This folder contains correspondence and other documents relating to Edison's membership in, and activities on behalf of, social clubs, professional societies, political groups, and civic organizations. There are also appeals from charitable organizations, including at least one intended for his wife, Mina Miller Edison. A few letters concern the purchase of professional and other publications for Edison. Among the documents for 1911 are solicitations and additional correspondence pertaining to the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the Eugenics Section of the American Breeders' Association, and the Telephone Pioneers of America. Several items pertain to Edison's plans to visit Chicago in January 1912. Many of the letters bear marginalia by Edison, with notations such as "say no" and "no ans." or comments that he is "too busy" to participate.
Less than 10 percent of the documents have been selected. The following categories of documents have not been selected: requests for Edison's autograph or signature, including its reproduction; form letters and other routine correspondence regarding meetings and activities; invitations and other requests that Edison either declined or did not acknowledge; invitations for which no substantive response has been found; correspondence from organizations in which Edison was not involved; published proceedings and printed circulars; and duplicates. Some of the unselected items, including letters about cigarettes, relate to material in other folders in the Edison General File. Courtesy of Thomas Edison National Historical Park.