Inventor Name
Ellinger, Flora Hofmeister
Repository
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Area Research Center
Kenosha, WI 53141-2000
Physical Description
11.2 c.f. (27 archives boxes and 1 flat box), 24 reels of microfilm (35mm), and 2 tape recordings
Summary
Papers, primarily dated from 1895 to 1958, of Albert and Flora Ellinger, manufacturing entrepreneurs of Chicago, Illinois and Racine and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Included are personal and business papers which provide information on the economic, political, and social milieus in which they lived. Business records are incomplete, documenting well only the Michigan Avenue Syndicate, a Chicago real estate holding company. The collection reflects the Ellingers' work together prior to their 1916 marriage; Flora Ellinger's "rich aunt" relationship with her family; occasional involvement by Albert with Wisconsin's Progressive Republicans; and Flora's patented inventions. Family photographs are also included. The INVENTION PAPERS, 1896-1949, contain information pertaining to some of Flora Ellinger's inventions, and those of her business associate Fritz Johnson. Less than half of Flora's patented inventions are represented in these records. (For an overview of Flora's career as an inventor see the clippings in the Biographical Materials series and her memoirs, My First Century.) The records tell very little about the actual invention process, but do document applications for patents, production of the invention, and marketing of new products. Invention correspondence includes general correspondence chronologically arranged followed by an alphabetically arranged subject file; the latter is arranged by company, firm or person, rather than by invention. The majority of the correspondents are patent attorneys and representatives of companies supplying parts for the production of some of the inventions, drawings, patent applications, and patents. These files are arranged alphabetically by invention.
Finding Aid
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/whsead.uw-whs-pks0037
