http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms011057 Edward Goodrich Acheson Papers A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress Prepared by Edythe Buitendyk Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
2011

Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/mm74049684

Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Manuscript Division, 2011 Finding aid written in English. Collection Summary Edward Goodrich Acheson Papers 1872-1968 (bulk 1899-1930) MSS49684 Acheson, Edward Goodrich, 1856-1931 13,000 items 48 containers plus 2 oversize 20.5 linear feet Collection material in English Manuscript Division Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Electrochemist, engineer, and inventor. Correspondence, diaries, biographical material, financial papers, laboratory notebooks relating to experiments and inventions, newspaper clippings, and other materials pertaining to Acheson's scientific work. Selected Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.

 People Acheson, Edward Goodrich, 1856-1931. Acheson, Edward Goodrich, 1856-1931. A pathfinder: discovery, invention and industry; how the world came to have aquadag and oildag; also carborundum, artificial graphite and other valuable products of the electric furnace. The first of a series of educational biographical sketches of eminent inventors. 1910 Acheson, Edward Goodrich, 1887-1962--Correspondence. Acheson, George Wilson, 1892- --Correspondence. Acheson, John Huyler, 1893-1938--Correspondence. Acheson, Raymond Mahler, 1888- --Correspondence. Deringer, John P.--Correspondence. Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931--Correspondence. Hunt, Alfred E. (Alfred Ephraim), 1855-1899--Correspondence. Huyler, John Seys, 1846-1910--Correspondence. Mellon, Andrew W. (Andrew William), 1855-1937--Correspondence. Nichols, E. L. (Edward Leamington), 1854-1937--Correspondence. Rathenau, Walther, 1867-1922--Correspondence. Smith, William Acheson--Correspondence. Sprague, Edmund C.--Correspondence. Szymanowitz, Raymond, 1898- Organizations Bakewell & Bakewell--Correspondence. Carborundum Company (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) Cowles Electric Smelting and Aluminum Company--Correspondence. Electrochemical Society--Correspondence. Subjects Chemistry. Electrochemistry. Inventions. Occupations Electrochemists. Engineers. Inventors. Administrative Information Provenance

The papers of Edward Goodrich Acheson, electrochemist, engineer, and inventor, were given to the Library of Congress by his children, Howard A. Acheson and Margaret A. Stuart, and by Raymond Szymanowitz in 1972.

 Processing History

The Acheson Papers were processed in 1975. The finding aid was revised in 2011.

Transfers

Photographs have been transferred to the appropriate custodial division of the Library where they are identified as a part of these papers.

Copyright Status

Copyright in the unpublished writings of Edward Goodrich Acheson in these papers and in other collections in the custody of the Library of Congress is reserved. Consult a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division for further information.

Access and Restrictions

The papers of Edward Goodrich Acheson are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.

 Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Edward Goodrich Acheson Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

 Biographical Note Date Event 1856, Mar. 9 Born, Washington, Pa. 1872 Left school to make livelihood 1873 Invented and secured patent for rock-boring machine to be used in coal mines 1880 Moved to New York to find work in electrical industry 1880-1881 Assistant to Thomas A. Edison, Menlo Park, N.J. 1884 Married Margaret Maher 1885 Conducted unsatisfactory experiments on reduction of iron ore by natural gas 1894-1895 Invented carborundum Established Carborundum Co., and moved it to Niagara Falls, N.Y. 1894 Awarded the John Scott Medal by the Franklin Institute, for discovery of carborundum 1899 Incorporated Acheson Graphite Co. 1901 Awarded John Scott Medal for production of artificial graphite 1908 Invented and secured patent for siloxicon Awarded Rumford Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 1910 Published A Pathfinder: Discovery, Invention and Industry. New York: The Press Scrap Book 1928 Established Edward G. Acheson fund at Electrochemical Society 1929 Awarded Acheson Medal by Electrochemical Society 1931, July 6 Died, New York, N.Y. Scope and Content Note

The papers of Edward Goodrich Acheson (1856-1931) cover the period 1872-1968 with the bulk of the material falling between 1899 and 1930. They consist of diaries, letterbooks, laboratory notebooks, business and general correspondence, and miscellaneous material relating to Acheson's scientific career and his companies. The collection is arranged in Diaries, Letterbooks, Business Correspondence, General Correspondence, Miscellany, and Oversize series.

The diaries date from 1884 to 1931 and record Acheson's everyday activities and appointments. A typescript of his diaries, 1906-1926, is also included. Letterbooks date from 1889 to 1915 and relate primarily to his businesses.

