Printed Material, Herbert N. Casson, The Birth of the Telephone.
Archive
An article on Alexander Bell’s invention of the telephone, circa 1911, with a penciled inscription, probably by Lewis Latimer, across the top of the first page. The inscription reads: “Drawings for Mr. Bell’s patent application were made by L. H. Latimer, then in the employ of Crosby & Gould, 34 School St., Boston, Mass. U.S.A.”
Lewis Latimer was proud of his work assisting Bell in patenting the telephone in 1876. Accounts like this article did not mention Latimer, and in fact, his inscription and other autobiographical writings in the Latimer Collection are the only known evidence of Latimer’s participation.
Latimer Family Papers (1870-1996 ) [QPL Full Collection]
The Role of Lewis H. Latimer in Telephone Innovation
These documents highlight Latimer’s significant yet often overlooked contributions to the telephone industry. They provide historical context on how his engineering expertise played a critical role in advancing telecommunications technology.