Guide to the Frederick Bedell Papers,
1891-1984.

Collection Number: 14-22-2190

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
M.E. Warren
Date completed:
November 1984
EAD encoding:
Ann Hubert, May 2004

© 2003 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Frederick Bedell papers, 1891-1984.
Collection Number:
14-22-2190
Creator:
Frederick Bedell, 1868-1958.
Quantity:
4.2 cubic ft.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence, notes, drawings, files, papers, volumes, news clippings.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Correspondence, notes, and drawings relating to hearing and devices for the deaf; files on the oscilloscope; files relating to his student work at Yale, his teaching career at Cornell, and his subsequent research at California Institute of Technology.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Professor of physics.
Frederick Bedell received an A.B. degree from Yale University in 1890 and a Ph.D degree from Cornell in 1892. He was appointed Assistant Professor of Physics at Cornell in 1893, and, in 1904, Professor of Applied Electricity. His most important contributions in electrical engineering were his experimental investigations and theoretical studies delaing with alternating currents. In 1917, he was appointed as an advisor in the establishment at Cornell of one of the United States Army Schools of Military Aeronautics which led to his work in the investigation of airplane performance and design. He also worked on the development of devices to aid the deaf by utilizing the phenomenon of sound conduction through the bones. For twenty-nine years he served as editor of the Physical Review. After his retirement, he did research at California Institute of Technology. Frederick Bedell died in 1958.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Correspondence, notes, and drawings relating to hearing and devices for the deaf; files on the oscilloscope; files relating to his student work at Yale, his teaching career at Cornell, and his subsequent research at California Institute of Technology; correspondence files; personal and family papers; and bound volumes including biographical papers, reprints, news clippings, and patents. Also Modern Gypsies, by Mary Crehore Bedell.
Bibliography of publications by Bedell including papers, theses, and charts.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Bedell, Frederick, 1868-1958.
California Institute of Technology.
Cornell University. Department of Physics.
Yale University--Students.

Subjects:
Physics--Study and teaching.
Hearing.
Hearing aids.
Bone conduction.
Oscilloscopes.
Electric measurements.
Electricity--Experiments.
Electric currents, alternating.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
Frederick Bedell papers, #14-22-2190. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
CONTAINER LIST