The majority of the collection is included in the two correspondence series that reflect the organization of the files when they arrived at the Library. Business Correspondence consists of Acheson's communications with a relatively few people including his sons, Edward Goodrich Acheson (1887-1962), George Wilson Acheson, John Huyler Acheson, and Raymond Mahler Acheson; John P. Deringer; Thomas A. Edison; William Acheson Smith; and Edmund C. Sprague. Material in the General Correspondence series generally reflects Acheson's work and connections with firms that were founded by him and carry his name, including those established in Europe to commercialize the products and processes he had originated. Correspondents include Alfred E. Hunt, John Seys Huyler, Andrew W. Mellon, E. L. Nichols, and Walther Rathenau, and organizations such as Bakewell & Bakewell (patent attorneys), the Cowles Electric Smelting and Aluminum Company, and the Electrochemical Society. Included at the end of the General Correspondence are papers generated by Acheson's biographer, Raymond Szymanowitz, in collecting data relating to his study.

The Miscellany series includes financial notebooks, newspaper clippings, biographical sketches, a typescript of Acheson's autobiography, A Pathfinder, printed matter, scrapbooks, and scientific notebooks of his experiments and inventions. Oversize consists of two volumes of court proceedings relating to a case in which the Carborundum Company was involved in 1894.

 Arrangement of the Papers

The collection is arranged in six series:

Diaries, 1884-1931 Letterbooks, 1889-1915 Business Correspondence, 1910-1934 General Correspondence, 1873-1968 Miscellany, 1872-1956 Oversize http://lccn.loc.gov/mm74049684 Container List Box Contents 1 Diaries, 1884-1931

Diaries, address books, and appointment books.

Arranged chronologically. Includes a transcript of the diaries, 1906-1926.

 1 Diaries, 1884-1931 (32 vols.) Address book, undated Transcript of diaries, 1906-1926 2-4 Letterbooks, 1889-1915

Bound volumes of copies of letters sent.

Arranged chronologically. Volumes for 1894-1915 have indexes.

 2 1889-1890 1894-1895 3 1895, Sept.-1896, June 1896, June-1897, Nov. 1897-1899 4 1911-1912 1912-1915 5-15 Business Correspondence, 1910-1934

Letters received, copies of letters sent, memoranda, and printed matter.

Arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent and therein chronologically.

 5 Acheson, Edward G., Jr, Feb. 1910-Sept. 1926 (2 folders) Acheson, George W., Apr. 1913-Dec. 1922 (2 folders) Acheson, John Huyler, June 1910-Sept. 1926 (2 folders) Acheson, Raymond M., 1915 6 Coe, Frank N., Nov. 1912-Feb. 1930 (11 folders) 7 Deringer, John P. Mar. 1910-Dec. 1917 (7 folders) 8 1918-1921 (8 folders) 9 1922-1925 (8 folders) 10 1926-1930 (5 folders) Edison, Thomas A., 1881-1920 Edison Pioneers, 1918-1931 11 Scott, L. G., 1916-17 (2 folders) Smith, William Acheson 1905; Oct. 1912-May 1916 (6 folders) 12 June 1916-Dec. 1922 (8 folders) 13 1923-29, 1933-1934 (7 folders) Sprague, Edmund C. Sept. 1915-Dec. 1917 14 1918-1924 (5 folders) 15 1925-1929 (4 folders) 16-34 General Correspondence, 1873-1968

Correspondence, speeches, addresses, legal documents, agreements, and photostats.

Arranged chronologically by year and thereunder alphabetically by name of correspondent.

