Edison Pioneers

The Edison Pioneers was an organization composed former employees of Thomas Edison who had worked with the inventor in his early years. Membership was limited to people who had worked closely with Edison before 1885.^[1] On February 11, 1918, the Edison Pioneers met for the first time, on the 71st birthday of Edison. There were 37 people at the first meeting. Edison himself was not present; it was announced he was "engaged in important government service".^[2] It was suspected he was working on a military project since World War I was still in progress.^[2] The organization had 100 members although in later years decedents of Edison Pioneers were also allowed membership.

Members

Founding meeting in 1918

1920 meeting with Edison (standing with cane)

Members of the Edison Pioneers:^[1]

• Edward Goodrich Acheson (1856–1931)^[1]
• William Symes Andrews (1847–1929)^[3]
• John I. Beggs (1847–1925)^[1]
• C. A. Benton
• Sigmund Bergmann
• Charles S. Bradley
• James Burke (1873–1940)^[4]*
• C. L. Clame (died 1941)^[5]
• George V. Delany (died 1933)^[6]
• Charles L Edgar
• Charles L. Eidlitz (1866–1951), business executive^[7]
• William E. Gilmore
• Edwin T. Greenfield
• William Joseph Hammer ^[8]
• John White Howell
• Samuel Insull (1859–1938)^[1]
• Francis Jehl ^[9][10]
• Oscar Junggren ^[11]
• Alfred W Kiddle
• Isaac Krall ^[12]
• Lewis Howard Latimer ^[13][14]
• Thomas Commerford Martin (1856–1924)^[1]
• George F. Morrison (1867–1943), Vice President of General Electric Company^[15]
• H. W. Nelson ^[16]
• Frederic Nicholls
• John G Ott
• Henry V.A. Parsell (1868-1962) ^[17]
• Charles E. Pattison ^[18]
• Charles R. Price
• Louis Rau
• Frederick Sargent
• Frederick A. Scheffler^[19][20]
• Elmer Ambrose Sperry (1860–1930)^[21]
• Francis Robbins Upton, first president^[20]
• Theodore Vandeventer^[22]
• Schuyler Skaats Wheeler
• Edwin R. Weeks
• Charles Wirt

References

1. "The Edison Pioneers". Transactions of the Illuminating Engineering Society. 14 (1). February 10, 1919. p. 4. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
2. "Edison, 71, Honored by Old Associates; "Edison Pioneers," at Luncheon, Express Their Pride in Inventor's Patriotic Occupation". New York Times. February 12, 1918. Retrieved January 13, 2011. The "Edison Pioneers," an organization composed of the oldest associates of Thomas A. Edison...
3. "W.S. Andrews Dies. An Edison Pioneer. Golden Jubilee Year of Inventor Marks His Fiftieth Anniversary Year Too. Victim of X-Ray Research. Oldest Employs of General ElectricCo. Built Thirty Generating Stations for Edison. Born in England. Takes Out X-ray patents". New York Times. July 2, 1929. Retrieved January 14, 2011. William Symes Andrews, Edison pioneer, electrical engineer and oldest employee of the General Electric Company, died at his home, 1,018 Park Avenue, Schenectady, New York, at 3 P.M. yesterday. He was in his eighty-second year.
4. "James Burke Dies; an Edison Pioneer; President of Famous Inventor's Associates Himself Noted for His Discoveries. Stricken at 66 in Erie. Founded Own Electric Firm in the West. A Technical Director in Germany". New York Times. January 23, 1940. Retrieved January 14, 2011. Erie, Pennsylvania, Jan. 22 James Burke, internationally known electrical engineer and inventor, who was president of the Edison Pioneers, formed of associates of Thomas A. Edison, died at his home here at midnight last night after a two-week illness of pneumonia. His age was 66.
5. "C. L. Clame Dies; an Edison Pioneer; Oldest Surviving Associate of Inventor Started at $12 a Week and 'Glad to Get It'. Built First Edison Plant. Original Chief Engineer of Company. Illness Halted Him in Writing Own Obituary". New York Times. October 10, 1941. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
6. "George V. Delany. Edison Pioneer Was Auditor of a General Electric Plant.". New York Times. July 6, 1933. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
7. "C.L. Eidlitz Dead; Trade Arbitrator; Associate of Edison Settled Thousands of Disputes in Electrical and Other Fields". New York Times. January 28, 1951. Retrieved January 14, 2011. Charles L. Eidlitz, an Edison pioneer, who became one of the leading electrical contractors and manufacturers in New York, died yesterday in his home at 912 Fifth Avenue. His age was 84.
8. "MAJ. HAMMER DIES; AN EDISON PIONEER; Won Distinction as Engineer, Scientist and General Staff Officer in War.". New York Times. March 25, 1934.
9. "FRANCIS JEHL DIES; AN EDISON PIONEER; As Inventor's Personal Aide Was Important Factor In Developing Electric Light BUILT EUROPEAN SYSTEMS Abroad 40 Years -- Wrote Two Books on Edison — Curator of Ford's Menlo Park Exhibit". New York Times. February 11, 1941.
10. "Thomas Alva Edison in Menlo Park, NJ". Metuchen Edison History. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
11. "OSCAR JGGREH, EHGIHEER, DIES, 70; Pioneer in the Designing and Development of Giant Power Producers.". New York Times. September 25, 1935. He was an associate Edison Pioneer, a member of the American Society of Engineers ...
12. "ISAAC KRALL DIES AT 85.; Pioneer Associate of Thomas A. Edison Was a Civil War Veteran.". New York Times. October 1, 1928.
13. "Lewis H. Latimer Dead. Member of Edison Pioneers. Drew Original Plans for Bell Phone.". New York Times. December 13, 1928.
14. "Lewis H. Latimer, 1848-1928". IEEE. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
15. "Three Striking Personalities Prominent at Present" (PDF). The Sun. New York. February 3, 1918. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
16. "H. W. Nelson Dead. An Edison Pioneer. He Helped Build Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford and Brought Players Here.". New York Times. January 26, 1934.
17. Lindez, David Sheihan (2013) The Right Rev Henry V.A. Parsell, The Rose Circle Journal, NY, NY
18. "CHARLES E. PATTISON DIES.; Consulting Electrical Engineer, an Edison Pioneer, Was 64.". New York Times. November 3, 1928.
19. "The Edison Pioneers". Engineering world: a journal of engineering and construction. 20. January 1922. p. 46. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
20. "Birthday Party to Edison; Men Associated with Him in the Early 80s Organize the Pioneers". New York Times. February 3, 1918. Retrieved January 13, 2011. Francis R. Upton of Newark,Mr. Edison's oldest associate, has been elected President of the Pioneers.
21. "Elmer Sperry Dies; Famous Inventor". New York Times. June 17, 1930. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
22. "Theodore Vandeventer. Edison Pioneer Was With the General Electric From Start". New York Times. April 16, 1946.

External links

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