July 16, 1859

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Replies to Fry's letter stating that he will inform him of his partners' decisions as soon as he hears from them. Comments that he is convalescent and will probably pass through Philadelphia to New York soon. Advises that if a satisfactory arrangement is made with a company for a telegraphic line from Philadelphia to New York, he will do what he can to secure Fry his desired situation.

GLC04503.02

10 July 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Writes that he has just received word from his partners that a proprietor will contract to complete a telegraph line from Philadelphia to New York for $60,000 to be finished by 1 January 1845. Includes technical details about the line and how the payments will be made. Informs that he will attend to procuring and training young men to use the system if compensated. Gives Fry 20 days to accept the offered terms. Addressed to Fry in Philadelphia.

GLC04503.03

14 September 1849

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. F. Frazer

Asks if he can use Frazer's copy of Moigno's "Traite de Telegraphic," and replace it at a later date so that he may have it on hand during the trial next month. Reports that he tried to purchase the book but the bookstore was out of it. He has ordered one from France with which he will replace Frazer's copy. Addresses Frazer as Professor. Written from Jones Hotel, no city or state.

GLC04480.01

1872

Chappel, Alonzo, 1828-1887

Engraving

Title: Samuel F. B. Morse

Engraving of Morse seated, with hand laid on a book on a table. Depicted with full white beard and glasses. Marked, "Likeness from the last approved photograph from life." Published by Johnson, Wilson & Co. Publishers, New York.

GLC04480.02

July 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Writes that he has seen Mr. Smith who will be at his office tomorrow morning. States that Mr. Burbank, the man who is in charge of negotiations for Morse, is at Lovejoy's Hotel and advises Fry to bring this letter as an introduction. Dated Wednesday morning.

GLC04503.01

22 August 1844

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Regrets that he cannot yet give Fry an answer to his request because he cannot get in touch with all the other proprietors. Sends a paper Fry requested (not present), and states he has made an improvement in the telegraph machinery which will allow him to write at least 25 characters a minute. Informs that he has just completed experiments on running telegraph lines across rivers. Addressed to Fry in Philadelphia.

GLC04503.04

1 January 1869

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Replies to Fry's request for his memories of events occurring in 1844. Morse states that " ... with my feeble memory in regard to the details, I fear I can give you but little satisfaction." Remembers negotiating with Amos Kendall to have him put in control of the business aspects of the telegraph. Believes that Fry is correct in saying that Fry was the first to attempt to form a company to extend the telegraph line from Philadelphia to New York. Concurs that he was obstructed from doing this by those ruling Wall Street at the time. Comments that he does not remember the details of their…

GLC04503.05

11 March 1870

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Thanks Fry for sending a memorandum that proves that Morse was interested in having the government own the telegraph invention back in 1844. States that he made concessions to make it easier and less costly for the government but that they did not take advantage before the offer expired. Believes that this is now to his advantage and that it would not have been a good idea to have the government control the telegraph.

GLC04503.06

14 March 1870

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward P. Fry

Complains about mail he has sent that has failed to reach its destination, including a recent letter to Fry. Includes a transcript of the earlier note that was never received in which he thanks Fry for information sent to him proving that Morse was interested in having the government purchase the telegraph invention back in 1844 (see GLC04503.06 for original letter).

GLC04503.07

March 14, 1870

Fry, Edward P., fl. 1844-1870

Autograph note signed

Title: [List of letters sent from Samuel F. B. Morse to Edward P. Fry]

Lists dates and places written of five letters sent from Morse to Fry concerning the formation of a telegraph line from New York to Philadelphia in 1844. Note at bottom states that other letters from 1870 were included in order to make a book of autographs. Signed with initials, E. P. F. Letters referred to are GLC04503.01 - .07.

GLC04503.08

18 August 1865

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. M. Stuart

Gives the address of William Goodrich in Paris. Also encloses his photograph (not present). Replies to her request for his opinion on the Atlantic telegraph by saying "I have always had full faith in its final accomplishment; It is practicable, and therefore the demands of the world will eventually accomplish it." He has faith that it will be completed despite the current gloomy prospects. Addressed to Stuart in Abington, Pennsylvania.

GLC06329.01

circa 1870

Sartan, John, fl. 1870

Engraving

Title: Prof. Samuel F. B. Morse. Inventor of the Magnetic Telegraph

Half-length engraving of Morse with his telegraph machine. Marked as after a photo from life.

