[3] Under the second panel on "Pioneers" are a sampling of early mechanical engineers known worldwide: Thomas Edison's letter of acceptance of honorary membership [4], a page from George Westinghouse's presidential address [5], and Henry Ford's membership application (signed by Thomas Edison) [6]. Along the bottom half of this panel are two letters written by James Watt (1736-1819), who made fundamental improvements to the steam engine thereby making the most significant advance to trigger the Industrial Revolution. These were given to ASME in 1910 by George Tangye, Esq. One is written to Watt's business partner Matthew Boulton on May 10, 1777, about various subjects including a boiler experiment. The other is to the London company of Fermin De Tastet & Co. on Jan. 16, 1791, regarding contract information for an engine. 

   Returning to the main display case--From left to right are six panels under the topics of origins, pioneers, honors, awards, celebrations and dedications.

Under "Origins" on the far left, highlights include one of John Sweet's original letters that invite members to come to a meeting for the formation of the Society (Jan. 18,1880), other original correspondence and reports from 1880 that are mounted in a book, an early meeting program (1885) chaired by past president Erasmus D. Leavitt (ASME honorary member), and booklets on the Charter, Constitution and Bylaws for the significant 1920 reorganization. Along the bottom of the first panel is correspondence relating the beginnings of ASME's Fulton collection [3]: In 1895, Louise Lee Schuyler gave ASME a signed 1813 drawing by Robert Fulton, which had great significance during a Hudson-Fulton Celebration in New York in 1909. This and other gifts, including a signed watercolor drawing given by Cornelia J. Carll, comprise ASME's Fulton collection now on loan to the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Va.

[4]   [5]   [6]