Edwin H. Armstrong papers, 1890-1972.
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Creator:
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Armstrong, Edwin H. (Edwin Howard), 1890-1954. |
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Phys. Desc:
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248 linear ft. ( 573 boxes, 30 flat folders, 10 phono discs, 5 tape reels) |
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Call Number:
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MS#0043 |
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Location:
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Rare Book & Manuscript Library |
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Biographical Note
Edwin Howard Armstrong is one of America's greatest inventors and scientists. He was born in New York City on December 18,
1890 and died there on January 31, 1954. Armstrong studied electrical engineering at Columbia University. In 1912 he invented
a feedback circuit that allowed signals to be produced with greatly increased amplification. This invention is the basis of
radio and television and for it he was awarded the Franklin Medal, the highest U.S. scientific honor. In 1933 he invention
circuits that produced the varying number of waves per second waves over a wide band, or FM radio transmission. The first
public broadcast of FM was made in 1935.
Scope and Contents
Professional and personal files including Armstrong's correspondence with professional associations, other engineers, and
friends, his research notes, circuit diagrams, lectures, articles, legal papers, and other related materials. Of his many
inventions and developments, the most important are: 1) the regenerative or feedback circuit, 1912, the first amplified radio
reception, 2) the superheterodyne circuit, 1918, the basis of modern radio and radar, 3) superregeneration, 1922, a very simple,
high-power receiver now used in emergency mobile service, and 4) frequency modulation - FM, 1933, static-free radio reception
of high fidelity. More than half the files concern his many lawsuits, primarily with Radio Corporation of America, over infringement
of the Armstrong patents. Litigation continued until 1967. Other files deal with his work in the Marcellus Hartley Research
Laboratory at Columbia University, 1913-1935, and with the American Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I, his
Air Force contracts for communications development, Army research during World War II, the Radio Club of America, the Institute
of Radio Engineers, FM development at his radio station at Alpine, N.J., the use of FM in television, his involvement in Federal
Communications Commission hearings and legislation, and his work with the Zenith Radio Corporation. Also, letters to H.J.
Round. 1990 ADDITION: Files from the firm of Cravath, Swaine, & Moore. Files, dating from the late 1920s to the 1960s, pertaining
to Professor Armstrong's litigation with Lee de Forest over the regeneration patents; his suit against RCA and other infringers
of his FM patents; the original letters patent, among which are those for his FM system; and financial matters relating to
the Armstrong laboratories, the FM station in Alpine, New Jersey, other real estate properties, and his estate.
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