GLC06329.02

circa February 1928

Edison, Thomas Alva, 1847-1931

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Interview responses about experiments to grow rubber plants in the United States]

A series of questions typed on the back of stationery from the Hotel Royal Palm, in Fort Meyers, Florida, with answers written by Edison in pencil. Most questions concern his experiments in trying to find alternative plant sources for rubber. Other topics include agriculture, and mobile electric power for farming. Each page numbered 1-18. Circa date inferred from telegram from Edison in Fort Meyers, Florida (see GLC05791.02). The written interview was given by Wheeler McMillan, an agrarian. See GLC05791.03 for McMillan's write-up on the interview.

GLC05791.01

20 February 1928

Edison, Thomas Alva, 1847-1931

Telegram

Title: [Telegram to Wheeler McMillan]

Western Union telegram sent from Edison in Fort Meyers, Florida, to McMillan with the following information, "Farm and Fireside 250 Park Ave New York NY." Edison ends with, "Will see you anytime - T A Edison."

GLC05791.02

circa 1928

McMillan, Wheeler, 1893-?

Typed manuscript

Title: [Write up of an interview with Thomas Edison on agriculture and rubber production]

Manuscript written after McMillan interviewed Edison on his new interest in agriculture. Describes how Edison became interested in farming and includes quotes from Edison. Also discusses Edison's experiments in manufacturing rubber. Contains some information gleaned from a talk with Henry Ford as well. See GLC05791.01 for the interview questions and answers. Includes corrections.

GLC05791.03

9 March 1857

Jones, William E., 1824-1864

Autograph document signed

Title: Contract with Henry H. Sibley, witnessed by H. P. Brewster.

Henry H. Sibley and William E. Jones agree that Jones will be the sole agent in the manufacture and sale of Sibley's patented "Improved Conical Tent." Contract states agreement.

GLC02711.23

1805/11/07

Evans, Oliver, 1755-1819

Letter signed

Title: to [Charles Willing Hare]

Addressed to "C.W. Hear." Acknowledges receipt of a notice to vacate a lot he had leased from William Bingham and agrees to vacate the property by May 1, 1806. American inventor Oliver Evans is credited with inventing the first high-pressure steam engine as well as other steam-driven machines. Bingham, former Continental Congressman and U.S. senator, had died the previous year. Hare was Bingham's nephew and lawyer.

GLC02480.06

1775/05/15

Fitch, John, 1743-1798

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for Robert Stocton for payment in full]

Receipt to Robert Stocton [Stockton?] for payment in full. Accompanied by incomplete letter of the same date, apparently in a different hand, stating "The enclosed letter came to my Hands of," with monetary calculations. John Fitch designed and successfully launched the first steamboat in 1787. He received a U.S. patent for his steamboat in 1791. In the 1770's, Fitch made a living in Trenton as a silversmith, gunsmith, and provisioner of Continental Army troops.

GLC02480.07

1805/07/02

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Philips

Encloses his remarks [not present] on a book by Richard Parkinson (1748-1815), which he has read at the request of Sir John Sinclair. Fulton explains that his remarks are written in the form of a letter to Sinclair. He also encloses "a Sketch of Philadelphia which maybe of use" [not present]. Fulton was then residing in England. Parkinson's 1805 book "Tour in America in 1798, 1799, and 1800: Exhibiting Sketches of Society and Manners, and a Particular Account of the American System of Agriculture, with Its Recent Improvements" was highly critical of American society and its "widely…

GLC02480.08

1898/03/25

Gray, Elisha, 1835-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: re: a copy of an article

GLC02480.10

1792/05/11

Pearce, William, fl. 1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: inviting President to see demonstration of his machine

"[I] should be glad to be informed when the President of the United States (George Washington) and his Lady, would be pleased to Honor me with their Company, to take a look at [my machinery]." Also notes: "Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton & Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson wishes to be there at the same time." Docketed on address leaf.

GLC02794.025

1795/07/25

Gardner, H.H., fl. 1777-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: "hoisting machine"

Gardner, a self-described millwright, explains the capabilities of his heavy load "hoisting machine."

GLC02794.038

[1800 ca.]

Young, Arthur, 1741-1820

Document

Title: Detailed description of a plow

George Washington introduced Tobias Lear to Young, a prominent British agriculturalist.

GLC02794.178

[1800 ca.]

Document

Title: "Demention [sic] of a Thrashing Machine"

Detailed description of James Tod's threshing machine.

GLC02794.177

1807/10/18

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston

Hopes to be able to obtain exclusive rights to navigate the Mississippi River for another two years. Also gives a detailed report on the vessel "Clermont." Written two months after the maiden voyage.

GLC05808