This folder contains correspondence and other documents pertaining to arrangements, appointments, activities, and publicity during the period June-October 1911, when Edison and his family visited England, France, Germany, Switzerland, and other destinations. The correspondents include longtime Edison associates Theron I. Crane, William Kennedy Laurie Dickson, Francis Jehl, and Edward H. Johnson, as well as John F. Monnot of the Klaxon Co. Some of the correspondence with Jehl and Monnot concerns the repair of Edison's hired car.
Approximately 30 percent of the documents have been selected. The following categories of documents were not selected: unsolicited requests from European admirers for Edison's opinion, aid, advice, and autograph; inquiries regarding interviews with Edison and articles written by him; untranslated foreign-language letters; unsolicited calling cards, postcards, and routine greetings.
Newspaper clippings relating to the tour can be found in Scrapbook, Cat. 44,447 -- European Tour (1911) in the Scrapbook Series. A 15-page typescript entitled "Mr. Edison's Impressions of Europe," consisting of observations about Europe and Europeans made by Edison after his return to the United States, can be found in William H. Meadowcroft Papers -- Reminiscences by Edison in the Special Collections Series of Thomas A. Edison Papers, Part IV (1899-1910). Courtesy of Thomas Edison National Historical Park.