George - Thanks for this very interesting bit of history. I always enjoy hearing about the early guys in our hobby. Bob Johnson ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 2:56 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Dr. Philip Peterson
> > Jay, > > The fact that you invoked the word "infamous" suggests that you know > something of the man... It's a tragic story (and I'm unaware of many > details that others can supply), but the story is basically this: Dr. > Philip Peterson was a professor at Stanford University, and during the > late 1960s and 1970s contributed some first-class research to the field of > antique phonographs and records. Most of his contributions - at least > those of which I'm aware - were published in the Antique Phonograph > Collectors Society Newsletter/Journal. This organization and its > publication ceased existence around 1977. > > I started visiting the Edison National Historic Site in West Orange, New > Jersey in 1978. My interest was research, and the staff there at the time > were most accommodating. I made advance arrangements, and upon arrival, > was shown to the underground vaults. A pile of notebooks had been usually > been gathered for me, and I had basically free rein of the place. I > remember a moment during my first visit when it occurred to me that the > handwriting I was reading in the notebooks looked somewhat familiar. As a > staffer passed by, I asked who had made the notations I was reading. The > answer was "Oh - that's the 'Old Man.'" I was taken aback. Who was I to be > leafing through these historic documents without protective gloves, and > without supervision? I spent many hours in the vaults wading through > literally mountains of information, rare white wax cylinders,20and > experimental records (such as a glass based cylinder). Any documents I > wanted copied were cheerfully done for I believe 10 cents each. Each time > I left the Site, I shook hands with the staffers and thanked them for > their help. And it occurred to me every time I walked out unsearched that > security was pretty lax. Unfortunately, it also occurred to Dr. Philip > Peterson - - and not-so-coincidentally Dr. Peterson began holding mail > auctions of outstanding Edison ephemera - - most of it consisting of rare > and early documents... > > Around 1985, the Site sent out a mass appeal to collectors. They were > missing documents, many of which matched the descriptions offered by Dr. > Peterson in his mail auctions. Anyone who knew the whereabouts of these > artifacts was encouraged to contact the Site or the FBI. Dr. Peterson was > convicted of stealing a multitude of artifacts from the Site, and > ultimately served some time in prison. He passed away not long after he > was released, but I don't know when that occurred. Meanwhile, some VERY > honest collectors returned some of the stolen property to the Site - - and > swallowed the substantial loss they incurred. I'm afraid that's the only > bright spot in the whole sad story. Many of the documents were never > recovered, and Dr. Peterson was found to have destroyed a number of > documents by cutting Edison's signature from them and selling only the > signature - - an untraceable crime. > > So, a man who could have been remembered > today as the excellent researcher he was, and a contributor to our hobby, > instead stole from the Site, cheated collectors by selling them stolen > property, and permanently erased a portion of Edison history through the > destruction of documents in an unsuccessful effort to cover his tracks. > Tragedy upon tragedy. > > Needless to say, security at the Site has dramatically improved. > > George Paul > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jay Horenstein <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 4:53 pm > Subject: [Phono-L] Dr. Philip Peterson > > > > > > > > > > > I don?t mean to stir up any trouble, but I?m curious as to who this > infamous > Dr. Philip Peterson is? > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.58/2062 - Release Date: > 4/16/2009 > 8:12 AM > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org >
