SOF FOLLOWING FILE MATERIAL OL 100 - 223-7 /56 pages Re cere nice s G6 pages ; ASQ lorne [a6ES XXXXNNNXNAXANKNANAY, XSNNNY : g NO DUPLICATION FEE ¥ SNSXSX SAN FOR THIS PAGES SONAARRANARNNARONNN |Naw Lavesri¢anve Fice (Sle pages3 ‘ f , Gz: 6, TT «/2/:2 Department of Justice, Atten, Mr. G. Edgar Hoover, Washington, D.C, ALL SSFORMATION CONTAINED “IN IS UNCLASSIFIED, Dear ir. Hoovers 22.85 BYLAA em fa? ‘The appended article was printed in sulle Times issue of fu nw) septouver 22, 1940 and Sf based on proven facte yshould be of vital importance to « N ‘War Department as well as to that ef other nations mow esutrollea oy insane dictate! If san the author statesythe telefores has com perfected by MikolaTeslay/ would be a monsure of feresightedness te insure kis constant guarding ageinst his bi aolested ,ponsibly kidnapped and tertured,by alien euenies for the purpose of seit: ‘the secret of such an invaluable instrument ef war ani/er defense ‘The feregeing is offered just in ense the article amt ite inferences have no deen called te your attention, Yery truly yours yD RLS & pe, boRY Tam ES rv [47 “Death Ray” for Planes ket of Daten ‘would be built round the country Seninet any attempted attace by a8 fgtemy: air fores, wo muatiar’ bow age ae of att Malt pettle ant beat woyie eit ny ence, feaniee Dine or fuaciestae, Eeccpud Se ge ects stacse Sgtiat te coud be Beton, Se ENS a Sat pti ah penertg. : ‘igh Vacoum Eiiminetad de state, votes oon oF oie os epics. wets i sa wordt asa contin th Sonne with ‘ihe euetruction of Sis Aalatorce plant BUCH & Device “Invaluable ara, $2080.00 wold bec Sapo oiaaa Se ode alt Lattaved woudl be tral nat | Not oaly would ft Mow planed for aie Thprernesisagulst tay aretase ut itfwoult alo save euacy or Sona prepay iat would fatter Now trong ta defonoeg 3 fi wtioean curves evente in Bapene SE Mae ellss Hees oh. Es a Latter dated Septeader 24, 1940, together with Ate 4 ‘maloaure. 7 oe : Your eoortesy sad interest in Winging = this inforsation to ay attention are indeed appreciated, and you may be assured your letter ‘Will receive appropriate consideration. Sincerely youre, et rT aL INFORMATION G CONTAINED “E=FIN IS UNCLA ; “iE Za Langit COMMUNICATIONS SECTION N MAILED * OCT 1 1940 * a 2) @em ates pit na 4 se : “ Taboncriens sat OF set by oi sma Lapuy 4 alte Oy TeuEryee Fer wyc |” t= 12-43 11-06 PH DIRECTOR VEST UNSUBS ~~~ EQUIPMENT, EXPERIMENTS AND AESEARCH OF CEASED, -aagmmmx ESPIONAGE - M, RETEL ANDER ABOVE HEADING T( BUREAU Fnom This oFFic! D JAN MINE LAST. INQUIRY DEVELOPS THAT TESLA BIE JAN EIGHT, RATHER THAN THURSDAY, JAN SEVEN, AS SOMUOK as STATED IN REFERENCE TELETYPE. ON THE WIGHT OF JAN ELGHT, SA SANOVICH, GEORG CLARK, AND KENNETH-SWEEZEY WISITED TESLA-S ‘HOTEL WITH A’ REPRESENTATIVE OF SHAW WALKER CO. IN ORDER TO OPEN THE SAFE IN THE ROOM OF TESLA, KOSANOVICH LATER REPORTED TO WALTER GORSUCH, OFFICE OF ALIEN PROPERTY CUSTODIAN, NYC, THAT ME WENT INTO THE ROOM tn ORDER TO SEARCH FOR A WILL OF TESLA. KOSANOVICH AND THE OTHERS MADE THE SEARCH OF THE SAFE IN THE PRESENCE OF THREE ASST MANAGERS OF HOTEL NEW YORKER AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE YUGOSLAVIAN CONSULATE, IDENTITIES OF LATTER NOT YET KNOWN. AFTER THE SAFE WAS OPENED, 'SWEEZEY TOOK FROM THE SAFE A BOOK CONTAINING TESTIMONIALS SENT TO TESLA ON fur OCCASION OF HIS SEVE TY FIFTH BIRTHDAY. THIS BOOK WAS ARRANGED FOR TESLA BY SWEEZEY. KOSANOVICH TOOK FROM THE ROOM THREE PICTURES OF TESLA, TWO BEING EN- LARGED NEWSPAPER PICTUREX. ACCORDING TO MANAGERS OF oTEL AND KOSANO- VICH HIMSELF, NOTHING ELSE WAS REMOVED FROM THE ROOM OR SAFE. THE SAFE WAS THEN CLOSED UNDER A NEW COMBINATION, WHICH COMBINATION IS NOW IN POSSESSION OPEBUMINEGEX KOSANOVICH, ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, JAN foret TaNn Sie: AND R@M@MMEX FTIZGERALD OF ALIEN PROPERTY CONTROL WENT TO HOTEL AND SEIZED ALL THE PROPERTY OF TESLA, CONSISTING OF ABOUT Two TRUCKLOANDS OF MATERIAL, SEALED ALL ARTICLES AND TRANSFERRED THEM TO THE MANHATTAN STORAGE AND WAREHOUSE CO. NY, WHERE THEY ARE NOW LOCATED AT THAT SaMWBX TIME THERE WERE ALSO IN THIS WAREHOUSE APPROXIMATELY THIRTY BARRELS AND BUNDLES BELONGING TO TESLA WHICH HAD BEEN THERE SIN ABOUT NINETEEN THIRTY FOUR. THESE ae ALSO @MMNMX BEEN SEALED AND ARE NOW UNDER ORDERS OF ALIEN PROPERTYCUSTODIAN, IN VIEW OF FACT TESL IS A US NATURALIZED CITIZEN, ALIEN