Historical Display

The Historical Display Committee was formed in March 1994 for the purpose of enhancing the appreciation of PTO employees for the fascinating history of the Patent and Trademark Office.

The method we have chosen to carry out this purpose is by selecting an annual project centered around placing a historical type display in a prominent spot somewhere in the PTO that draws attention to the history of the PTO and/or to the PTO Museum. The PTO Museum was established by the PTO to increase public awareness of the role played by intellectual property in our National economy and also to raise awareness of the unique history of the Office. The museum is located in the lobby level of Crystal Park 2 in the Office of Public Affairs.

Among our past projects have been placing a historical type display case in the main library of the Scientific and Technical Information Center (STIC). The display case contains a number of historical patent-related artifacts, including an old Society Journal from 1920 and photographs of patent examiners from 1872 and 1895. Another project was to mount two wall displays by each classroom in the Patent Academy, where each of the classrooms has been named for a famous inventor. The displays include a write up on one display about the inventor for which the classroom is named, and a second display with a patent or other appropriate material for that inventor.   We have also placed display cases on either side of the main entrance to the Patent Academy, one presenting the story of early patent models submitted to the Patent Office and the other presenting the history of the Patent and Trademark Office Society.

We are currently sponsoring a contest in several Technology Centers to select the most significant, historic, and interesting patent in the area of the selected technologies in each of those Technology Centers for display in the Technology Center.

To help us to carry out our efforts, we are looking for history and display design enthusiasts throughout the PTOS. The committee has its most urgent need for people who are from the Trademark area.   So, if you would like to try your hand at helping us with our history-related activities, please contact Committee Chairman Rich Stouffer at 571 272 3402.

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