long-time Edison employee, was also treasurer many Edison
companies and personal secretary had power attorney act for Edison."184
John Randolph.P.183 Tate also writes that the 1890s, went to
Edison his library the laboratory, where was standing alone near his
desk. describes a
meeting Edison had with Gilliland and his attorney "in his library" which Tate
was not invited attend. was financially astute and started the tradition of
controlled access Edison via his private secretary. His responsibilities included
bookkeeping, monitoring all company business, and managing Edison’s personal
correspondence and finances.
After Randolph died 1908, Harry Miller became Edison’s primary personal
secretary (see for more Harry Miller.." later handled Edison’s personal
correspondence and acted his confidential messenger the New York City and
Newark financial districts.
185 Edison Pioneers Records, Box 26.
Although not know where Tate’s office space was, probably was not the
library with Edison. Tate began his career as
Insull’s stenographer and quickly advanced through the organization. Edison.182
1Ba Millard, Edison and the Business ofInnovation, 54.. his 1935 account his years working with Edison, Tate
refers the library Edison’s territory, separate from his own.at $6. Meister worked the third floor Building at
some point; notes that "had the pleasure being engaged Mr., 278.
By this time Edison’s personal staff consisted several secretaries, and the
distinction between personal and confidential secretaries not clear.
1M Ibid. John Randolph followed Tate Edison’s personal secretary in
1893.)
George Meister.
183 Alfred Tate, Edison’s Open Door, (New York: E.00 per week.Edison powerful one. With a
small support staff his own, Tate was important player the Edison
organization, and was close Edison himself. George Meister, eventually chief paymaster all Edison
industries, began his career with Edison 1903 "Junior Clerk under the
personal supervision Mr. Dutton, 1935), 171; Tate may also referring
to the library Edison’s home...
Photographs depict Randolph attending luncheons and other social gatherings in
the library but, again, the exact location his desk work space unknown. Edison in
Room #16."185
60
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