.that the public may be
provided.with sense reality understanding the world-renowned life and
career ofThomas Edison, deepened appreciation for his great contributions to
the welfare mankind, and respect for intellectual effort indispensable factor
in all human progress and achievements.ADMINISTRATIVE DATA
Edison National Historic Site was added the National Park Service system on
September 1962, Act Congress.
After Edison’s death October 18, 1931, the laboratory buildings were used by
Thomas Edison, Inc.
The laboratory complex consists Building three-story building housing two
machine shops, library, stock room, experimental rooms and offices; Building 1,
the former galvanometer building, now containing exhibit areas and offices;
Building the chemistry laboratory; Building currently housing the pattern
shop and NPS facilities; Building formerly the metallurgical building, now
containing curatorial work space, and several other support structures.
The 1969 "Historical Research Management Plan" supported this purpose by
stating that the main interpretive theme the site should "to memorialize
Thomas Edison’s life, his illustrious career and scientific achievements, and
their place the industrial and economic history our Nation, well the
relevance his character and values the present age. Building 5
is abutted Building the former power house now serving visitor center... The laboratory, established a
National Monument proclamation President Dwight Eisenhower July 14,
1956, was donated the United States Government Thomas Edison
Industries, McGraw-Edison Company..
This mission must accomplished such manner. The site includes both the West Orange
laboratory and Glenmont, Edison’s family home. Glenmont, purchased Edison 1886,
was donated the Federal government the Edison family. Glenmont became a
National Historic Site under non-Federal ownership December 1955, and
became Federal property August 1959."
1
. Responsibility for maintenance records and historical
collections lay with the company’s Historical Research Department, established in
1928.
INTERPRETIVE OBJECTIVES
The 1966 master plan for Edison National Historic Site states that the purpose of
the site to:
preserve and use its unique resources for the benefit and inspiration the people