 16 1873 1876 1878 1879 1880 1881 General Nichols, Edward L. 1882 1883 1884 General Adams, Milton F. 1885 General Cowles Electric Smelting and Aluminum Co. Huyler 1886 1887 General Nichols, Edward L. 1888 General Nichols, Edward L. 1889 1890 General Marks, Louis B. 1891 General Nichols, Edward L. 1892 General Hunt, Alfred E. Tesla, Nikola 1893 General Osterreichische Länderbank 17 1894 General Holloway, James Österreichische Länderbank 1895 General Bölling, F. Fitzgerald, Francis A. J. Kunz, George F. Mellon, Andrew W. Mott, Samuel D. Tone, Frank J. 1896 General Huyler, John S. Mellon, Andrew W. Nichols, Edward L. Rathenau, Walther 1897 General (2 folders) Arison, William H. Bakewell & Bakewell 18 Bölling, F. Brydges & Co. Chandler, C. F. Foster & Freeman Hipple, James Holloway, James Lüders, Richard Lürmann, F. Mellon, Andrew W. Österreichische Länderbank Rathenau, Walther Ursell, B. 1898 General Bakewell & Bakewell Brydges & Co. Castner-Kellner Alkali Co., Ltd. Diechmann (Gustav) & Sohn Foster & Freeman Graphitization of carbons Hipple, James Mellon, Andrew W. Talbot, Benjamin Voss, Georeg and Co. 19 1899 General Acheson Graphite Co. Diechmann (Gustav) & Sohn Lüders, Richard Mellon, Andrew W. National Carbon Co. (2 folders) New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Co. Obermayer (S.) Co. 1900 General Bakewell & Bakewell Cowles Electric Smelting and Aluminum Co. Foster & Freeman Hipple, James Kunz, George F. Laureau, L. G. Lundy's Lane house Mellon, Andrew W. National Graphite Co. (2 folders) New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Co. 20 1901 General (2 folders) Adams, Edward D. Arison, William H. Bakewell & Bakewell Bellefonte Academy, Bellefonte, Pa. Chandler, C. F. Electrochemical Society Foster & Freeman International Acheson Graphite Co. Kunz, George F. Laureau, L. G. Lundy's Lane house Mellon, Andrew W. Pan American Exposition, Buffalo, N.Y. Siloxicon; Egyptianized clay 21 1902 General (2 folders) Adams, Edward D. Bakewell & Bakewell Bellefonte Academy, Bellefonte, Pa. Day, David T. Electrochemical Society Fitzgerald, Francis A. J. Foster & Freeman Hunt, Alfred E. Huyler, John S. International Acheson Graphite Co. Lundy's Lane house Mellon, Andrew W. Rathenau, Walther Siloxicon; Egyptianized clay Thomson, Elihu Ward (Fred) & Son 22 1903 General (2 folders) Adams, Edward D. Bellefonte Academy, Bellefonte, Pa. Electrochemical Society Foster & Freeman International Acheson Graphite Co. Kunz, George F. Oatka Gypsum Co. Packard Motor Car Co. St. Louis Exposition, St. Louis, Mo. Silixocon; Egyptianized clay (2 folders) Ward (Fred) & Son 23 1904 General (2 folders) Acheson Co. Adams, Edward D. American Ceramic Society Bellefonte Academy, Bellefonte, Pa. Foster & Freeman Holloway, James Hunt, Alfred E. Mellon, Andrew W. Packard Motor Car Co. Ries, Heinrich St. Louis Exposition, St. Louis, Mo. Siloxicon; Egyptianized clay 1905 General (2 folders) Acheson Co. Adams, Edward D. Arison, William H. Cohn, Morris Foster & Freeman International Acheson Graphite Co. Mellon, Andrew W. Packard Motor Car Co. Siloxicon; Egyptianized clay 24 1906 General (2 folders) Bellefonte Academy, Bellefonte, Pa. Day, David T. Electrochemical Society Foster & Freeman International Acheson Graphite Co. Packard Motor Car Co. 1907 General Acheson Co. Brashear, John A. Byrnes, & Townsend Fitzgerald, Francis A. J. Foster & Freeman International Acheson Graphite Co. Mellon, Andrew W. Packard Motor Car Co. Perkin, William H. Williamson, Arthur M. 25 1908 General (2 folders) Mabery, Charles F. 1909 General Banbury, Fernley H. Mabery, Charles F. 1910 General (2 folders) Autobiography Banbury, Fernley H. Mabery, Charles F. 26 1910 Perkin Medal 1911 General Banbury, Fernley H. Crookes, William Farnsworth, Alfred W. Mabery, Charles F. Maury, Paul Robinson, William V. Ubbelohde, Leo Wolcott, Clifton E. 1912 General Banbury, Fernley H. Crookes, William Farnsworth, Alfred W. Kovalevsky, W. I. Mabery, Charles F. McAllister, David C. Pfohl, Peter P. Robinson, William V. Russia, visit to Russian Importing Co. Schumacher, Willy Takamine, Jokichi 27 Ubbelohde, Leo Williamson, Arthur J. 1913 General Arrhenius, Svante Banbury, Fernley H. Bertolini, Mario Bills Crookes, William Etzel, E. Kovalevsky, W. I. Laurento, Bruto Mabery, Charles F. Mellon, Andrew W. Ostwald, Wolfgang Pfohl, Peter P. Robinson, William V. Russia, visit to (3 folders) General Correspondence with Mrs. Edward Goodrich Acheson Speeches Russian Importing Co. Schumacher, Willy Sweden, visit to Ubbelohde, Leo Vickery, James Harris 28 1914 General Armstrong, Henry E. Crookes, William Dunlap, Orrin E. Farnsworth, Alfred W. Hadfield, Robert A. Kovalevsky, W. I. Mabery, Charles F. Maury, Paul Pfohl, Peter P. Rose, Frederick C. Russian Importing Co. Schumacher, Willy Sweden, visit to 1915 General Acheson, Edward Goodrich, passport renewal Dunlap, Orrin E. Freeland, A. A. Hadfield, Robert A. Maury, Paul McAllister, David C. Rose, Frederick C. Seaton, William Murray Sweden, visit to Water power legislation 29 1916 General Baekeland, Leo Hendrik British Ministry of Munitions of War Day, David T. Dunlap, Orrin E. Electrochemical Society Heralds' College, London, England Martin, T. Commerford Maury, Paul Seaton, William Murray Vibe, J. C. Water power legislation Wayte (W. J.) Inc. 1917 General British Ministry of Munitions of War Day, David T. Dunlap, Orrin E. Electrochemical Society Hadfield, Robert A. Heralds' College, London, England Liberty motor tests of "Oildag" Marsh, Joseph W. Martin, T. Commerford Maury, Paul Takamine, Jokichi 30 1918 General Chandler, C. F. Day, David T. Dunlap, Orrin E. Hadfield, Robert A. Liberty motor tests of "Oildag" Martin, T. Commerford Maury, Paul Takamine, Jokichi Tryon, C. A. 1919 General Carson, E. F. Day, David T. Dunlap, Orrin E. Hadfield, Robert A. Harrell, C. E. Herschel, Clemens Kelly, James F. Martin, T. Commerford Maury, Paul Texas Co. 1920 General Conservation Day, David T. Dunlap, Orrin E. Edwards, Elisha Jay Electrochemical Society Harrell, C. E. Holloway, James 31 Kelly, James F. Mabery, Charles F. Martin, T. Commerford Mott, Samuel D. Texas Co. Tryon, C. A. 1921 General Archbutt, Leonard Dunlap, Orrin E. Kunz, George F. Mabery, Charles F. Martin, T. Commerford Maury, Paul Takamine, Jokichi Tryon, C. A. 1922 General Martin, T. Commerford Maury, Paul Mellon, Andrew W. Miner-Edgar Co. 1923 General Fitzgerald, Francis A. J. Martin, T. Commerford Mott, Samuel D. 32 1924 General Maury, Paul Mott, Samuel D. 1925 General Kuhn, Kuno McDonald, John F. Miner-Edgar Co. Mott, Samuel D. 1926 General Arison, William H. Federal Oil Conservation Board McDonald, John F. Mott, Samuel D. 1927 General Arison, William H. McDonald, John F. Mott, Samuel D. 1928 General Acheson Graphite Co., sale of Electrochemical Society, Edward G. Acheson Fund Jehl, Francis Mott, Samuel D. 33 1929 Electrochemical Society, Edward G. Acheson Fund Fitzgerald, Francis A. J. Smithsonian exhibit 1930 General Mott, Samuel D. Niagara Falls, N.Y., exhibit Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., exhibit Sweden, visit to 1931 General American Philosophical Society Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. 1933 General Fink, Colin G. 1936 1939 Jehl, Francis 34 Biographer's papers (Raymond Szymanowitz) 1953, Russia, visit to 1954, Carborundum Co. 1955 1956 1957-1960, Banbury, Fernley H. 1962 1963, Banbury, Fernley H. 1964, Carborundum Co. 1965-1966, Cowles Electric Smelting and Aluminum Co. 1966 Carborundum Co. Lürmann, F. 1967 1968 Undated, Bowman, Francis, "History of the Carborundum Co." 35-48 Miscellany, 1872-1956

