Oops, missed this anniversary date! Thomas Alva Edison got a
patent for “electric-lamp” on January 27, 1880. In 1878 the
creation of a practical long-burning electric light had eluded
scientists for decades. With dreams of lighting up entire cites,
Edison lined up financial backing, assembled a group of
brilliant scientists and technicians, and applied his genius to
the challenge of creating an effective and affordable electric
lamp. With unflagging determination, Edison and his team tried
out thousands of theories, convinced that every failure brought
them one step closer to success. On January 27, 1880, Edison
received the historic patent embodying the principles of his
incandescent lamp that paved the way for the universal domestic
use of electric light. (Information excerpted from American
Originals by Stacey Bredhoff; [Seattle and London; The
University of Washington Press, 2001] p. 62–63. Our Documents
grew out of the National Archives list of 100 milestone
documents important to American history — Edis