Charles Edison was the son of Thomas Edison, the famous inventor and entrepreneur. In 1948 Charles established the Charles Edison Fund, created to maintain the legacy of his father, Thomas Edison, and to meet his own philanthropic goals, including being a patron of the arts in New York City. The fund promotes education, specifically careers in science and technology, medical research and historic preservation. Check out our newly renovated website at CharlesEdisonFund.org.

A young man at work in his father’s labs.

The Fund also engages in licensing the Edison Intellectual property, including the name, image, quotes and artifacts of Thomas Edison ( “Edison IP”). The extra revenues generated support educational programs run by its sister foundation, Edison Innovation Foundation.

President Roosevelt appointed Charles Edison as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1937, then as Secretary in early 1940. During his time in the Navy, he advocated construction of the large Iowa-class battleships, PT boats and a streamlined system for implementing shipbuilding contracts–of great help during WWII.

Charles-Secretary of the Navy / Gov. of New Jersey

America’s greatest battleship, an Iowa-class beauty, the USS New Jersey, was launched on December 7, 1942 by Charles’s wife, Carolyn, and in honor of Charles’ work in the Navy. Resigning from the Navy, Charles campaigned and won election as Governor of New Jersey, serving from 1941-1944.
Charles was president of his father’s company Thomas A. Edison, Inc. in 1927, and ran it until it was sold in 1957, when it merged with the McGraw Electric Company to form the McGraw-Edison Electric Company.

Thomas Edison said, “I find out what the world needs. Then I go ahead and try to invent it.”

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We teach how Thomas Edison, thru his work and project teams, exemplified STEM. We support STEM education programs for teachers and students like:

• Holding special education programs and tours for teachers at the legendary Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, NJ.
• Conducting our annual Thomas Edison Invention Challenge where student teams from across the nation compete with their designs in various technology areas.

• Developing a new “pitch contest” where student teams develop a new product and compete for the funding of their products in front of a panel of business and industry judges.

Help us to continue to influence the thousands of teachers and students we reach through our programs! Donate Now.

Thomas Edison said, “If we all did the things we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves …”

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Yes he is, riding on a wave of support from his home state of Ohio. The great inventor was born in Milan, Ohio on February 11th, 1847. His state sponsors selected him for the honor by voting at various selected historic sites throughout the state.

Edison’s destination is National Statuary Hall in the United States Capital-home to state sponsored famous Americans. Each state may host two statues for the Hall. Mr. Edison’s statue shall join that of President James Garfield, and replace that of Governor William Allen. Following six years of voting, planning, and a matching grant from the Charles Edison Fund, the ETA for the lovely bronze statue is September 21st. John Keegan, President and CEO of the Charles Edison Fund, had the honor of becoming an Honorary Board Member of the Ohio Statuary Hall Commission, and will be in attendance at the placement of the statue.

Edison Statue Unveiled to Citizens of the Ohio Statuary Hall Commission

Often referred to as the world’s greatest inventor, Thomas Edison gave us the electric light bulb and the electric power industry, recorded sound, and motion pictures. Arguably one of the greatest inventions of all time, Edison perfected the invention factory or commercial R&D Lab….which has become the focus of all team-based, new product development efforts worldwide.

So great were his accomplishments that many after his death, this Man of the Millennium as Life Magazine once exclaimed, is still responsible for about 10% of the annual U.S. economy, about $1.6 trillion a year. Even more astounding are estimates that claim his inventions and innovations are today responsible for one-fourth of all the jobs on the planet!

Edison-Inspiration to Ohio Youth

The great inventor will be formally welcomed to Statuary Hall in a bipartisan, bicameral ceremony comprised of: House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

Thomas Edison said, “If we all did the things we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves …”

Time ® is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

What do two auto companies, a big name chip manufacturer, a Korean steel company and a Wall Street brokerage company have in common?

They all license Thomas Edison’s name and image, (Edison Intellectual Property [“I.P.”]), for use in advertising their products and services. Edison’s iconic I.P. has promoted many things including the popular educational paradigm known as STEM. Thomas Edison is perceived as “smart” and “entrepreneurial” so his name is selected for marketing innovative and disruptive new products. The world’s greatest inventor lives on not only in his inspiration to future generations, but also in his linkage to popular culture and advertising. Check out the licensing parameters.

Charles Edison, the famous son of Thomas Edison, created a non-profit entity, Charles Edison Fund (“Fund”) which is responsible for licensing the intellectual property of Thomas Alva Edison.

The cost for a license is dependent on numerous factors including Geography (national or worldwide), Time Period (6 months to a year or more), Media (print, TV or Internet) and Size of Audience (“eyeballs”). The Fund and its affiliate, Edison Innovation Foundation, continue to diligently promote and protect the Edison Legacy and build the Edison “Brand” for advertising.

The license royalties received by the Fund are used to support the second part of its mission, promoting science and technology education. Examples include creating and sponsoring an alternative energy (solar, wind, etc.) contest for grades 6 to 12. Also collaborating on an animated children’s TV show (on Netflix) called Thomas Edison’s Secret Labs. The Fund also gives a “Tommy Award” (see below) for successful applications of its licensee clients innovative products.

Thomas Edison is alive and well in the modern world. Many years after his death he excites us still!

CONTACT US
For assistance in learning how you can use Edison I.P.:
John P. Keegan
Chairman & President
Charles Edison Fund
973-648-0500
Info@thomasedison.org

Thomas Edison said, “I have more respect for the fellow with a single idea who gets there than for the fellow with a thousand ideas who does nothing.”