PROPERTY CUSTODIAN FEELS THAT ITS JURISDICTION OVER PROPERTY £5 DOUBTFUL BUT ROMMMK FEELS THAT HO OTHER AGENCY WILL BE ABLE,TO CET @amK TO THIS PROPERTY FOR AT LEAST TWO DAYS COPIES DESTRO’ LP ALL TTORM AT IRLeb end HE BERT IS WOLASSE ETT: es Red [pha Bot 2237 2 coPtt N epaeriews ©: Rep pole JAPAGE TWO AFTER THAT TIME IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR WILL BE APPOINTED FOR THE PROPERTY WHO MAY TAKE THE PROPERTYINTO HIS CuS- TODY. TESLA ALSO HAD SOME PROPERTY, AMQPOGUMNINK ALLEGED BY INFORMANT FITZGERALD IN THIS CASE, To BE A WORKING MODEL OF AN INVENTION IN A SAFE DEPOSIT BOX IN GOVERNOR CLINTON HOTEL IN NY. INQUIRY SHOWS THAT THIS WAS PLACED KERE BY TESLA IN NINETEEN THIRTY TWO AS SECURITY FOR FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS OWED MOTEL. THIS BILL IS STILL OWED AND HOTEL APPEARS UNWILLING TO RELEASE THIS PROPERTY TO ANYONE AT LEAST UNTIL MMR DEBT IS PAID, BUT THIS OFFICE WILL BE ADVISED IF ANYONE ATTEMPTS TO PAY BILL AND OBTAIN ‘RROPERTY. CONCERNING TESLA HOTEL MANAGERS RE- PORT HE WAS WRX VERY ECCENTRIC IF NOT MMMM MENTALLY DERANGED DURING PAST TEN YEARS AND 1T IS DOUBTFUL IF HE KAS CREATED ANYTHING OF VALUE DURING THAT TIME, ALTHOPRIOR TO THAT RE PROBABLY WAS A VERY BRILLIANT INVENTOR. THEREFORE, ANY NOTES OF VALUE WERE PROBABLY THOSE MADE PRIOR TO THAT TIME. KOSANOVICH IS A NEPHEW OF TESLA WHO DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS FORMERLY QUOTE YUGOSLAV MINISTER OF STATE UNQUOTE AND NOW QUOTE PeBROMNNK PRESIDENT OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL PLANNING BOARD REP- RESENTING YUGOSLOVIA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, POLAND AND GREECE, UNQUOTE. SWEEZEY IS A WRITER FOR POPULAR MECHANICS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS ¥HO IS SMMMNEX DESIROUS OF PUBLISHING A BIOGRAPKY OF TESLA AND THERFORE WOULU LIKE To OBTAIN CONTRQL OF HIS NOTES FOR THIS WORK. CLARK IS EMPLOYED BY RCA AND WOULD ALsepROvIDE STORAGE ROOM FOR TESLAS EFFECTS IN ORDER TO USE THEM IN WRITING A BIOGRAPHY. TESLA AT ONE TIME REPORTED TO BE WORKING ON EXPERIMENTS FOR YUGOSLAVIAN GOVERNMENT IN EXILE, IT 1S DESIRED THAT BUREAU ADVISE IMMEDIATELY WHETHER IT IS INTERESTED FURTHER IN THIS PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OF TAKING CONTROL OF IT, SUGGEST THAT, IN VIEW OF FACT THAT THE NOTES AND OTHER MATERIAL WOULD BE KIGHLY TECH NICAL IN CHARACTER AND FOR THAT REASON WRK COULD NOT BE REVIEWED Fr WHR EXCEPT BY A TRAINED PERSON THE OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DEVEL- OPMENT MIGHT BE INTERESTED. FOXWORTH END NYC S2 WHS HOLD WA R 2 RSG Le ; Tr ins Pee nee Ne an ;, Re DAT Oe pecersews11-30 PM D DIRECTOR SOaT UNKNOWN SUBJECTS, AEM EXPERIMENTS ANI TESLA, DECEASED. ESPIONAGE = Ma NIKOLA TESLA, OM! STANDING SCIENTISTS IN THE ELECTRICAL FIELD, DIED ZEEN FORTY THREE AT THE HOTEL NE« YORKER, LIFETIME, HD CONDUCTED MANY TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRICAL POwzz AN THE DEATH Ray, tS feo MI KAT ACCORDING TO INFORMATION FURNISHED cE SIX FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY, THE NOTES Ad EXPERIMENTS AND FORMULAE TOGETHER WITH DESIGNS OF 4 NITAITIZE THEM ARE ANONG TESLAS PERSONAL EFFECTS, A TAKEN TO PRESERVE THEN OX TO KEEP THEM FROM FALLINGS UNFRIENDLY TO THE WAR EFFORT OF THE UN ING TO SPANEL, A DISTANT RELATIVE OF TESLA, NANED 4 SAS INTENSELY DISLIKED BY TESLA, IS TAKING STEPS Tq THESE IMPORTANT DOCUNNTS AND PLANS, SPANEL BELIEY. STRONG LIMELINGED THAT KOSANOVICH WELL MAKE hy WHO SESSION OF a HERE IS A THIS MATERIAL AVAILAELE To Sekt Re REVISED _S TWO HEADGUARTERS IN WASHINGTO!, AS MORKIN OF THE DEPARTKEN JUSTICE IN WASHINGTON, CoNCERING SPANIEL WAS ALSO IN IC COMMUNICATION WITH QM Di D LO24DO, ONE OF THE ADVISORS Te VICE F ESIDENT WALLACE CONCERNING THIS THAT THE GOVERNNENT WAS VITALLY EQUESTED SPANEL TO LOSE No TI: RM THEM, ELOYCE FiTzgzzeLD, AN CAL ENGINEER WHO HAD BEEN QUITE CLOSE To TESLA DUSTRORTES toe g ADVISED THE NEW YORK OFFICE THAT ON JANUARY SEVENTH, NINETES© Y THREE, ATOR CSANOVICH, GEORGE CLARK, WHC Is IN cuahcr OF THE vus- Heew> EAEORATORY FoR RCA, AND -KENNETK SWEZEY OF ONE S17 THREE MILToR TREET, BROOLKY!, NY, VENT TO TESLAS ROOMS IN THE NEW YORKER WITH ASSISTANCE OF A LOCKSMITH BROKE INTO A SAFE’ WHICH TzSLa ‘AD INKIS ROOMS IN WHICH HE KEPT SOME OF HIS VALUABLE PAPERS, INCLUDING ZRPORTENT MMMM