Mike Landis

Focus

I will be doing my research with respect to science and technology’s effects on Cumberland County. Specifically, I will be discussing the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh exhibitions as well as inventor Daniel Drawbaugh’s personal contributions to science and technology.

To do this, I will explain the state of science, as a whole, in 1876. This will allow me to provide context for my topic, showing how much of an impact was felt and possibly what course science took after 1876.

Significance

My goal in completing this research is to discover the relevance that technology had in 1876, as well as gaining a better understanding of how technology arrived where it did. Daniel Drawbaugh being from Cumberland County is especially interesting in that he made several key discoveries prior to and during 1876.

The Cumberland County archives has been especially helpful by having patents and other significant documents tracking the progress of Drawbaugh’s career as an inventor/scientist.

Context

Having been born in Lower Allen Township, Drawbaugh was possibly the most revered inventor to hail from Cumberland County. It is important to understand the contributions that he made for society as a whole, but more specifically, his surrounding area.

Additionally, through the use of the Cumberland County archives, we can see that controversy followed Drawbaugh throughout his life as a scientist. Failure to secure a patent for his version of the telephone disqualified him from being able to take credit for its creation. To a certain extent, this took notoriety away from him with respect to the rest of the science community, despite his claim to have been the initial founder.

Perhaps more important than the case Drawbaugh lost to Alexander Graham Bell in 1888 are the contributions that he made to science leading up to and after the 100 year anniversary of our nation.

Methodology

With regard to methods, most of my data will come directly from the Cumberland County archives. The extensive records of Drawbaugh’s patents and creations will provide everything that I will need to explain Drawbaugh’s actions, discoveries and purposes as an inventor.

The Dickinson College and Cumberland County libraries also contain many resources that I will be able to use to further explore and explain Drawbaugh’s significance to Cumberland County. Additionally, the effects of Drawbaugh's inventions on the economy will be noted.

The Dickinson and Cumberland County Archives will provide adequate information on science and technology’s places in Cumberland County in 1876.

To a lesser extent, the Philadelphia archives will be able to provide me with coverage of the centennial celebrations that occurred in Philadelphia, including the science exhibitions.

Timeline

This project will be finished on or before the due date.

Bibliography

“Daniel Drawbaugh Beaten.” New York Times (New York) July 3, 19896.

“Favorable to Daniel Drawbaugh: Senate Committee on Patents Decides Against the Bell Company” New York Times (New York) June 4, 1896.

Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania: Daniel Drawbaugh. Genealogical Publishing Company (Chicago), 1905.

Debate of Patents. U.S. Supreme Court. Co-operative Publishing Company, 1887.

Harder, Warren. Daniel Drawbaugh: The Edison of Cumberland County. University Of Pennsylvania Press (Philadelphia, PA) 1960.

Patent Model, c.1886. Eberly Mills, PA.

Patent Model c. 1887. Cumberland County Archives, Carlisle, PA.

Patent Model c. 1888. Cumberland County Archives, Carlisle, PA/