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Elmer Ambrose Sperry Papers 1893

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Elmer Ambrose Sperry Papers 1893 Elmer Ambrose Sperry papers 1893 This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on September 14, 2021. Description is written in: English. Describing Archives: A Content Standard Manuscripts and Archives PO Box 3630 Wilmington, Delaware 19807 [email protected] URL: http://www.hagley.org/library Elmer Ambrose Sperry papers 1893 Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical Note .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Scope and Content ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Administrative Information ............................................................................................................................ 7 Related Materials ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Controlled Access Headings .......................................................................................................................... 8 Collection Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Personal ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 General Correspondence ............................................................................................................................. 9 Chicago-Cleveland ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Electro-chemistry ....................................................................................................................................... 14 General Correspondence ......................................................................................................................... 14 Subject Correspondence ......................................................................................................................... 14 Patent Records ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Laboratory Notebooks ............................................................................................................................ 16 Sperry Gyroscope Company, Inc. ............................................................................................................. 17 Administrative Records .......................................................................................................................... 17 General Correspondence ......................................................................................................................... 19 Research and Development .................................................................................................................... 20 Naval Consulting Board ......................................................................................................................... 23 Diesel Engines - Research and Development ........................................................................................... 24 General .................................................................................................................................................... 25 Automotive Diesel .................................................................................................................................. 25 Diesel Locomotives ................................................................................................................................ 26 Diesel Marine Engines ........................................................................................................................... 26 Diesel Engines ........................................................................................................................................ 27 Laboratory notebooks, diaries, and appointment calendars ...................................................................... 27 Smithsonian Exhibit - Oral Histories ........................................................................................................ 28 - Page 2 - Elmer Ambrose Sperry papers 1893 Summary Information Repository: Manuscripts and Archives Creator: Sperry, Elmer Ambrose, 1860-1930 Title: Elmer Ambrose Sperry papers ID: 1893 Date [inclusive]: 1876-1931 Physical Description: 27 Linear Feet Language of the English . Material: Abstract: Elmer Sperry (1860-1930) was one of America's electric pioneers. He founded the Sperry Gyroscope Company in order to develop, manufacture, and market marine gyrostabilizing devices. The papers document Sperry's research and development work and entrepreneurial activities. ^ Return to Table of Contents Biographical Note Elmer Sperry (1860-1930) was one of America's electric pioneers. He founded the Sperry Gyroscope Company in order to develop, manufacture, and market marine gyrostabilizing devices. Elmer A. Sperry was born on October 12, 1860, in Cortland, New York. He attended the local elementary schools and then enrolled in Cornell University. At Cornell, he developed an interest in electrical engineering and began working with a group of Syracuse industrialists in order to construct an arc lighting system. By 1882 Sperry was recognized as being one of America's electrical pioneers. In 1883 Sperry moved to Chicago where he established the Electric Light, Motor, and Car Brake Company. He, however, found that he could notcompete with the more established Edision and Brush Electric companies so he began experimenting with electric coal-mining equipment. In l886 he founded the Sperry Electric Mining Machine Company. During these years Sperry also developed an electric street car. After selling his patents to General Electric, he went to work for the company as a consultant. In 1901 Sperry became associated with a young patent examiner, Clifton Townsend, and the two men worked together to develop an electrolytic process to manufacture white lead. Sperry and Townsend opened a production plant in Niagara Falls, New York, which was sold to Elon Hooker's (1869-1938) Development and Funding Company. - Page 3- Elmer Ambrose Sperry papers 1893 In 1907 Sperry began to experiment with the gyroscope. Three years later, he founded the Sperry Gyroscope Company in Brooklyn, New York. Working closely with the Navy, he developed the gyrocompass, ship stabilizer, and high-intensity search light. During the First World War, the Sperry Gyroscope Company became a major defense contractor, and Elmer Sperry sat on the Naval Consulting Board. After the war, Sperry Gyroscope moved into aeronautics as it developed airplane stabilizers, gyrostabilized bombsights, and the aerial torpedo. Elmer Sperry died on June l6, l930. ^ Return to Table of Contents Scope and Content The Elmer Sperry papers document Sperry's research and development work and entrepreneurial activities. The Chicago-Cleveland records describe his efforts to develop arc lighting systems, stationary power, electric mining machinery, and electric traction technology. Included are correspondence files and financial records of the Electric Light, Motor, and Car Brake and the Electric Mining Machine companies. Electro-chemistry files include correspondence and reports documenting the development of the white lead process and the business negotiations that took place between the Sperry and Hooker Chemical companies. Also included is correspondence with William F. Dutton of the American Can Company, Leo Baekeland, and with Ernest LeMaire of the Hooker Electrochemical Company. Gyroscope company records document the development and marketing of the marine and aeronautical instruments, including the gyrocompass, ship stabililzer, high-intensity search light, airplane stabilizer, fire control systems, automatic bombsights, and the aerial torpedo. These records describe Sperry's close working relationship with the U.S. Navy and his collaboration with Admiral David W. Taylor and Commander William McEntree. Records also describe Sperry's activities on the Naval Consulting Board. Sales and marketing records contain correspondence with representatives of the British, French, Japanese, and Russian navies. Personal series contains genealogical and biographical information on Sperry and his family. Included is a diary of Stephen Decatur Sperry (Elmer's father), genealogical charts tracing the family roots to England and the reign of Charles I, and letters from Elmer Sperry describing his early life in Cortland and experiences at Cornell University. This series also includes correspondence of Zula Goodman Sperry (Elmer's wife) and her brother. Herbert Goodman. describing the role the Goodman family played in Elmer Sperry's various enterprises. This series includes Sperry's correspondence with Thomas Edison (a colleague on the Naval Advisory Board) and with Helen Keller. There is also information on Sperry's personal finances and condolences which were written to him after the death of his son, Lawrence. General correspondence series contains Elmer Sperry's correspondence with a number of prominent scientists,
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