ELECTRICAL FORMULAE, DESIGNS, ET CETERA, we e ST MONTH, TESLA aged $licoepals That HIS EXPERIMENTS IN CONNECT WIRELESS TRANSMISSION OF-EL: D_LOZADO TOLD SPAn THE EFFECTS OF T=SLA € ALL HE COULD To PRESERVE L MATTER, GPPLECTRICAL POWER HAD BEEN COMPLETED ANDggguesont arte ito - 2237 3 Tien th PO a be | iyi ain Map . vy gis | ayer’ if! 7 = Nor Penk ReDAcrions i 3 Beet Copy Aves able{ — - ee : - toy ee PAGE TWO JELI2ZGERALD ALSO KNOWS THATTESLA HAS CONCEIVED AND A_REVOLUTIO! ARY TYPE OF TORPEDO WHICH IS NOT PRESENTLY IN USE THE NATICNS, IT IS FITZGERALDS BELIEF THAT THIS DESIGN HAS NOT AVAILABLE. TO ANY NATION UP TO THE PRESENT TIME, FROM STATEMW TO FITZ~ GEARLD BY TESLA , HE KNOWS THAT THE COMPLETE PLANS ATIONS AND EXPLANATION OF THE BASIC THEORIES OF THESE THIN PLACE IN THE PERSONAL EFFECTS OF TESLA, HE ALSO KNOWS THAT A_WORKING MODEL OF TESLAS WHICH COST MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND ‘0 BUILD IN A SAPETY corm DEPOSIT BOX BELONGING TO TESLAM EOVERNOR CLINTON HOTEL, AND PEMOWWRY FITZGEARLD ¥ ‘HIS MODEL EAS TO DO WITH THE SO GALLEDE DEATH RAY OR THE WI ISSION OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT. TESLA HAS ALSO TOLD FITZGEARL! THAT HE HAS SOME EIGHTY $MM TRUNKS INDIFFER B CONVERSATIOn> BEE CONTAINING TRANSCRIPTS AND PLANS HAVING TO DO WITH EXPERIMENTS D BY HIM. BUREAU IS REQUESTED TO ADVISE IMMEDIATELY WHAT, IF ON SHOULD EE TAKEN CONCERNING THIS MATTER BY THE NEW YORK FIE! Oi on. FOXWORTH CORRECTION- THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TELETYPE THE NAME THAT SHOULD APPEAR 15 sible NOT FITZGERALD agg AS IT SOMETIMES IS SPELLED HOLD et Olt Reoncrions Bee Copy vailable qet Pee reer ere reese Mr. B.A. Tab Mr. Clegg, Mr. Glavin Mr. Ledé Mr, Nickols__ Mr, Rosen, . Mr. Tracy Mr. Carson Mr. Coffey Mr, Hendoo__ Mr. Kramer__ MeGuii Be sworneRaGar HOOVER mpinceron fee OBLied wy i wf Mts. Quine Tost Weed Bae: Room SHIOGSE = Miss Beahm__ Miss Gand; Wikola Tesla, one of the world's ovtets aan lectrical field, died st his residence in th Sty, on January 7, 1943. In the course? neny experinents with respect to # ‘ragga: on avi what ig consonly celled theDDeath Rey respect to the wireless trersnission of electrical boon ort ileted anf perfeated, aid Tesla had alse eo revolutionary type of ternedo which te pot dn use : : tise. Ring models plens havinc to do with his experivents ee well es @ working model of 8 developierts in tie sefetz’ deposit box at the Jevernor C: Isfornetinn soncernirg/Tesla's experinent| York Office bt a Spenel/and Bloyel Sttagerall the latter an electrical woo had heen ofite close to Teslat Bots of these individuels reve indiceted thet ro sters aeve been taxon to presorve Tecla'e records ent models or to keep tuen fron Telling into the hands of individuale sympatnetic to Forensvich is reported to be taking sfeos to cet norsession of these imoortant documents und plans, avi Spare) believes there is a strong Litelitood that Rosanovic! On January 7, 1935, “ose Axis powers. » Tesla hee a distant relative by the name of Savafxosanovich, wion he p) intersety cislixes. will make such information available to the enews vie’, acoompeniad py Jeorse\Clark, in cherge of tre * Museum ard Levoretory for RCA, ani Kenneth Bwezey of Nrooklyn, New Yor, exte Tesla's rooze at she “ovel New Yorker whore, with the aid of a lockenith, ¢, E & Eo broke inse a safe in which Tonle kopt cone of abbombugble papers, ina oEmg @ B g Anmportant elestrice! formulse, designe, ot eeterne HO 40-ga9] -3 wusrters of the Military Intellizefce Division, avr Yorkin of the Dopartuent of Justice in Teshington, efd[>r.JANLAGo1943s of the advicors to Vice President “eLlece, Lozado afvhsed Sparel theyre Governnent was Vitelly interseted in the oftrcte of fosin and requangad cast, 10Yeucrandux for the Direotor ‘The New York Office was instructed to dis: with the State's Attorney in New York City with the Kopanovich inte custody sm a burglary charge and ob which Kosanovich is reported to have taken from Tee out thet any activities oursued by the State's Atto: e most secret fashion in order to avoid any publics inventions, The New York Of ice wae also instructs, Gourt in order that stops could be plncel egeinst hic hotel and any other voirtr, in particular, the have in order thet no onc may enter tien witout @ Present and every precaution taken to preserve the