Peterson reports on a professor’s collection of autographs and correspondence obtained from prominent public figures. The article describes the responses produced by his requests, presenting the collection not simply as a set of signatures but as a record of personal remarks from well-known people. Thomas Edison is among the figures whose correspondence receives particular attention.

Edison’s contribution concerns the widely attributed statement that genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration. In a 1927 letter reproduced or discussed in the article, Edison confirms that he had made the remark and states that he still holds the same view. The exchange provides contemporary evidence for Edison’s acceptance of the quotation and connects the professor’s hobby with the preservation of first-hand historical testimony. More broadly, the article reflects the cultural interest in autographs, correspondence and personal contact with prominent figures during the early twentieth century.