Charles Adler, Jr. Collection
name: label: Creator
content: Adler, Charles, Jr., 1899-1980 (engineer, inventor)
place: label: Place
content: Baltimore (Md.) -- 20th century
topic: label: Topic
content: Engineers -- 1920-1980
label: Topic
content: Inventions -- 20th century
label: Topic
content: Railroads -- 20th century
label: Topic
content: Inventors -- 20th century
label: Topic
content: Aeronautics and state -- 20th century
label: Topic
content: Traffic signs and signals -- 1920-1980
label: Topic
content: Traffic engineering -- 20th century
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: This collection was donated by Charles Adler, Jr.'s daughter, Mrs. Amalie Adler Ascher on September 15, 1989.
creator: label: Creator
content: Adler, Charles, Jr., 1899-1980 (engineer, inventor)
setName: label: See more items in
content: Charles Adler, Jr. Collection
abstract: label: Summary
content: The collection contains correspondence, news clippings, photographs, patents, and printed materials documenting the inventive career of Charles Adler, Jr.  Adler is best known for his development of the first traffic actuated  signal light in 1928.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Charles Adler, Jr. (1899-1980), a professional engineer and inventor was a life-long resident of Baltimore, Maryland. He began his career as an inventor at age 14, receiving a patent on an electric automotive brake. After attending Johns Hopkins University, he served briefly in the Army during World War I and worked at several jobs before being associated in 1919 with the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad, where he developed a series of safety devices. In 1928 he developed and installed in Baltimore the first traffic actuated signal light. In 1937 he became a consultant to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, continuing to invent safety and signal devices for automobiles, trains and aircraft. He was granted over sixty United States patents. He was a licensed pilot and a member of numerous professional engineering societies. From 1953-1959, Adler served on the Maryland State Aviation Commission and he was a member of the Maryland Traffic Safety Commission from 1952 until his death in 1980.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 6 Cubic feet (15 boxes)
phystech: label: Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
content: Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives.
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1899 - 1980
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0351
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Patent applications
label: Type
content: Clippings
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Receipts
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into six series.

Series 1, Biographical Material, 1899-1980

Series 2, Scrapbooks and Clippings, 1920-1989

Series 3, Correspondence, 1928-1975

Series 4, Patents and Inventions, 1929-1980

Series 5, Photographs and Scrapbooks, circa 1920-1930

Series 6, Publications, 1952-1980
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Processed by Don Darroch, volunteer, and Robert S. Harding, archivist, 1990.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Patent applications
label: Genre/Form
content: Clippings -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Receipts -- 20th century
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The collection contains biographical information about Adler and his career. Materials relating to his professional activities include newspaper clippings, photographs and other memorabilia; his published writings include articles in periodicals and newspapers. In addition, there are patent applications, royalty receipts and correspondence, as well as lengthy descriptions of various safety devices Adler invented. Many photographs are not captioned, including images of devices Adler invented, as well as images of aircraft, automobiles, and trains. There are portraits of family members, Adler, and his associates.