Sholes, Glidden & Soule. Type-writer. June 23, 1868

Series: Patent Case Files, 1/1/1836 - 12/31/1976. Record Group 241: Records of the Patent and Trademark Office, 1836 - 1978

Drawing for a Typewriter, 1836-1993. Patent Case Files, 1836-1978. Record Group 241. (National Archives Identifier 595503)

On this day, we celebrate the patent date for the first practical typewriter, issued to Christopher Latham Sholes in 1868.  Although it was not the first “type” machine, the invention of Sholes, Carlos Glidden, and J.W. Soule was the first one actually mass produced and is the basis for those machines we know and love today.

Although the machines have changed and advanced over time, the basic idea of the typewriter, and its keyboard arrangement has remained the same.

A Brief History of the Typewriter, ca. 1942-1973. Administrative Subject Files, ca. 1942-1973. Record Group 300. (National Archives Identifier 7280709) 

Mass production, and demand for the machine, reached a steady pace by the 1890s.  Subsequently, typewriters became standard equipment in government offices by the turn of the century.  So much so, that when the U.S. District Court in Phoenix was organizing its new office after gaining statehood in 1912, the lack of typewriters became a strong concern of the Court Clerk, Mr. Allan Jaynes, Esq.  

For seven months, Mr. Jaynes wrote to his superiors in Washington D.C. to arrange the purchase of two typewriters.  He tried to first get typewriters through an office transfer from Tucson, but was denied.  He then tried to claim typewriters that came from the Territorial Court, but was told those were actually county property, not the Federal Government.

Finally, in September 1912, seven months after the establishment of the new U.S. District Court, Mr. Jaynes was given authorization to purchase ONE typewriter. He received the machine in October of that year.  It was not until July 1913 that he was able to purchase a second machine.