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Resources on the life of Thomas Edison to inspire the reader. Also refer to physics, AC, DC, light bulb, moving pictures, phonograph, GE, General Electric, Westinghouse, Tesla, inventions, technical management, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Resources on Edison's Life
by Ron Kurtus (revised 31 July 2004)
This page consists of books and Web sites that are resources on Thomas Edison. (If you have some suggested additions to this list, please let me know about them.)
Websites
The following Websites have good material on Thomas Edison.
Thomas Edison Web Site - Biography and other information
Inventing Entertainment - Library of Congress information on Edison
Thomas Alva Edison Facts - Information on life and inventions from Great Idea Finders site
Edisonian Museum - Pictures of early Edison lightbulbs
Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum - Gives short history and lists inventions
Edison National Historic Site - Provides information about the National Park Service's Edison National Historic Site in West Orange, New Jersey, home of Edison's research and development laboratory
Thomas Edison and the Menlo Park Laboratory - Information on laboratory where Edison did much of his work
Thomas A. Edison Papers - Rutgers University research site with database of Edison's papers and materials
Edison's Patents - History and listing of Edison's 1093 patents from Rutgers Unversity
Tesla and Westinghouse pages
Edison's career was also affected by both Tesla and Westinghouse.
Books
The following books are good resources for further study of Thomas Edison. You can purchase these books from your local bookstore or order them from Amazon.com.
Thomas Alva Edison: Inventing the Electric Age by Gene Adiar; Oxford Univ. Children's Books (1997) $9.56 - Goes through the life of Edison from a boy starting up businesses to becoming one of the world's greatest inventors. Scientific principles of Edison's inventions are also explained and some of Edison's sketches and patent drawing are included. Focuses more on his work than his personal life.
Thomas
A. Edison: A Streak of Luck by Robert Conot; (1986) $13.95 -
Book contends that much of Edison's success came from luck and clever
public relations.
Thomas Alva Edison: Young Inventor by Louis Sabin and George Ulrich; Troll Communications (1990) $2.80 - This biography focuses on Edison's early years and how he got started as an inventor.
Edison: A Life of Invention by Paul Israel; John Wiley & Sons (1998) $21.00 - Gives attention to Edison's early career, then shows the relationship of his life to the Industrial Revolution. The book looks into Edison's technical work and business dealings and includes copies of Edison's original drawings.
Edison: Inventing the Century by Neil Baldwin; Hyperion Press (1996) $11.96 - Explains Edison's personal life and work habits. More of a biography of his life and personality than a study of his inventions.
The Story of Thomas Alva Edison by Margaret Cousins; Random House Publishing, 1997 ($4.79) - Story of Edison's life, inventions, and personality. Written for readers from 9 to 12 years old
CD set called "The Edison Trials" by Marston Records - Recordings Edison made of singers in 1912
Miscellaneous
Summary
If you have any other good resources on Edison, let us know.
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Where can you go from here?
Thomas Edison:
Years to Age 40 >
Years after Age 40 >
Lessons Learned >
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