Tesla: Signals. Rivals. Ruin.Episode 111:41
The Papers That Crossed an Ocean
Tesla's dispersed records move from federal scrutiny to Belgrade and American archives, where thousands of documents begin a second life.
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Transcript
After World War II, Tesla library material was sent to Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
A state museum was established in Tesla's name in Belgrade.
From that point, Tesla's records began living under more than one authority.
Freedom of Information disclosures later showed strong federal interest in Tesla's papers.
A modern archivist reaches for the reading-room scanner. The badge is not reading.
A second attempt leaves the access light unchanged; the paper trail remains.
Tesla Society was founded to develop and coordinate Tesla's centennial observance.
Preservation bore two burdens: career evidence and its attached reputation.
In 1959, Kenneth M. Swezey gave Tesla letters to New York Public Library.
Letters concern Wardenclyffe, radio dynamics, remote-controlled, self-propelled devices.
The collection includes thank-you letters, human residue around technical work.
Belgrade and American collections gave Tesla's record separate lives.
The paper trail did not survive in a single form.
Surviving correspondence: postcards, telegrams, greeting cards, carbon copies.
Tesla's Colorado Springs diary: English for personal use, not publication.
In 1915, Tesla said his circuits could resist static and nearby lightning.
In 1915, Tesla said he had described these circuits in patents.
Where it leaves off
Inside Tesla's enormous archive, investigators still had to separate the documented inventor from the legend built around his name.
Sources
- Sample text for Library of Congress control number 2001037808catdir.loc.govsecondary
- archives.nypl.org -- Nikola Tesla lettersarchives.nypl.orgsecondary
- Correspondence – Nikola Tesla Museumtesla-museum.orgsecondary
- Nikola Tesla Colorado Springs Notes 1899-1900 (PDF) (PDF)pdfroom.comsecondary
- Nikola Tesla Sees a Wireless Vision - New York Times, Sunday - October 3, 1915 - Open Tesla Researchteslaresearch.jimdofree.comprimary
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