Lewis Latimer Patent Drawing

Description:

Electricity pioneer Lewis Latimer drew this component of an arc lamp, an early type of electric light, for the U.S. Electric Lighting Company in 1880.

The son of escaped slaves and a Civil War veteran at age sixteen, Latimer trained himself as a draftsman. His technical and artistic skills earned him jobs with Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, among others. An inventor in his own right, Latimer received numerous patents and was a renowned industry expert on incandescent lighting.

Date Made: 1880-07-25

Maker: Latimer, Lewis H.

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Work and Industry: Electricity, Government, Politics, and Reform, Cultures & Communities, Energy & Power, Engineering, Building, and Architecture, Work, Industry & Manufacturing, National Treasures exhibit, Art

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Related Web Publication: http://americanhistory.si.edu/treasures

Related Publication: Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History, National Museum of American History. Treasures of American History online exhibition

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1983.0458.21Accession Number: 1983.0458Catalog Number: 1983.0458.21

Object Name: drawing

Physical Description: paper (overall material)Measurements: overall: 7 1/4 in x 12 1/2 in x 1/16 in; 18.415 cm x 31.75 cm x .0795 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-f750-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1313353

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