Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Charles Grafton Page Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0933
Creators:
Page, Charles Grafton, 1812-1868
Dates:
1844-1870
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.25 Cubic feet
1 box, 1 oversize folder
Repository:
Papers relate to American inventor Charles Grafton Page, an early developer of electromagnetic machinery.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
These papers were created by Charles Grafton Page. The bulk of the papers relate to invention matters about electro magnetic engines (1844); axial galvanometer (1846); magnetic axial pump (1848); and electro dynamic axial engine (undated).

Arrangement

Arrangement
Divided into three series.
Series 1, Correspondence, 1844-1970
Series 2, Writings and drawings, undated
Series 3, Publications, 1846-1868.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Charles Grafton Page was born on January 25, 1812 in Salem, Massachusetts. He received a bachelor's degree in science from Harvard University (1832), and a medical degree (1836). In 1838, Page moved to Washington, D.C. where he practiced medicine and taught medicine at Columbian College (now George Washington University). During the late 1830s and 1840s, Page experimented with electricity and specifically with electromagnetism. Page developed an induction coil in 1836 and a self-acting circuit breaker and a primitive electric locomotive, which had a trial run in 1850. In 1841, Page was appointed Examiner of Electricity at the United States Patent Office. He left the Patent Office in 1852 to start is own business, returned in 1861 where he remained until his death in 1868. Page died on May 5, 1868, in Washington, D.C.

Administration

Author
Alison Oswald
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by Lois Wodell Poinier, a descendant of Charles Grafton Page, 2006.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Alison Oswald, November 2006.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Charles Grafton Page Papers, 1844-1870, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Gift of Lois W. Poinier.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Correspondence -- 19th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Inventors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings -- 19th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Electromagnetism Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Electricity Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Inventions Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Electromagnets Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Poinier, Lois W. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu