Description/Transcription
Naming of Alva Willingham Avis as recorded by him
(C. Avis Catalog entry #423)
(Document #195)
When the now Alva Willingham Avis was born - his mother had a mid-wife whose name was Mrs. Willingham (affectionately known as Mrs. Willie) - his mother wanted Mrs. Willie to name the baby. Mrs. Willie became very attached to the Avis Edison graphaphone thinking it was one of the seven wonders - So Mrs. Willie wanted to name the baby Alva Edison - but the mother wanted Willingham so the baby was named Alva Willingham.