FREMONT - President Rutherford B. Hayes documented much of life in his personal diaries.

But the 19th President failed to mention an important late-night meeting he had April, 18, 1878, with inventor Thomas Alva Edison.

During the meeting, Edison recorded the President's voice as they were talking in the White House.

That recording - the first time a President's voice had been recorded - likely was destroyed. But officials at the Hayes Presidential Center plan to set the record straight about the meeting when they open an exhibit Sunday called “Mr. Edison's Music Makers.”

The meeting “is one of the things we hang the exhibit on,” said Tom Culbertson, head of the center's history and education department. The exhibit, which is about the history of the phonograph, will display more than 20 original Edison phonographs, as well as examples of competitive models. It will include historical photos and documents, many of which have been borrowed from the Edison Birthplace Museum in nearby Milan, Ohio, or from Edison collector Don Gfell, also of Milan.

Hayes Center spokeswoman Nancy Kleinhenz said the history between the former president and the inventor is one reason why they decided to create an Edison exhibit in town.

The following year, Edison is believed to have stopped at the White House after he attended a reception at a dignitary's home.

Mr. Culbertson said Edison showed up late - some time around midnight - and didn't leave for several hours. Edison demonstrated his new invention to Hayes and other men who were at the White House.

He used thin sheets of tinfoil to help record the president's voice, and he played it back for the president. Later, Hayes woke his wife and other women upstairs. They dressed and came downstairs for the demonstration. The phonograph was a big hit - another success for the man who later invented the movie camera and light bulb.

The events were chronicled in Edison's diary several years after the meeting. But Hayes didn't mention it, which Hayes officials admit is unusual. For most of his life, Hayes kept a detailed dairy of daily events. Some of the writings have been published on the Hayes Center web site. Hayes was president from 1877-1881, before retiring to his Fremont home.

The phonographs in the upcoming Edison exhibit were donated to the Hayes museum by local collector Steven Culbertson, who is Tom Culbertson's brother.

Steven Culbertson said yesterday he's been collecting Edison artifacts for about 12 years. He saw his first phonograph in Clyde and has been collecting and restoring them ever since.

Mr. Culbertson said this is the first time his pieces have been on display. He believes they will be well-received by the public.

“I think it's a great educational experience,” Mr. Culbertson said. “So many people have never seen phonographs, or it's been a long time since they've seen one.”

The display will continue through Sept. 2.

The exhibit is not expected to be shown at any other museums, Hayes officials said.

First Published March 14, 2002, 11:58 a.m.