Scope and Content Note
The papers of Lee De Forest (1873-1961) span the years 1884-1955 and include biographical sketches, booklets, correspondence, diaries, drawings, essays, newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, poetry, and research notes. De Forest was a pioneer in wireless communications who made possible the long distance transmission and reception of the human voice, which led to the foundation of the radio industry and long distance telephone communication. His inventions, particularly the audion amplifier in 1905, the triode vacuum tube in 1906, and the oscillating audion in 1913, revolutionized wireless communications and earned him the title, “the father of radio.” De Forest also perfected the phonofilm method of sound recording and the glow-light recording of sound films, made important contributions to the development of television and high speed facsimile transmission, and invented radio therapy and the radio knife.
The collection contains letters from De Forest to members of his family, friends, and business associates, with only a few to fellow scientists. The correspondence is arranged chronologically. A subject file contains biographical material on De Forest, published and manuscript scientific writings, photographs of early audion tubes, and technical schematics, sketches, and notes on several of De Forest's inventions. The subject file is arranged alphabetically by type of material.
De Forest's diaries, or notebook journals, span the years 1891-1949 and contain references to the difficulties encountered in the early years of his career as he struggled for recognition in the face of persistent lack of funds and inconstant friends. There are frequent allusions to his inventions and business ventures, both successes and failures, descriptions of the natural world, and original poetry. The diaries are arranged chronologically and have been microfilmed.