in some patents still pending, but they are unpaid for. Claims he deserves help when "it is considered, what risque I ran to serve this Country, by going thro' the British Army as a Spy!" Says he deserves to…

GLC02437.04985