Elmer Sperry (1860-1930) was one of America’s electric pioneers. He founded the Sperry Gyroscope Company in order to develop, manufacture, and market marine gyrostabilizing devices. The papers document Sperry's research and development work and entrepreneurial activities.

Elmer A. Sperry (1860-1930) was an electrical engineer who established the Electric Light, Motor, and Car Brake Company in 1883 and then founded the Sperry Electric Mining Machine Company in 1886. After selling his patents to General Electric, he went to work for the company as a consultant. This collection includes original materials, as well as copy work from other sources and images which show Sperry's inventions; there is some ephemera, family photos, employees, and views of the Sperry Company's Brooklyn drafting rooms.

The Public Information and Advertising Department series includes advertising literature, newsclippings, trade catalogs, correspondence of department managers, technical reports, blueprints, engineering correspondence and press releases. The files also include biographical material on Elmer Sperry and an oral interview with Hannibal Ford of the Ford Instrument Co. Other files document Sperry's efforts to work with the military during World War II to produce a series of films for defense. Of particular interest are papers describing the company's efforts to help produce the motion pictures "The House on 92nd Street" and "The Road to Murmansk."

Thomas Parke Hughes (1923-2014), was one of the leading historians of technology of his era. This collection consists of files relating to the research and production of Professor Hughes' two prize-winning books, Networks of Power, and Elmer Sperry: Inventor and Engineer. Also included are Elmer Sperry's original desk diaries.