Thomas Alva Edison

Thomas Alva Edison is a Tennessee historical marker in Shelby County.

Shelby Co, Memphis in Court Sq. (Replacement for 4E43)

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In 1865-66 Edison was military telegraph operator with the Federal occupation army, working in a building formerly at the east corner of North Court and November 6 Streets, and boarding next door. Trying to invent an auto-repeat key, he managed to connect New Orleans with New York directly for the first time after the war. As a result, he was discharged by a jealous superior, and he left Memphis.

TodayHistorical map

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Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1855 · Arkansas (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1859 · Arkansas (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1862 · Johnson's Kentucky & Tennessee (1862) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1886 · Arkansas. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1901 · Memphis. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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What that marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years there.

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Marker text and location from the Tennessee Historical Commission, as the Commission publishes them on its marker map.

More markers nearby

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First Tennessee Bankunder 1 mi
Saturday Night Jamboreeunder 1 mi
Marion Scudder Griffin 1879-1957under 1 mi

On the National Register nearby

Tennessee Club-Overall Goodbar Building100 ft
Columbian Mutual Tower170 ft

Places within about 300 feet of this marker that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A nearby listing is not always the marker's own subject.