Mr. George, Thanks for shedding light on another one of history's mysteries. I really enjoyed the story, all that was missing was murder. I'll bet there's a book in just some of the colorful people who were/are collectors. I certainly can think of a couple of fascinating collectors I've met along the way. Jay Horenstein
-----Original Message----- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of gpaul2...@aol.com Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 2:57 PM To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Dr. Philip Peterson Jay, The fact that you invoked the word "infamous" suggests that you know something of the man... It's a tragic story (and I'm unaware of many details that others can supply), but the story is basically this: Dr. Philip Peterson was a professor at Stanford University, and during the late 1960s and 1970s contributed some first-class research to the field of antique phonographs and records. Most of his contributions - at least those of which I'm aware - were published in the Antique Phonograph Collectors Society Newsletter/Journal. This organization and its publication ceased existence around 1977. I started visiting the Edison National Historic Site in West Orange, New Jersey in 1978. My interest was research, and the staff there at the time were most accommodating. I made advance arrangements, and upon arrival, was shown to the underground vaults. A pile of notebooks had been usually been gathered for me, and I had basically free rein of the place. I remember a moment during my first visit when it occurred to me that the handwriting I was reading in the notebooks looked somewhat familiar. As a staffer passed by, I asked who had made the notations I was reading. The answer was "Oh - that's the 'Old Man.'" I was taken aback. Who was I to be leafing through these historic documents without protective gloves, and without supervision? I spent many hours in the vaults wading through literally mountains of information, rare white wax cylinders,20and experimental records (such as a glass based cylinder). Any documents I wanted copied were cheerfully done for I believe 10 cents each. Each time I left the Site, I shook hands with the staffers and thanked them for their help. And it occurred to me every time I walked out unsearched that security was pretty lax. Unfortunately, it also occurred to Dr. Philip Peterson - - and not-so-coincidentally Dr. Peterson began holding mail auctions of outstanding Edison ephemera - - most of it consisting of rare and early documents... Around 1985, the Site sent out a mass appeal to collectors. They were missing documents, many of which matched the descriptions offered by Dr. Peterson in his mail auctions. Anyone who knew the whereabouts of these artifacts was encouraged to contact the Site or the FBI. Dr. Peterson was convicted of stealing a multitude of artifacts from the Site, and ultimately served some time in prison. He passed away not long after he was released, but I don't know when that occurred. Meanwhile, some VERY honest collectors returned some of the stolen property to the Site - - and swallowed the substantial loss they incurred. I'm afraid that's the only bright spot in the whole sad story. Many of the documents were never recovered, and Dr. Peterson was found to have destroyed a number of documents by cutting Edison's signature from them and selling only the signature - - an untraceable crime. So, a man who could have been remembered today as the excellent researcher he was, and a contributor to our hobby, instead stole from the Site, cheated collectors by selling them stolen property, and permanently erased a portion of Edison history through the destruction of documents in an unsuccessful effort to cover his tracks. Tragedy upon tragedy. Needless to say, security at the Site has dramatically improved. George Paul -----Original Message----- From: Jay Horenstein <jay.horenst...@gmail.com> To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Sent: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 4:53 pm Subject: [Phono-L] Dr. Philip Peterson I don?t mean to stir up any trouble, but I?m curious as to who this infamous Dr. Philip Peterson is? No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.58/2062 - Release Date: 4/16/2009 8:12 AM _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.58/2062 - Release Date: 4/16/2009 8:12 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.58/2062 - Release Date: 4/16/2009 8:12 AM
