US-RPB-ms81.4 Guide to the Kenneth P. Whiting papers1925-1976(bulk 1925-1926) Finding aid prepared by John Hay Library staff. Brown University Library
Box ABrown UniversityProvidence, RI 02912Tel: 401-863-2162Fax: 401-863-1272email: rock@brown.edu
 Finding aid encoded by Vasundhara Prasad 2008 October 29 English English Brown University LibrarySpecial Collections
Box A, John Hay LibraryBrown UniversityProvidence, RI 02912Tel: 401-863-2146Fax: 401-863-2093E-mail: hay@brown.edu
 Whiting, Kenneth P., 1902- Kenneth P. Whiting papers 1925-1926 Whiting (Kenneth P.) papers 1925-1976 1925-1926 2.25 linear feet (1 legal size clamshell boxes) (1 oversize box) Kenneth P. Whiting was employed from 1925 to 1926 at Thomas A. Edison Inc. in disc record manufacturing and development and distribution of demonstrating sample records. The Kenneth P. Whiting papers include a series of memoranda from Whiting to Edison himself, with Edison's replies. Ms. 81.4 Biographical Note

Kenneth P. Whiting was born in New Brunswick, N.J., on March 10, 1902, the son of Jesse E. Whiting and Mable Clare (Parks) Whiting. He attended Brown University, and graduated with a Ph.B. degree in 1925. Upon graduation he obtained employment at Thomas A. Edison Inc., first as an inspector in the disc record manufacturing division, and then on a project to develop and distribute demonstrating sample records. Upon termination of his employment with Edison he joined the Celluloid Corporation of Newark, N. J., and subsequently the Nixon Nitration Works of Nixon, N. J., where he was employed for forty years until his retirement.

In 1928, Whiting married Jessie Helen Du Bois. They had two children; Jamed Du Bois Whiting (born 1932) and Beverly Lou Whiting (born 1946). He later married Mrs. Ann Sisck, in 1975.

 Collection Information

There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.

By the terms of the deed of gift, all of Mr. Whiting's copyright and literary rights pertaining to this collection have been transferred to Brown University, from which permission to publish extracts must be obtained.

Kenneth P. Whiting papers, Ms. 81.4, Brown University Library.

The collection consists primarily of materials relating to the development and distribution of Edison demonstrating sample records. Its chief interest is a series of memoranda from Whiting to Edison himself, with Edison's replies; all but two of the latter took the form of comments written on the memoranda. These afford a glimpse of Edison's management of one of the numerous aspects of his industrial enterprise.

The miscellaneous materials include printed brochures, clippings, photographs, and a printed book. The Edison disc records in the collection were not produced as demonstration samples.

The collection is divided into five series: 1. Correspondence and memoranda 2. Form letters 3. Printed material concerning demonstrating sample records 4. Miscellaneous 5. Edison disc records

This collection was donated by Kenneth P. Whiting on September 19, 1980.

This collection has been microfilmed.

 Names Whiting, Kenneth P., 1902- Anderson, H. S Boarman, L. H. Edison, Thomas Alva, 1847-1931 Meadowcroft, Wm. H. (William Henry), b. 1853 Thomas A. Edison, Inc. Armand Vecsey and his Hungarian Orchestra Lehár, Franz, 1870-1948 Drigo, Riccardo, 1846-1930 Frieda Hempel and the Criterion Quartet Foster, Stephen Collins, 1826-1864 Subjects Phonograph-Manufacture RIAMCO Browsing Terms Performing Arts Business Titles Pretty Edelweiss Alone at Last Les Millions d'Arlequin Serenade Aloha oe by Queen Liliuokaani My Old Kentucky Home Types of materials Letters (correspondence) Brochures Photographs Phonograph records Occupations Electric engineers Inventors Additional Information

RESOURCES BEYOND BROWN

Inventing Entertainment: The Motion Pictures and Sound Recordings of the Edison Company (American Memory Project, Library of Congress) Edison Companies (The Edison Papers, Rutgers University)

Brown University Library catalog record for this collection: Kenneth P. Whiting papers

 Series 1. Correspondence and memoranda1925-1926 12 folder(s) 1 1 Meadowcroft, W. H. to Kenneth P. Whiting1925 Jul 13 1 1 Meadowcroft, W. H. to Kenneth P. Whiting1925 Jul 07 1 1 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Sep 16

Annotated by Edison.

 1 1 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Sep 25 1 1 Anderson, H. S. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Sep 25

Annotated by Edison.

