My Situation as It Looked to Me – 1912
Drawing
This is a cyanotype (blueprint) drawing depicting a man walking precariously on a narrow path, carrying a long tool labeled "65 ft." The man is shown balancing while crossing a bridge labeled "Consulting Engineer" with "General Electric Co." written below. The background features a wide landscape with "The Wide Wide World" inscribed. The lower portion of the image poses the question, "Which way will he fall?" indicating uncertainty about his career path or personal challenges. The handwritten caption at the bottom reads, "My situation as it looked to me – 1912."
This image appears to be a symbolic representation of Lewis H. Latimer’s professional struggles in 1912. By this time, Latimer was an established inventor and engineer, but his career was transitioning as new technologies emerged. The balancing act in the drawing likely reflects his feelings of uncertainty about his future, possibly in relation to his work with General Electric or other engineering firms.
Latimer Family Papers (1870-1996 ) [QPL Full Collection]
Text in the blueprint: "The WIDE WIDE WORLD" "Consulting Engineer" "General Electric Co." "Feathers" "Which way will he fall?" Handwritten text at the bottom: "My situation as it looked to me – 1912"