Name/Title
Print, PhotographicEntry/Object ID
1948.041.0005Description
Original and one copy of the Eclipse party in 1878.
Update 2009: Sepia print of a group of people standing in a line along side of a picket fence & clapboard buildings. Two of the buildings are houses & one is an outbuilding or shed. Two center panels of the shed roof have been removed and placed to either side of the roof. Three telescope ends can be seen protruding toward the sky from the opening in the roof. Two more telescopes on tripods are standing in front of the people and buildings. Foreground is sparsely vegetated. Four men are against fence on photo left, one man in center behind standing telescopes. Seven men & two women are against shed on photo right. Men are all wearing suits & ties, one on far right has his hat on & most others are holding their hats in one hand extending toward leg. Mr. Edison has his arms crossed & is holding his hat in his right hand by his side. The two women are wearing dark, long dresses & elaborate hats. Print mounted on tan mat.
The writing under the picture says: "Eclipse Party Rawlins Wyo 1878". Written in black on bottom left corner "Loaned to Carbon County Museum by Grace Friend Williams, Evanston Wyoming". LU on left lower bottom of print.
On back in blue ink: "Thomas Edison second from right."
In black ink: "Copied and mounted".
In pencil" 500 N. Front" In blue ink 85%" In pencil "page 47 pix 1 4 3/4 x 7 1/4".
White sticker on back in pencil: Edison
One copy stamped on back : Copy Provided by the Wyoming State Archives and Historical Department." In black ink "Eclipse party 1878. Men came from east to Rawlins in 1878 to get a better view of the total eclipse. This picture was taken of the group on 6th St. between Front and Cedar. Left to right: George F. Barker, University of Pennsylvania Dean (physicist); Robert Galbraith, the author and master mechanic for UPRR; Professor Henry Morton (President of Stevens Institute of Technology)of Hoboken NJ; unidentified, Professor Meyers of Iowa; Alvan Graham Clark & George Bassett Clark, telescope manufacturers; Marshall Fox of New York Herald; Professor Watson of Ann Arbor Mich; Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Draper; Dr. Henry Draper; Thomas A. Edison, and Joseph Norman Lockyer, English Astronomer. Thomas Edison was taken on a fishing trip to Battle Lake after the eclipse. it was on that trip that Edison received the inspiration and worked out in his own mind the details for the incandescence lamp. Mr. Heath, father of Dr. Lillian Heath, accompanied Edison on this trip.
Condition: Fair. Lower right corner torn off, upper left corner torn off, creased left side toward middle, liquid stain upper left, liquid spots bottom left, irregular borders, soiled, scratched, emulsion impacted, accretion. On back; adhesive tape, cut, paper missing, liquid stains, soiled.
Copy Condition: good. Top right corner creased, scratched, emulsion impacted.
One 4 x 5" black & white contact print made from a copy negative.Collection
Photograph Collection