 1 2 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Oct 16 1 2 Edison to Kenneth P. Whitingundated

Attached to preceding.

 1 2 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Oct 30

Annotated by Edison.

 1 2 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Oct 30

Annotated by Edison.

 1 2 Boarman, L.H. to Mr. Farrier1925 Nov 07 1 3 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Nov 09 1 3 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Nov 19 1 3 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Nov 20

Annotated by Edison.

 1 3 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Nov 25

Annotated by Edison.

 1 3 Whiting's memo of conversation with Edison1925 Dec 12 1 4 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Dec 17 1 4 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Dec 21 1 4 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Dec 21 1 4 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Dec 24 1 4 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Jan 07

Annotated by Edison.

 1 5 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Jan 09

Annotated by Edison.

 1 5 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Jan 11

Annotated by Edison.

 1 5 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Jan 14

Annotated by Edison.

 1 5 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Jan 19

Annotated by Edison.

 1 5 Anderson, H.S. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Jan 20

Annotated by Edison.

 1 6 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Feb 01

Annotated by Edison.

 1 6 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Feb 01 1 6 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Feb 04

Annotated by Edison.

 1 6 Partial draft of preceding1926 Feb 04 1 6 Attached draft of note to Walshundated 1 7 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Feb 12

Annotated "not sent".

 1 7 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Feb 13 1 7 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Feb 15 1 7 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Feb 18 1 8 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Feb 24

2 copies.

 1 8 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Mar 03

Annotated by Edison.

 1 8 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Mar 03 1 8 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Mar 05

Annotated by Edison.

 1 9 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Mar 11

Annotated by Edison.

 1 9 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edisonundated

Attached to preceding.

 1 9 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Mar 19 1 9 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926-03-24

Annotated by Edison.

 1 9 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Apr 09 1 10 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Apr 14 1 10 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Apr 14 1 10 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Apr 21 1 10 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Apr 27

Annotated by Edison.

 1 10 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edisonundated

Annotated by Edison.

 1 11 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 Apr 28

Annotated by Edison.

 1 11 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 May 04

Annotated by Edison.

 1 11 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 May 14

Annotated by Edison.

 1 12 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Sep - 1926 May

Annotated by Edison.

 1 12 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1925 Oct

Annotated by Edison.

 1 12 Whiting, Kenneth P. to Thomas A. Edison1926 May

Draft.

 Series 2. Form letters1925 4 folders 1 13 Form letters1925 Dec 02, undated 1 14 Form letter1925 Dec 02 1 15 Form lettersundated 2 versions 1 16 Form lettersundated 2 letters Series 3. Printed material concerning demonstrating sample recordsundated 2 folders 1 17 Order form and list of record contentsundated

Order form; list of contents of record no. 7; same for record no. 8; instructions for operating the demonstrating instruments.

1 18 Labels for records 1-7undated Series 4. Miscellaneous1926-1976 4 folders 1 19 Advertising brochure and instruction bookletundated

Advertising brochure: "The New Edison Phonograph" (Form 4726), [16] p.' "List Prices of New Edison Phonographs" (Form 4739), 1 page; instruction booklet: "Edison Diamond Disc Phonographs" (Form 15230-25 M-10_23), 12 pages

 1 20 Autographed photo of Thomas A. Edison1926 Jan 29

Inscribed to K. P. Whiting. Supplement to The Courier (of Orange, NJ); with lead article on Edison. Copyright Walter Scott Shinn, NY

 1 21 Talk given by Kenneth P. Whiting to fourth grade students at Connecticut Farms School1976 Feb 11-1976 Feb 19

Xerox copy of talk; illustrated article from the Union Leader (Union, NJ) concerning this talk; glossy print of illustration for this article.

1 22 Duplicate of items in folders 17-19undated 1 22 Edison As I Know Him by Henry Ford, in collaboration with Samuel Crowther (New York: Cosmopolitan Book Co.), in original wrappers1930 Series 5. Edison disc recordsundated 2 folders 1X 1X No. 80294undated

Armand Vecsey and his Hungarian Orchestra playing Franz Lehar's Pretty Edelweiss and Alone at Last and R. Drigo's Serenade from Les Millions d'Arlequin.

 1X 2X No. 82551undated

Rendition by Frieda Hempel and the Criterion Quartet of Aloha oe by Queen Liliuokaani and My Old Kentucky Home by Stephen C. Foster.