Opening of Box Containing Thomas Edison's Graphophone

Summary

Opening of box containing Thomas Edison's graphophone, the first talking machine to record the human voice on wax, deposited (sealed) at the Smithsonian Institution by Volta Laboratory in 1880-1881, with Elsie May Bell Grosvenor, daughter of Alexander Graham Bell, Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor, president of National Geographic Society, Alexander Graham Bell Grosvenor, great-grandson of Bell, Secretary Charles Greeley Abbot, T.H. Beard, vice president of the Dictaphone Co., and Harry Woodward Dorsey, administrative assistant to Secretary Abbot.

Subject

• Edison, Thomas A (Thomas Alva) 1847-1931
• Bell, Alexander Graham 1847-1922
• Grosvenor, Elsie May 1878-1964
• Grosvenor, Gilbert Hovey 1875-1966
• Grosvenor, Alexander Graham Bell
• Abbot, C. G (Charles Greeley) 1872-1973
• Dorsey, Harry Woodward
• United States National Museum

Notes

Copy made November 28, 1956.

Cite as

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 11-006, Box 309, Image No. MAH-44312C

Repository Loc.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520

Date

• 1937
• October 27, 1937

Restrictions & Rights

• No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
• No Copyright - United States

Topic

Phonograph

Form/Genre

Black-and-white negatives

Local number

SIA Acc. 11-006 [MAH-44312C]

Physical description

8 x 10;

Full Record

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