Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

McMillan, Wheeler (b. 1893) [Write up of an interview with Thomas Edison on agriculture and rubber production]

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05791.03 Author/Creator: McMillan, Wheeler (b. 1893) Place Written: s.l. Type: Typed manuscript Date: circa 1928 Pagination: 6 p. ; 32 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy

Manuscript written after McMillan interviewed Edison on his new interest in agriculture. Describes how Edison became interested in farming and includes quotes from Edison. Also discusses Edison's experiments in manufacturing rubber. Contains some information gleaned from a talk with Henry Ford as well. See GLC05791.01 for the interview questions and answers. Includes corrections.

McMillan was an agrarian who founded the Farm Chemurgic Council with Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Nobel Prize physicist Robert Milliken to expand the market for agricultural products.

McMillen, Wheeler, 1893-1992
Edison, Thomas Alva, 1847-1931
Ford, Henry, 1863-1947

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources