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Charles Grafton Page Papers

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Creator
Page, Charles Grafton, 1812-1868
Donor
Poinier, Lois W.
Topic
Inventors
Electromagnetism
Electricity
Inventions
Electromagnets
Provenance
This collection was donated by Lois Wodell Poinier, a descendant of Charles Grafton Page, 2006.
Creator
Page, Charles Grafton, 1812-1868
See more items in
Charles Grafton Page Papers
Summary
Papers relate to American inventor Charles Grafton Page, an early developer of electromagnetic machinery.
Biographical / Historical
Charles Grafton Page was born on January 25, 1812 in Salem, Massachusetts. He received a bachelor's degree in science from Harvard University (1832), and a medical degree (1836). In 1838, Page moved to Washington, D.C. where he practiced medicine and taught medicine at Columbian College (now George Washington University). During the late 1830s and 1840s, Page experimented with electricity and specifically with electromagnetism. Page developed an induction coil in 1836 and a self-acting circuit breaker and a primitive electric locomotive, which had a trial run in 1850. In 1841, Page was appointed Examiner of Electricity at the United States Patent Office. He left the Patent Office in 1852 to start is own business, returned in 1861 where he remained until his death in 1868. Page died on May 5, 1868, in Washington, D.C.
Extent
0.25 Cubic feet (1 box, 1 oversize folder)
Date
1844-1870
Archival Repository
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier
NMAH.AC.0933
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence
Drawings
Citation
Charles Grafton Page Papers, 1844-1870, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Gift of Lois W. Poinier.
Arrangement
Divided into three series. Series 1, Correspondence, 1844-1970 Series 2, Writings and drawings, undated Series 3, Publications, 1846-1868.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Alison Oswald, November 2006.
Rights
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Genre/Form
Correspondence -- 19th century
Drawings -- 19th century
Scope and Contents
These papers were created by Charles Grafton Page. The bulk of the papers relate to invention matters about electro magnetic engines (1844); axial galvanometer (1846); magnetic axial pump (1848); and electro dynamic axial engine (undated).
Restrictions
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at [email protected] or 202-633-3270.
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1503511626892-1503511626895-0
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep803ce1fc4-4065-43b9-83bc-b844139e0f0d

In the Collection

  • Writings and Drawings

  • The Weekly Globe

  • Statement of Disclosure for Invention of John James Greenough

  • Scientific America

  • Daily National Intelligencer

  • Publications

  • Correspondence

  • Scientific American

  • The Sun Weekly

Writings and Drawings
View Slideshow
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer
View Finding aid

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