THOMAS A. EDISON - CORPORATE MINUTES SIGNED 05/04/1927 CO-SIGNED BY: GOVERNOR CHARLES EDISON, HARRY F. MILLER, JOHN V. MILLER, HENRY LANAHAN, HOWARD H. ECKERT - HFSID 35556

THOMAS A. EDISON
Minutes of the meeting of an Edison subsidiary, signed by him and by five of his key executives (1927)
Typed Document signed: "Thos A Edison", "Charles Edison", "Henry Lanahan", "H. F. Miller", "J. Miller" and "H. H. Eckert", 2 pages, 7½x11. West Orange, N.J., 1927 May 4. Minutes of Wisconsin Cabinet & Panel Company (built phonograph cabinets), electing officers. Thomas was Chairman of the Board, son Charles was President. THOMAS EDISON (1847-1931, born in Milan, Ohio) patented more than a thousand inventions, including the incandescent electric lamp, phonograph (his favorite invention), mimeograph, alkaline storage battery and microphone. In 1890, he invented the Vitascope, and Edison is credited with establishing the standard of using 35mm film with four perforations on the edges. He produced talking motion pictures in 1913. In 1887, Edison had set up his facility dedicated to research and development in West Orange, New Jersey. By the following year, it was the world's largest scientific testing laboratory. His original laboratory, in Menlo Park, New Jersey, was removed to the Greenfield Village Museum in Dearborn, Michigan by his friend, Henry Ford, in 1929. CHARLES EDISON (1890-1969), the eldest of two sons born to Edison and his second wife, Mina Miller, later became a national recognized corporate executive and served as FDR's Secretary of the Navy (1940) and Governor of New Jersey (1941-1943). In 1948, Charles, the majority stockholder of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., founded the philanthropic Brook Foundation (renamed the Charles Edison Fund after his death). HARRY F. MILLER began his association with the Edison laboratory in 1888, becoming Edison's private secretary (1908-1910). He was also assistant treasurer for the Edison Phonograph Works, the National Phonograph Company, the Edison Manufacturing Company and the Bates Manufacturing Company. In 1916, he became Treasurer of Thomas A Edison Inc., serving until his retirement in 1937. JOHN MILLER was Edison's brother-in-law and personal aide. HENRY LANAHAN was the General Counsel for Thomas Edison and his companies. HOWARD ECKERT was Treasurer of Edison Industries.Lightly creased. Mounting strip at left.