secrecy Tae New York CPfice is to keer thesBureau adviced of all d kee the matter up ‘possibly taring the varione pevers Me. It was pointed d be hardled in oct to Tesla’s b the Surrogate Pespectfully, Bed Copy AveLable fof Tecia both in abate‘int son is aa a mn mooven : Lot cee tase ur. Bederal Bureau of Investigation Mr. United States Department of Justice be Bashington, B.C. ue Mr. Me Mr. Mr. MEMORANDUM FOK MR. LADD Mr Mr. Mr Tele. Room__ Mr. Nease. Miss Beabm, On Friday, January @th, Wr. Le Me Co Sasth called me (ies py tn connection with the death of NtkoldTeala. He ad. vised me that he was concerned about the possidilt of eneny agents confiscating some of the trunks 0, Tesla, who had dted on January 7th. He understood the War Department was interested in this matter and that apparently the Alten Property Custodian's office was téking some action. He desired to know whether the Bureau would take some steps to refrain relatives of Tesla from taking the contents of hts trunks and whether the Bureau would setze possesston of the trunke. Ur. Snith indicated that he was talking to the Alien Property Custodtan along the eame lines. I told him that in view of the fact he was going to handle the matter with the Alien Property Custodian's. office, there did not appear to be any action which the Bureau could or should take. EAT: DS January 12, 1963 atGy w) : (6, 194E ALL UNFORS MATION CONTAINED HEREIN, 2s SSSI D In. ff Hom JED Nah Cs ES Waka aig aici eae iar Me SL oe aoe : an oe sow i iz 2 Bich Gosle, aumdiaeTiodd 7 7 6 5 Lunt BOY a Ko Bow ee eee ene ne nara, wetein Lowe SS Ff Chg fag wets on Bu ene ‘Teee Z 7 a anne BT dE gid a Fr ma, ie war Big een Y Phe : eae r 13) ° BE cenipheenE ol ral ALO ake om ete owl Bf at ttn 2 fr foe aoe en of AG coe on ee [OE of arcines Dene LL on™ of bear phate Bk ay LK cee cMneyeee Ee go ae Ue a ae reg fie” aes Ft Z C A A ae ce ert ff Pepe E Set F- wd ae Renee ome lis a aa 4 oi yore Lh HF oA LL riled ofan, Ln EP he gy pe ‘ivie secret ea statten , Pg ra > am! " Sas Ringes a -, Sowes vers. --NMUNIGATIONS SECTION AILED 8 it APR 25 1943 PM,Apet 3, 1950 ae AE.LINFOR MATION CONTAINED “EREINIS UNCLASSI | DATE La £08 ia seeety rary od $e ager 162097 axy'23) 4 . 27 = (@ 437 Base SS oe oye! comm 631 “ ube AE ve WWi. 1 : ge “it jaya EE elt ae 34433 alt ti : Med Sgn < eta stages ial hit a ayatt 3u2h- abbas EE ey er Stel i) Ma ; 2 yatage G4%ed S Spgcsddpet? | i i hk eee Hazy SHS etd yfath: tay, gga SAC, Now York Dixeetor, FBI {Wisse alts: geasgny? ee aa & a es 01 83 Hayate yamination man Wp 3965 fms 's BAVA IDSANOVICH; Experiments & Researeh ‘Sls (Disceased), Rapiomage-te It should be mted that the Puresu was informed of the ¢: toned above by New York letter (with attactments) dated Octeter extitled UNMIONS SUBUECT; i WOT RECORD! MB > 2G / 99-291. nftte’ \ £Ce i TNNED cow XE ATIONC Rg une SS eat ANFOR! 65-1290 93:88 BEM SIC 105-1391 \7Istter to Diredbr, FAI Wr 15-2992. WR. POTTS stated thet no inquiry had teen received ty Munbatten fren SAVA Ne MOSAMOVICH, wor bad Manhatten informed kia, in any way, that an amination ef the TESIA effecte had been made by anyone. In fact, added POTTS, the only correspondence relating te the TESLA estate hes een in form of bills for storage. ‘Mi, POTTS stated that any personal inquires regarding the estate would af necessity be directed to hia, and to date no such inquiries have been made, sto Interviewing agents explained te MR. PO as mentioned stove, was not instigated ty the Bureau, mor had the Buresu taken part in that examination. ‘Urileen stvised to the contraxy, this investigation is being placed in office. CLOSED. creFederal Bureau of Investigation Department of Records Washington, D. G. Gentlemen: In 8 manner of introduction, I wish to etate that _T am working toward @ degree in Electrical Engineering at the Institute of Technology of the University of Minnesota. For several years, I have been engaged in a study of extensive Compass and detail concerning the researches and writings of the late, world renowned scientiet, Dr. Nikola Tesla. At con— siderable expense, I have acquired an extensive collection of Rateriale relating to Dr. Tesla and his worke which includ 2) Personal lettere written by Tesla to hie close friend. 2) Numeroue periodicals, sone of which are to be found in only a few libraries throughout the United State. 