Sub-series 4. Foreign Patent Applications, 1932-1941, undated

Arranged alphabetically by subject, this sub-series contains Ernst Berl’s foreign patent application files. These files mainly, but not exclusively, concern inventions for which Ernst Berl was not awarded patents by countries outside of the United States, including, but not limited to, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Chile. The files in this sub-series provide primary documentation of the legal processes of a number of countries through which Ernst Berl applied for patents. They also contain technical information for the inventions represented in this series.

From the Foreign Patents Applications files, one can learn much about the research and development work carried out by Berl to bring the represented inventions into being. They also provide information as to why Berl did not receive foreign patents for some of his inventions. Legal work carried out by Ernst Berl’s younger son and patent attorney Herbert Berl is documented in this sub-series as well.

The contents of this sub-series consist mainly of files for individual inventions for which Ernst Berl was not awarded patents outside of the United States, which contain legal documents, correspondence, and notes. A single file regarding Ernst Berl’s successful and unsuccessful foreign patent applications for the invention “Production of Valuable Organic Compounds from Plant Material,” which contains legal documents, correspondence, drawing reproductions, and blueprints, is preserved in this sub-series as well.