Description
Container
Report of part of the Short Electric Railway System, Rochester, 1891 (book)
 Box 1 Folder 1
An Electric Elevator (Bedell's first invention)
 Box 1 Folder 2
Mechanism of the ear (model)
 Box 1 Folder 3
Hearing
 Box 1 Folder 4
The Mechanism of Hearing
 Box 1 Folder 5
Memo on hearing
 Box 1 Folder 6
Hearing, original drawings
 Box 1 Folder 7
Hearing notes; Talk given at Cornell, CIT, others
 Box 1 Folder 8
Hearing in animals
 Box 1 Folder 9
Hearing in birds
 Box 1 Folder 10
Cat's ear
 Box 1 Folder 11
Bone conduction dictograph
 Box 1 Folder 12
Bone conductor hearing aid, photos
 Box 1 Folder 13
News clippings on "Deaf Speaker" bone conduction hearing aid
 Box 1 Folder 14
Bone conduction patent-assignment to Dictograph
 Box 1 Folder 15
Letters to the Burts re Dictograph, Oct. 3, 1930-Feb. 27, 1936
Box 1 Folder 16
Dictograph - decisions, settlements, contract, 1938
Box 1 Folder 17
Bibliography, 1892-1900 (see accession folder for detailed list)
 Box 1 Folder 18
Oscilloscope and voltage-regulating auto-transformer
 Box 2 Folder 1
Correspondence, 1926-1928
Box 2 Folder 2
Reprints
 Box 2 Folder 3
Orders, 1929-1930
Box 2 Folder 4
Sales
 Box 2 Folder 5
Correspondence re General Radio purchase of oscilloscope and transformer patents
 Box 2 Folder 6
Patent infringement suit of General Radio against DuMont Lab
 Box 2 Folder 7
Court cases - press clippings
 Box 2 Folder 8
T.V. gift oscilloscope
 Box 2 Folder 9
DuMont recommended for Edison Medal, 1955
Box 2 Folder 10
Miscellaneous, including alternating current dictionary, "unit" book contracts
 Box 2 Folder 11
AAAS - American Association for the Advancement of Science
 Box 3 Folder 1
AIEE - American Institute of Electric Engineers
 Box 3 Folder 2
AIEE - Vancouver paper, 1942
Box 3 Folder 3
American Institute of Physics
 Box 3 Folder 4
Eta Kappa Nu Association
 Box 3 Folder 5
Physical Society
 Box 3 Folder 6
Societies
 Box 3 Folder 7
Thomas Alva Edison Foundation
 Box 3 Folder 8
Papers by Bedell fellow workers
 Box 3 Folder 9
Papers by Bedell (reprints)
 Box 3 Folder 10
Special reprints by friends I
 Box 3 Folder 11
Special reprints by friends II
 Box 3 Folder 12
Miscellaneous science articles
 Box 3 Folder 13
Letters re Bedell's books
 Box 3 Folder 14
Caltech - General
 Box 4 Folder 1
Caltech - Mt. Wilson, Palomar, news clips
 Box 4 Folder 2
Caltech - Millikan news clips
 Box 4 Folder 3
Cornell University - Official, appointments and retirement, thesis
 Box 4 Folder 4
Cornell University - History of physics, founding of AAAS and Physical Society, Ernest Merritt letters
 Box 4 Folder 5
Cornell in Pictures, 1868-1954 (book)
 Box 4 Folder 6
Yale University - General
 Box 4 Folder 7
Yale University - Early professors, biographical sketches of Nichols, Merritt, Moler
 Box 4 Folder 8
Correspondence, A-C
 Box 5 Folder 1
Allen, Frank; Bailey, W.B.; Ballard, William C.; Baitsell, G.A.; Baver, L.D.; Berry, Romeyn; Blaker, Adelaide; Blair, William L.; Brandow, Baird; Buckley, Oliver; Cal. Inst. Tech. (Bacher, R); Cal. Inst. Tech.; Caroline (Thomas), Crehore, Albert
Correspondence, F-Joh
 Box 5 Folder 2
Fact and Publication; FBI; Fite, William B.; Goldsmith, Norris; Goldsmith, Thomas; Grantham (prof.); Hartman, Paul; Holmes, George; Horne, Harley; Johnson, J. Kelly
Correspondence, J
 Box 5 Folder 3
Joslin, Elliot
Correspondence, K-M
 Box 5 Folder 4
King, A.A.; Kirkpatrick, Paul; Kuhn, Jack; Lahens; Lennox, William; Lohman, Ralph; Librarian, Cornell U.; Lyons, Helen; Marshall; Matey, George; Maxstadt, Francais; Maerritt Family; Millikan, Robert; Morey, Dan; Mueller, George; Murdock Carlton
Correspondence
 Box 5 Folder 5
Lorentz, H.A.
Correspondence, N-R
 Box 5 Folder 6
Needham, J.C.; Neher, Victor; Noyes, Bradford; Overal, Edward A.; Pasadena; Pasadena Presbyterian Church; Piersan, Albert; Reich, Herbert J.; Richards, Lorenzo; Ries, Donald; Ries, Heinrich; Rivers, Ruth and Tom
Correspondence, S-Z
 Box 5 Folder 7
Scott, Merit; Strong, John; Swann, W.F.G.; Utereiner, Ray; Who's Who in America; White, William; Wilcox, W.F.; Zeiger, Franklin
Pensions
 Box 5 Folder 8
Income Tax Returns, 1847-1951
Box 5 Folder 9
Annuities
 Box 5 Folder 10
Photographs
 Box 5 Folder 11
Photographs
 Box 5 Folder 12
Award, "Modern Pioneer of the American Frontiers of Industry," Feb. 16, 1940
Box 6 Folder 1
Bibliography
 Box 6 Folder 2
Biography - F. Bedell and Mary Crehore Bedell, includes genealogy
 Box 6 Folder 3
Correspondence re move to Pasadena, 1937
Box 6 Folder 4
Early recollections, school records
 Box 6 Folder 5
80th birthday, acknowledgements, ode by F.B. Hirsch
 Box 6 Folder 6
Family miscellaneous
 Box 6 Folder 7
Graduate students
 Box 6 Folder 8
Health and exercise
 Box 6 Folder 9
Integrals - early notes
 Box 6 Folder 10
Memorabilia
 Box 6 Folder 11
Miscellaneous - some fun, some wisdom
 Box 7 Folder 1
Papers re estate of Edwin F. Bedell (father)
 Box 7 Folder 2
Personal miscellaneous
 Box 7 Folder 3
Personal miscellaneous, guest and address books
 Box 7 Folder 4
1938 wedding announcement
Box 7 Folder 5
School compositions, 1877-1883
Box 7 Folder 6
Correspondence, 1880-1886
Box 7 Folder 7
Correspondence, 1887-1890
Box 7 Folder 8
Correspondence, 1891-1896
Box 7 Folder 9
Correspondence, 1896-1897
Box 7 Folder 10
Correspondence, 1897-1907
Box 7 Folder 11
Correspondence, 1810-1952
Box 7 Folder 12
Vols. 1-7, Biographical papers, reprints, news clippings, patents, etc. of Frederick Bedell (see accession folder for detailed list)
Box 8 Folder 1
Modern Gypsies, by Mary Crehore Bedell
Box 8 Folder 2
"Magnetism of Iron and the Magnetic Circuit," a collection of notes, 1894
Box 8 Folder 3
Publications mainly by F. Bedell, 1892-1949 (see accession folder for detailed list)
 Box 9 Folder 1