3) A few rare books which have now become “collector! ie items", 4) A collection of issued patents. Although the items listed are considerable in number, the spe- cific information desired is lacking. As I understand 11, because of the nature or Dr. Tesla's role in scientific developments, all research papers, patent applications, etc,, were aecured by the Federal Bureau of Ingest igation at the time of Dr, Tesla's death in January of 3. The puroose of this seizure, as described in numerous article was to determine whether these pavera contained suggeations leading toward advancements in the field of actence. 100 PA8T. RECORDED - 68 | RP oe . ‘ b - - ;Now it seeme that sufficient time has elapsed for an invee— tigation of this kind. If Dr, Tesla'e Estate hae been relessed by the department in charge, any records that can be made available for examination will be welcomed. A letter from Harold I. Baynton, Assistant Attorney General, Director, O:fice of Alien Property, informed me that the Library of Congrees listed @ertain works, writings and research etudies prepared oy the late Dr. Tesla. However, a letter addreased to the Library failed to bring reeulte as the Library "has no files on the researches of Tesla". A eimilar result was obtained from te Bureau of Naval Research and the Department of Commerce, I om egvectally interested in the reeearch work in which Tesla was engaged in his l.ter yeare. ‘There are various unpublished works, such as a l0-page typewritten statement presented in 193? at a meeting of several well-known editors outlining his discoveries and giving a resume! of his work 1n the fields of gravity ané cosmic ray research, etc. Also, Tesla prepared Various papers, one of which was in effort to secure the Pierre Gutzman Prize from the Institute of Rrance. My inquiry 1s in effort to determine whether any of these docunznte, aa well as others, are at this time available. I will greatly aporecitate any information in regard to any records which you may have. Very truly youra, 20Avquat 36, 1957 With réference to your letter of Auguet 16, 1952, our files diaclose that the effects of Nikola Tesla were taken iato custody at the time of Ata death by the Office of Alten Property, aad not by this Bureau. Consequently, you may wish to communicate further with that agency, which may de addressed as follows: (65-47953) Aaesetant Attorney General Rewlond 7. Kirke Director, Office of Alten Property Unt ted Stotes Department of Justice . 201 Indians Avenue, Yashington 25, D. fe We » Stacerely yours, + Yohn régar Hoover F4eL Director cc ~ 2 = Aastotand a6t8Pndy,deneral (with Rontand F. Eirke Directors “office of Alten Property LK =o (United States Departuent of Justice ] 201 Indiana avenue, H. ¢\ 7008S” ee ap NOTE: Wo reference Bureau files on correap “By $i #0 Wnnesota,, 6-22-52,..per USEF du (dz LETTE fs Ane 0-7 10g ahinoton 25, p. o. -- M3\ gsc i 4 y el oa ‘ @ CEA cb Wid eo g gz a : eoyhe) r ondent a aINDEXFly oe MAK ea rene * Office saetsted + UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT mom thy Ly be eee NIKOLA TESL, TAFCR ATION Ct (Deceased) OLR ING 2 3 outs AME v8 that he had been reading @ book entitled, NG Prodigal Genius - The Life of Nikola Tesla’ by John Je N gue whom described as a science writer for a New rk newsparer (publisher = Ives jashburn) noted in this book that Bureau arents went to Tesla's ro foing his death on Janusry 7, 1943, opened his safe, examined his papers, an took over his personal files. MY 5015 this onveared on rose arr. stated that Tega 48 tic satner of modern powerengineering, beinc responsible sor the invention of the + C. generator, motor transmission, and other electrical engineering fects, He ingutred (1) if the pepets and works of Tesla were in tie posscesion of the fureau, enc (2) if so, were they available for revi-w in view of their Scientific Importance, I told that the statenent concerning the Bureau's my taking Tesla's not seen very logical but that I would cheek on tie matters) i ve @ The Burec:.'s files reflect that shortly ofter the death of Tesla in his hotel room in New York City on January 7, 1943, & Sava Kosanovichy a distant relotive, and other individuals entered iis room and opened the safe, exanining certain mcterials which he possessed. On January 6, 1945, Ur. L. U. C. Snith of the Departnent advised