George Eli Whitney Papers
name: label: Author
content: Whitney, George Eli, 1862-1963 (engineer)
label: Names
content: Locomobile Company
label: Collector
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.).  Division of Transportation
label: Names
content: Bacon, John H.
label: Names
content: Cooledge, Nathaniel Henry
topic: label: Topic
content: Inventors -- 1890-1960
label: Topic
content: Inventors -- 20th century
label: Topic
content: Inventions -- 20th century
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection donated by Edward Bacon, October 31, 1992.
creator: label: Author
content: Whitney, George Eli, 1862-1963 (engineer)
setName: label: See more items in
content: George Eli Whitney Papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of inventor and engineer George Eli Whitney.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Whitney (1862-1963) was an engineer and inventor who developed many applications of steam power, including bicycles, cars, and boats from 1890s-1930s.  The Locomobile Company, of which Whitney was chief engineer, produced several thousand steam cars around the turn of the century.  During WWI, Whitney designed the compound steam engine which powered about 300 U.S. Navy anti submarine ships.  Whitney was the recipient of about 150 patents on his inventions, a number of which he sold rights to.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.5 Cubic feet (1 box)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1898-1957
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Papers were "left for study" by Edward Bacon on September 30, 1991.  Transferred from the Division of Transportation (now the Division of Work and Industry) to the Archives Center in August, 1992.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0463
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Patents
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Clippings
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Collection is arranged into one series.
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Processed by Don Darroch, volunteer, 9/3/92.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Patents -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- 1900-1950
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 1880-1950
label: Genre/Form
content: Clippings -- 1890-1960
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Correspondence includes handwritten letters to John H. Bacon from Whitney.  Bacon apparently undertook the task of collecting documentation of Whitney's career in the 1950s.  Another 30 letters involve former associates of Whitney's, particularly Nathaniel Henry Cooledge (known as "Oliver") who was associated with Whitney as his trusted foreman and assistant for 50 years and Capt. Ted Middleton.  Also included are agreements, contracts and patents concerning Whitney's inventions as well as newsclippings, photoprints, etc.  A lengthy questionnaire prepared by John H. Bacon was filled out by Whitney in 1955 giving information on his major inventions and projects as well as his personal life.