Inventor Name
various
Repository
Institute Archives and Special Collections
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Building 14N-118
77 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
617-253-5136
http://libraries.mit.edu/archives/index.html
Physical Description
7 cubic ft. (6 records cartons), (1 oversize box), (3 oversize folders), and (6 volumes)
Summary
The Blatchford, Seward & Griswold firm was formed by the merger of two partnerships, one started in New York City by Richard Blatchford in 1819, and another in Auburn, New York, by William Henry Seward and Elijah Miller in 1823. In 1854 the two firms merged, maintaining one office in New York City. The partners were Samuel Blatchford (1820-1893), Clarence Armstrong Seward (1828-1897) and Burr Wakeman Griswold (1823-1886). The firm was known as Blatchford, Seward & Griswold until 1869, when Charles Mandes Da Costa(1837-1890) became a senior partner. The firm specialized in patent cases; they worked with many prominent nineteenth century American inventors on patent applications, provided counsel during infringement suits, and worked with newly formed manufacturing firms on patent license matters. Between 1885 and 1910, six other men became senior partners. Blatchford, Seward, and Griswold retired from the firm in 1867, 1897, and 1884 respectively. The firm has been known as Cravath, Swaine & Marey since 1941. Collection contains material on 34 patents on which the firm worked with inventors to apply for patents, provided counsel during infringement suits, and advised companies formed to market new inventions. Patents include Samuel F.B. Morse's telegraph, Charles Goodyear's rubber manufacturing process, Elias Howe's sewing machine, Ross Winans' railroad car chassis, William Webster's carpet loom, Samuel W. Tyler's mowing machine, and Clinton G. Colgate's telegraph cable. Collection includes letters, patent applications, correspondence, notes, clippings, drawings, printed court records, court notices, bills of complaint, briefs, witness lists, depositions, subpoenas, affidavits, transcripts of testimony, and patent assignments.