Hr. Tann that he was concerned about the possibility of enemy agents confiscating song of the trunks of L fo Tesla and apoarently the Office of Alien Property Custodian was taking sone action regarding these effects. Since the matter uss! being handled by the Office of Alien froperty Custodian, the Baneau did not maice any inquiries into this situation. (65-47952-6, It is noted also thet the received a letter dated April ec 1948 ‘rom DIcining tae he os ec waukee School of Engineering a JOO“ 7 engineering af ene 2 @ z Q2 tehols emwas interested in the 1ife ond vorks of recta, MBPs voree that he underetoce ct tie tine of Tesla's death the Bureau touk Nis nenuseripts und easerivent data for national security. the Bureau on Apri 22, 1948, advised QM that she effects of Tesla were handled b: tne Office of Alten Property anc not by the FSI»(65-47953-18) 1 colies QM: is morning and told hin that it wos the office of Alien Property and not tie F3I uhich took over the effects of Tesla folloving hts death. Accordingly, I suggested that night wish to conaunicate with the office of Alien Property for further informat.on cancerning this matter, The book “Prodigal Genius ~ The Life of Nikole Tesla” is not in the Bureau Library. A cory is being obtained fron the Library of Congress, Ii will be ezanined to deternine specifically te reference ncce to the Bureau's taking these porers, At thst tine a determination cen be nade as to what furt.er action should be tazen. pee ADDEND, Lbbpmer 5-14-53 Page 277 of the "Prodigal Genius ~ The Life of Nikola Tesla,” describing Tesla's death, contains the following statement: "Operatives fron the Federal Bureau of Investigation cane and opened the safe in his room and took the papers it contained, to examine then for a reported important secret invention of possible use in the wor.” : Since this work was published in 1944, tt is not felt that any particular purpose would be served by raising an odjection with the publishers at this tine, > the individual who raised the question, has been set straight ana, therefore, tee action is being taka. it Uffice M.. xoramdeom ~ eves. 18s Governuent To s Direct ‘DATE: : . 7 pres 2. EQRMATION - 4 sumer: "US UNCL kr, GEOROE E, SOREEF, JB. ord Kgs ochelle, Ner York, advised thet he received two letters fran x . 321 Seynaur Avenue Southesst, liinceaoolis, Minnesota, photostatl of mich are Being furniohed the Zuréda ‘and Minneepalis™ oe , Tesia and its aehie SPR RDC eC ST Ue Tae ere ene arene RAE CcE I CUESL Sa See Ot str ar Wit caer el Pane e nee ees ine cer Sec ee ea Cera ene ee Tee aT ts E CeaR eae a SCAU DSR Oc CT SEN Se ered poe Ee CUUeta OCS Men cs aera ee eeN EES Crea SC Se Caen tg ae CSCC ere teCrany ees ee CCE cern eee eres SOC o a Cmts Sara few cases obtained a nuaver of i Sort seater CLE Le os ae SCS ele eee ponerse eee Pera res ceaet Eo eer) RC Ltt oP Cas Onset eT Eee eae Ce ere eer ere ee a cE eee eee rd ACO att a Seer Tae ed eee eat Nee Seer eres Cae Cet phase eRe SCOTT Os Tae Sea Toe a ene aed ie taneee eect Emenee SC a este at renee naner ie eee ze Cs StU Ra aes EPSTEIN nN Potro east ries gear eRe eei iM hae Le Ens Or RT. Usa N oS 0g- OC Re a ees a PESUAO MRSS Sern arom COC an ee Trel ae Ste a on are SC cor ret eter ar Sereenes Rr Lepe en cre aea tees Poured Rostra! as rere) pit por Cicer Sem ty eae es Ca eer eke as Ce re te ae ee Umss cr Peace cee CTE rs great American for +. eC Cea te Cater anne ae BSC Cetera a Cerner ea ae COs aieeanesde aer eres 10 lesics armaSenn Ste ae pera NL a eve STE Ceeces met Sa4 ee | Pn Cee rey ues a Ee eeeety Ferrers Pe mma pe eg a ee ee Tesla... I have initiated an uniertaaing © feel tuat tn all right and justice suact! ria es econ a ae SCNT ree Canes eee crs ee aes ese Ure ae eee Leer ences RoC es ters pana eee Rinoe Use SSL oC aT ee eS i ce Le ee Ors a a ars ce Ce a een : ees eer ea Prorct stress Cac aes Tirwe ae Seas per eeersaaores ray Eee Pree eS ee eee es eee erritt, Kenneth Swezey RSS SUer mes Urn we ereas Soe esa cae UT ese a eer irae Ca RE OC ea Serra Poatetsaet PCr era Penta eee Lies aces CL rae ane fi eae mse Stee . ome Cees eae Petters Pore ee ee ete q Rpt eSt S7 Paes Oem cone or Ove an Saes Give Yr. O'Net.i ner sarhied name — eRe Cae a ae or acc Oa ae ses ee es tainly ve lajortant to icsat: can Serr raed aoe we nana Reet Eee Ce et Ta rrr! ccc RUee set eerie Pere