Description
The collection chiefly contains the
correspondence of Italian physicist Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937), primarily to his American fiancée, Josephine
Bowen Holman. There are two manuscripts: Morse Code Legend written by Marconi and Holman's diary for January to April
1902.
Background
Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) was an Italian physicist who spent much of his professional life in
Great Britain. In the late 1890s he began experimenting with wireless telegraphy,
which culminated on December 14, 1901, with the first trans-Atlantic transmission of
a wireless telegraph. Marconi would later go on to experiment with short-wave radio
and microwaves. For a brief period that overlaps with his experiments with wireless
telegraphy, he was engaged to an American he met on the steamer St. Paul from New
York to England, Josephine Bowen Holman. The engagement was broken off by Marconi in
early 1902, and both later married other people.
Extent
125 pieces + newspaper clippings in 2 boxes
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities.
The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with
the researcher.
Availability
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.