The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-11-05
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE

was my uncle, my fathers only brother. He conceived the idea of the typewriter and began wCrk on it about the year 1857, and in 1859 he had completed a model that con vinced him that his device was both feasible and practical. On account of the then troubled conditions of the country and lack of funds, he was una ble to progress with his invention and for reasons above stated was finally forced to take his invention to England to have it patented. In England he had further trouble and delay in getting a hearing before the Royal Society, but after his first ex- hibit of his model. 1t met with ap- proval and indorsement of other scientists and inventors and he was at once made member Of thls royal Local Clubs Active society and remained member of 1t until his death in 1905.
 Approval
 With this approval of the Royal Society he had no more trouble ill getting his patent in England, but being without funds sufficient to manufacture machines, and being unable to procure the same in Eng land, in 1888 he returned to America l with his patents. The south then be-
  SC cutherners being impoverished by the war, and because he saw that others had taken bis idea and were preparing to manufacture machines, ] the results of his own long labor, I he realized that if he was to receive any compensation for his work he would be forced to sell his patent to some che who was able and would make use of it, and he did sell his l nc fn faY . a of New York for small cash consider ation with a sroyalty clause in the contract. and received royalty on all Hammond typewriters until the time | of his death.
 Hence it is apparent that the first l practical present-day typewriter, l tnow, sof course, with many added Improvements was not an English | invention, but an invention by an Alabamian, conceived and perfected i in this state. It Is also apparent that the Sholes invention in 1888 was modelled after the Pratt "Pteretype' perfected in Alabama in 1859 and l patented in England in 1866, and that | the author of your clipping would l have had no trouble in placing the | credit of "the origin of the type writer" had he not been biased to- | ward citizen of his own state, or l Hdu IHpTe lloFouSEly a investigated the facts as to same"
 In talking with Miss Lula Tyus. the efficient publicity chairman of the Birmingham Business and Profes- sional Women's clubs. she said IT. garding the memorial:
 "The idea that we particularly want to stress is the scholarship end of the proposition. Just think what it means for the boys and girls of Alabama to have this wonderful l opportunity for business education presented to them right al their very ! doors and in honoring at the same time the memory of one of Ala bamas most distinguished sons
 "Thanksgivi week promises to be labor of love with the business and professional women of this city. who will do all in their power to put in the way of ambitious, striving girls and boys. way to receive an education whereby they may In after life earn an honorable livelihood for | themselves.
 Local Committees
 The splendid women from the Bir- I mingham Business and Professional Women's clubs who have been ap- I pointed for the John J. Pratt meno- rial fund are: Mrs. Charles Rober:s chairman; Mrs Pearl M Hawkinp
 treasurer; Miss L. C. Barnett Miss Mamie Peace and Miss Lula Tyus.
 The cities and their respective counties which have been allotted to the Birmingham Business and Pro
 fessional Women's clubs for the memorial fund include: Athens, Lime
 stone county: Florence, Lauderdale county; Tuscumbia, Colbert county: Carrollton, Pickens county; Decatur. Morgan county: Double Springs. Win ston county: Jasper, Walker county; Yayette, Fayette county, Vernon. Lamar county; Hamilton, Marion ], county Russellville, Franklin n county