eee) ue eae aren tat) crrereury revroduced for fear of eventun! loss. Cte ae CeCe TT ane CeCe eo eter es SE arr Screens Oe SCENT Tara Ta foe ecm Core tecied aan crete) G8. I sare tuts eo.wetion vith Mra,Taree Lae ey Cece aera cate Sent Ter Rone eon css tr eee Se tes ee SS atone ear ae Reset anne ee eensFehr a tare coamnye ee er erst cass Pe ee2 = s > = S m s < m zWD I. AXDERSOS ite 1p aay eeeers FAL oe Nor an Fer! at ' _ REDAGIOY MTSCKLLAMOUS, DerEMUL mcr = ry t ir y 4 | meet, Daren ee bree eta f te. the Daren, ony Poon ened tat ware at two lottars fen nadersen org, Feceived and mde available to your offise by George X- ettiee fils, . ie é a yroneTeneng HEREIN “ yD DATE Za so Z, Bea 32KENNETH M.swizeY Y ‘“RMATION CONTAINED 2163 Milton St; os LINCLASSIF area kr. J. Edgar Hoover Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, D.C. Dear Kr. Hoover: @ ; Back in 1943, the local En ~ Custodian searched through ahe belongings of the late electrical inventor, Nikol: stored in the Manhattan Storage Warehouse in Wew York City. Tesla had been a naturalized American for more than fifty years, so I believe that the search was made on the grounds that the property was to be sent to Yugoslavia, through Tesla's nephew and heir, Mr. Sava Kosanovié ‘thes Kosanovié had been Minister of State under the King's government, later became Ambassador to the United States from the present government, and is now a Minister serving in Belgrade). According to the attorney who handled the x Tesla estate, Hr. PhilipRi the Alien Property Custodian assured hig nothing had been held, I have a letter from the Office of Alien Property, dated March 15, 1955, which confirms this statement. W. In gathering material to help in a nation-wide comemoration of Tesla's hundredth birthday next year-—-which will be participated in by leading scientific and engineering societies, museums, and universities---I have just discovered, however, that Tesla's solid gold Edison Medal somehow vanished during that search. : As a friend who had known Tesla well , during his last twenty years, I was with Mr. Kosanovié Tesla's room in the Hotel Hew Yorker on the day he aicg/A/ ; A safe expert was called in to unlock Tesla's safe. + its contents were several honorary degrees, a volume of ( ) ( greetings which I had gathered for him on his seventy-fitth cr birthday, a bunch of keys, and the Edison Medal. We kept out the book of greetings (I mentioned this at the time 7 i to the assistant manager of the hotel and later to a ir. 4 Gorsuch of the Alien Property Custodian's office), but Bu} | / everything elses including mae ‘and the keys, was replaced and the safe was 1 y, RECORDED - 8 /£0 993 SL Ne (ge Z ‘hy “Qo Bxcept when it Ms sANDEWDa Ry tee Property Custodian, the safe was never reopened engi Ht 4 ClwA. Ondfomo~ A ‘ Mee sey ExXPoBR =sE ] 6c JE 11 1955 ee eo 33arrived in Belgrade (where Tesla's property was to be installed in a special Tesla Museum) and was there opened by Mr. Kosanovié. According to his former secretary, both the bunch of keys and the medal were missing. The keys were later found in a tin box outside the safe; the medal was never found. I learned of the disappearance of the medal only by accident. lr. Kosanovi¢ had asked his former secretary to get permission from the American institute of Electrica Engineers (who gave Tesla the Medal) to have it duplicated This was given, but the cost, it turned out, would be abou four hundred déllars. in the meantime, the Tesla Museum, in Yugoslavia, is quietly trying to raise the money to pay ‘or it. The irony of this situation is more disturbing than the money involved. By giving us a system which made electric power universally available, Tesla---probably more than any other one man-—helped’ put America on top of the world. At the time he died, his gold Edison ledal was the only material evidence left of this country's appreciation. That this last token should have disappeare =--to have to be replaced by his materially poor countryne: overseas for whom . had done nothing---seems a tragic xq finguenent. PE bs "TER Pegd ind th dicta WIE BS ee Johnse'Nes2: ae Bis biography of Tes4, states that the Fol trond into Resla's saree the day he died, and an article in the current (June) Coronet repeats this. I / {fmow this isn't true. I did hear, however, that the FBI somehow lent a hand