Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Thomas Edison's Inventive Life
This site is a complete resource for learning about Edison's life, his inventions, and electricity. If you like experimenting, there are instructions included for how to make your own light bulb. Good photos.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Inventors and Inventions
The industrial revolution in America spawned the inventions of many inventors, who improved technology in many different areas. See how transportation, agriculture, and communications were transformed because of these inventions.
Other
Lee De Forest, American Inventor: The Complete Lee De Forest
An extensive site covering all aspects of Lee de Forest, his inventions, writings, and personal life. Find drawings and pictures of his audion tube and find out about his legacy, especially in the world of electronics.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 1393: Inventing the Telegraph
Read about the history of the telegraph in this article, which is a transcript of a radio broadcast.
Rutgers University
Thomas Edison Papers: Biography of Thomas Edison
The first person to make the storage battery practical, with 147 patents, Edison's life is a testimony to invention. This biography, in outline form, is in two parts; go to 1879 site after this.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Thomas Edison National Historical Park: Edison Biography
Here is a very detailed biography of Thomas Edison ranging from his boyhood and his work as a telegrapher, moving on to his invention of the phonograph and incandescent light bulb, and finally, a description of his laboratories where he...
Ohio History Central
Ohio History Central: Granville T. Woods
A biography of Granville T. Woods, who used his knowledge of machinery to establish his own company and invent many different improvements for the railroad.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Samuel f.b. Morse
Provides a short biography of Samuel F.B. Morse, and his invention of the one-wire telegraph and the Morse Code. Also contains pictures.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Guillermo Marconi
This site chronicles the father of wireless communication. Examines his life and how his accomplishments affected both society and warfare.
South Carolina Educational Television
Kids Work!: History of Telecommunications
An in-depth look at inventions and developments that had an impact on telecommunication.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Who Am I?
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a review of famous inventors and people of the Second Industrial Revolution. Activotes questions are included. There is a citation for a United Streaming video clip at the end that could be...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Thomas Alva Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was born at Milan, Ohio, February 11, 1847, but the family soon after moved to Port Huron, Michigan. He had to earn his living from early boyhood, and was a train boy on a railroad. A station master, whose child's life...
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Rescue at Sea
Companion website to the PBS documentary on the collision of two ships in 1909 and the reliance on the newly invented telegraph for rescue.
National Academy of Engineering
Greatest Achievements: Telephone
This resources features an overview of the history behind the technological development of the telephone today and a timeline showing the important dates.