Financial notebooks, newspaper clippings, biographical material, printed matter, calling cards, commissions, memorabilia, scrapbooks, scientific notebooks, and court proceedings.

Arranged alphabetically by type of material.

 35 Acheson family history Biographical sketch of Acheson "Birth certificate" of the Carborundum Co. Calling cards, visits to Russia and Sweden, 1913 Commissions See Oversize Court proceedings, Electric Smelting & Aluminum Co. v. the Carborundum Co., 1894 (2 vols.) 36 Data regarding Acheson companies Financial books, 1876-90 (5 vols.) 37 "Index to Acheson files" (partial card file) Invitation to life membership in the Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Md. Newspaper clippings (3 folders) 38 (4 folders) 39 Newspaper clippings, including visits to Russia and Sweden in 1913> (2 folders) 40-43 Printed matter, 1910-1956, undated 44 Printed matter Edison Pioneers Articles and speeches by Acheson 45 Articles and speeches by Acheson Publicity 46 Scientific notebooks 1872-1881 (5 vols.) 1882-1889 (6 vols.) 47 1890-1895 (9 vols.) 1897-1910, undated (7 vols.) 48 Scrapbook See Oversize Scrapbook of clippings, 1899 Typescript of A Pathfinder, 1910 OV 1-OV 2 Oversize

Commissions and scrapbook.

Arranged and describing according to the series and container from which the items were removed.

 OV 1 Miscellany Commissions (Container 35) OV 2 Scrapbook (Container 48) Notes and sketches Printed matter