Description:

Thomas Edison
Dearborn, MI, October 21, 1929
Thomas Edison, Herbert Hoover, & Henry Ford at Lights Golden Jubilee, 12 Photographs ca. 1929
Archive
A collection of 12 vintage photographs taken during Lights Golden Jubilee held on October 21, 1929 at Henry Ford's Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI. The images highlight guest of honor Thomas Edison with President Herbert Hoover and Ford himself, as well as the numerous structures reconstructed at the Dearborn complex. Ranging in size from 6.5" x 3.5" to 8" x 10". Together with a bonus 9.5" x 12" engraving of a young Edison by A. H. Ritchie. Evident curling to edges throughout, with areas of light surface wear and bumped corners; evidence of prior mounting on verso and scattered pencil docketing to some. Otherwise, very good.

Highlighted scenes include:

- Thomas Edison, President Herbert Hoover, and Henry Ford at the Dearborn, MI Railroad station for Light's Golden Jubilee.

- Candid view of Hoover and Edison standing side by side.

- Francis Jehl with Edison, Hoover, and Ford inspecting a Sprengel pump at the reconstructed Menlo Park lab.

- The Sarah Jordan Boarding House, reconstructed in Dearborn. Earlier in 1879, it was host to the experimental lighting system installed throughout Edison's Menlo Park complex.

- Panorama of the reconstructed Menlo Park Compound, Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI.

- Replica train "The President" manufactured by Rogers Locomotive Works bearing the date of the Jubilee on the front plate.

- Brick school house reconstructed in Greenfield Village.

- Entrance to the Edison Institute Museum, Dearborn, MI.

- Bird's eye view of Ford's Greenfield Village while still in construction, where many of the previously mentioned structures can be seen.

Light's Golden Jubilee was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Thomas Edison's incandescent light bulb, held on October 21, 1929, just days before the stock market crash that plunged the United States into the Great Depression. The Jubilee also served as the dedication of Henry Ford's Greenfield Village, originally known as the Thomas Edison Institute. The events began with a train procession to Dearborn, with Edison getting off at the Smith Creek Station, where he had been ejected as a young telegraph operator many years before. In attendance were such celebrities as President and Mrs. Hoover in their first voyage outside of the capital since the inauguration, in addition to Walter Chrysler, Marie Curie, Charles Schwab, Orville Wright, and many more.

We are proud to include items consigned by the Manuscript Society in this auction. These items come from the estate of well-known manuscript dealers Forest G. & Forest H. Sweet and Julia Sweet Newman. Forest G. Sweet was an early leader of the Manuscript Society as well as a rare book scholar. The proceeds from your purchase of these items will benefit the work of the Manuscript Society. You can learn more about them, and become a member of the Manuscript Society, at www.manuscript.org.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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    Dimensions:
  • 9.5" x 12" (largest)
  • Artist Name:
  • Thomas Edison
  • Medium:
  • Archive

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March 12, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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