Nikola Tesla FBI Files - Page 22

Office Memorandum • UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
 

TO            :  MR. A. K. BELMONT                   DATE    : May 5, 1953
FROM      :  MR. L. L. LAUGHLIN
SUBJECT : NIKOLA TESLA (Deceased)
                    INFORMATION CONCERNING

     [REDUCTED] called on the afternoon of May 4, 1953.

     [REDUCTED] stated that he had been reading a book entitled, “The Prodigal Genius – The Life of Nikola Tesla” by John J. O’Neill, whom [REDUCTED] described as a science writer for a New York newspaper (publisher – Ives Lashburn). [REDUCTED] noted in this book that Bureau Agents went to Tesla’s room following his death on January 7, 1943, opened his safe examined his papers, and took over his personal files. [REDUCTED] said this appeared on page 277. [REDUCTED] stated that Tesla is the father of modern power engineering, being responsible for the invention of the A. C. generator, motor transmission, and other electrical engineering feats. He inquired (1) if the papers and works of Tesla were in the possession of the Bureau, and (2) if so, were they available for review in view of their scientific importance.

     I told [REDUCTED] that the statement concerning the Bureau’s taking Tesla’s files did not seem very logical but that I would check on the matter.

     The Bureau’s files reflect that shortly after the death of Tesla in his hotel room in New York City on January 7, 1943, Sava Kosanovich, a distant relative, and other individuals entered his room and opened the safe, examining certain materials which he possessed. On January 8, 1943, Mr. L. M. C. Smith of the Department advised Mr. Tamm that he was concerned about the possibility of enemy agents confiscating some of the trunks of Tesla and apparently the Office of Alien Property Custodian was taking some action regarding these effects. Since the matter was being handled by the Office of Alien Property Custodian, the Bureau did not make any inquiries into this situation. (65-47953-6)

     It is noted also that the Bureau received a letter dated April 16, 1948, from Mr. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, explaining that he was studying electrical engineering at the Milwaukee School of Engineering and

[REDUCTED]
65-47953
 1 – Mr. Nichols