Contents

Collection Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement of the Papers

Selected Search Terms

Diaries, 1884-1931

Letterbooks, 1889-1915

Business Correspondence, 1910-1934

General Correspondence, 1873-1968

Miscellany, 1872-1956

Oversize

Edward Goodrich Acheson Papers

A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress

Prepared by Edythe Buitendyk

2011

Biographical Note

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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.

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Selected Search Terms

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.

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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

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Container List

Diaries, 1884-1931

Diaries, address books, and appointment books.

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

Diaries, 1884-1931 (32 vols.)

Address book, undated

Transcript of diaries, 1906-1926

Letterbooks, 1889-1915

Bound volumes of copies of letters sent.

Arranged chronologically. Volumes for 1894-1915 have indexes.

1889-1890

1894-1895

1895, Sept.-1896, June

1896, June-1897, Nov.

1897-1899

1911-1912

1912-1915

Business Correspondence, 1910-1934

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

Arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent and therein chronologically.

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

Coe, Frank N., Nov. 1912-Feb. 1930 (11 folders)

Deringer, John P.

Mar. 1910-Dec. 1917 (7 folders)

1918-1921 (8 folders)

1922-1925 (8 folders)

1926-1930 (5 folders)

Edison, Thomas A., 1881-1920

Edison Pioneers, 1918-1931

Scott, L. G., 1916-17 (2 folders)

Smith, William Acheson

1905; Oct. 1912-May 1916 (6 folders)

June 1916-Dec. 1922 (8 folders)

1923-29, 1933-1934 (7 folders)

Sprague, Edmund C.

Sept. 1915-Dec. 1917

1918-1924 (5 folders)

1925-1929 (4 folders)

General Correspondence, 1873-1968

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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."

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.

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.)

Data regarding Acheson companies

Financial books, 1876-90 (5 vols.)

"Index to Acheson files" (partial card file)

Invitation to life membership in the Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Md.

Newspaper clippings (3 folders)(4 folders)

Newspaper clippings, including visits to Russia and Sweden in 1913> (2 folders)

Printed matter, 1910-1956, undated

Printed matter

Edison Pioneers

Articles and speeches by Acheson

Articles and speeches by Acheson

Publicity

Scientific notebooks

1872-1881 (5 vols.)

1882-1889 (6 vols.)

1890-1895 (9 vols.)

1897-1910, undated (7 vols.)

Scrapbook See Oversize

Scrapbook of clippings, 1899

Typescript of A Pathfinder, 1910

Oversize

Commissions and scrapbook.

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

Miscellany

Commissions (Container 35)

Scrapbook (Container 48)

Notes and sketches

Printed matter