to the Alien Property Custodian during the latter's search in the warehouse. If that is so, i thought that perhaps some of your men might remember the conditions under which the search was made and therefore might have a suggestion as to what coul have happened to the medal. After this long time, I have no hope that the medal can actually be restored, and I am already trying to interest Americans in making a replaceme But future biographers might be spared a lot of wild guess and wrong blaming if some hint could be obtained as to whether the original got lost, strayed, or stolen-~-and wh might have been responsible. With best regards and sincere appreciation for any hell you can give, Sincerely, A a + Srna Kenneth M&Swezey h/ P.S. I am enclosing an Kenneth MASWes Yast month's POWER magazine which outlines Tesla's contribution to the electr: power industry. | ae 44Ao somes enon ay yess eranisnes in Strange Genius AD 89 stour of power mento tame those who laid the foundation for today’s electrical generation and distribution. You'll wind up with an impressive lit—~ Edison, Brush, Thomson, Westinghouse, many others. But there is almost sure to be a significant omission. Yet this forgotien man conceived the polyphase ac mo- tor—still basic—and devised = suitable system of geo- eration and distribution for applying it. To grasp the magnitude of this costribution, we must turn back to the 1880's when the electrical era’ was being bora, and the “battle of the systems” held sway. Arc lights and motors were being operated on constant: ‘current series systems. Edison's Pearl Street generating station had opened in 1882, supplying incandescent lamps and, later, de motors on a constant potential system, Un- der the leadership of Westinghouse and Stanley, the advantages of ac distribution were demonstrated. But there was no successful ae motor. In May, 1889, a young YogoSlay engineer, but four yeara in the United States, rend a paper before the Amer: atitute of Electrical Engineers. In it be described tem. Ite heart was the induction motor with it basic and beautiful concept of the rotating magnetic field. The man was Nikola Teal, the system be described was destined to sweep the field. With characteristic vision, George Westinghouse resl- ized the fundamental importance of the polyphase ac system and acquired the basic patent. Its frst impact on the general public was at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. There a 2phase generator supplied motors and lnrops, and, through rotary converters and motor.gen- cerators, a variety of de equipment. i CONTAINED . tsege A ae But it remained for the Nisgara Falls power project to demonstrate in the most dramatic way possible that poly- phase ac was the system of the future. Since 1886 when a charter to develop its power bad been granted, the eyes ‘of the world hed been on Niagara, An international com- mission, headed by Lord Kelvin, had reviewed 17 pro- posals, found none acceptable. Later, just five years after ‘Teale's ATE. paper, it was officially decided to use the polyphase eystem. In August, 1895, Niagara power was delivered to the first industrial customer and in 1896 ac transinssion to Buffalo, 22 miles away, was begun. By that time, the ‘team turbine had been introduced in America and the modern age of electric power had truly opened. For Nikola Tesla, these far-reaching inventions were but a beginning. Still to come was,briliiant work in high frequencies, thinking basic to much of today’s radio art. Yet by the time of his death in 1943, both he and his ‘work had begun to slip into obscurity. Why? ‘A man of flashing insights and enormous brilliance, ‘Tesla was largely indiferent to the development of his fdeas. This he left to others while he followed the lure of new challenges. In later years, his projects became amore grandiose, his ways more mysterious, his pronounce: ments more Olympian. And working alone, as he did, hhe formed none of the institutional ties that help to per. etunte a record of accomplishment. Next year—luly 10, 1956—will be the 100th anniver: sary of Nikola Tesle’s birth. It would be fiting for our engineering societies to commemorste this occasion, to acknowledge our debt to this strange and lonely genius ‘who changed our world for the better. 700-225 7-9 (REPRINTED BY PERMISSION) as Power + may 1955