James Rumsey:  Inventor 

Exhibit Manual

Museum of the Berkeley Springs

February, 1986

Prepared by Jeanne Mozier

The exhibit format limits the amount of information that can be displayed.  Viewing the exhibit will stimulate more questions from many who see it, questions about Rumsey, his activities and his inventions.  The following background information has been prepared to aid in answering those questions, drawing on the extensive amount of research conducted by the Museum in preparing this exhibit.

This manual of exhibit material may be used by either Museum docents or by visitors themselves.  The material is keyed to the Rumsey exhibit displayed in the Museum.  Each exhibit illustration or block of copy is listed in order of appearance and additional information provided including the source of the illustration or information.  Cross-references to other parts of the exhibit or manual are included to help guide the reader to all the relevant and connected pieces.

In addition to explanations, the manual contains copies of original documents when such are appropriate.  There are numerous references to other documents contained in the Museum’s file on Rumsey, the accumulation of all the source material used in preparing this exhibit.

Funding for the research segment of the exhibit was provided by a grant from the Humanities Foundation of West Virginia.  Credit for assistance and documents is listed on the exhibit as well as in the body of the manual.

click on image to view each section of manual 

Panels 1 and 2	Panels 3 and 4	Panels 5 and 6
Rumsey’s Work In and Around Bath	Inventions and Patents	The Man and His Associates