Resources for the history of invention

Collections on Invention and Innovation in the NMAH Archives Center

Register of the Western Union Telegraph Company Collection 1848-1963 by Robert S. Harding

Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
© 1990 by the Smithsonian Institution. All rights reserved.

Contents

Introduction

History

Provenance

Scope and Content Note

1993 Addendum of approximately 83 cubic feet

Acknowledgments

Container List

Series 1: General History of the Telegraph, 1870-1963 (boxes 1-4)

Series 2: History of the Western Union Telegraph Company (WUTC), 1854-1962 (boxes 5-10)

Series 3: WUTC Administrative Records, 1853-1956 (boxes 11-14)

• Annual Reports of WUTC, 1869-1956
• Correspondence & Forms, 1858-1956
• Postal Merger Inventory, 1943
• Pay (Service) Rolls, 1888-1948
• Ledgers & Accounting, 1853-1903

Series 4: Correspondence, 1848-1956 (box 15)

Series 5: Notebooks, 1880-1942 (boxes 16-22)

Series 6: Patents, 1840-1954 (boxes 23-33; 112)

• Charles Buckingham Patents, 1882-1900
• Thomas Edison Patents, 1868-84
• Elisha Gray Patents, 1872-79
• Samuel F. B. Morse Patents, 1840-48
• George Phelps Patents, 1859-79
• Joseph Stearn Patents, 1872-74
• John Skirrow Patents, 1901-14
• Charles Wheatstone Patents, 1874-75
• Miscellaneous Patents, 1846-1908
• Numbered Patents, 1900-54
• Litigation, 1851-87

Series 7: Scrapbooks, 1869-1956 (boxes 34-37)

• News clippings, 1869-1956

Series 8: Telegrams, 1857-1948, (boxes 38-40)

Series 9: Western Union Telegraph Museum, 1859-1961, (boxes 41-51)

• Correspondence, 1925-61
• Technical Materials
• WUTC Records
• Employee Records
• Publications

Series 10: Reference Materials, 1868-1964, (boxes 52-84)

• By Western Union, Published and Unpublished
• About Western Union, Published and Unpublished
• General Telegraphy, Published and Unpublished

Series 11: Photographs, 1858-1957, (boxes 85-111)

• Western Union Buildings
• Poleyards and Construction
• Western Union Albums
• Equipment and Offices
• Facsimiles
• People

Introduction

The Western Union Telegraph Company Collection, 1848-1963, came to the National Museum of American History in 1971 as a gift from the Western Union Telegraph Company. The collection in the Archives Center consists mostly of manuscript materials from the Western Union Museum. It occupies approximately sixty linear feet of shelf space. The material includes a series of fragmentary administrative records, a limited amount of correspondence, fairly useful reference materials on telegraphy, and a series of telegram examples, 1857-1948. The collection is particularly strong in photographs. In addition to photoprints of Western Union facilities, pole yards, and employees, there is a wealth of images of telegraphic equipment and installations. There also are many telegraph facsimiles, 1925-42.

The apparatus and equipment from the Western Union Museum are now held in the National Museum of American History's Division of Electricity and Modern Physics.

The Collection is open to researchers in the Archives Center, third floor east, of the National Museum of American History, between 12th and 14th Streets on Constitution Avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C. 20560. The Archives Center is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Written and telephone (202 357-3270) inquiries are welcome. Researchers are encouraged to contact the Archives Center to make an appointment prior to their arrival.

This is the tenth in a series of occasional guides to collections in the Archives Center. Finding aids to other collections are available. The Guide to Manuscript Collections in the National Museum of History and Technology, 1978, and an updated compilation, contain brief descriptions of all archival holdings in the Museum. All current Archives Center holdings are described in the Smithsonian Institution Bibliographic Information System (SIBIS), an online data base.

History

In 1832 Samuel F. B. Morse, assisted by Alfred Vail, conceived of the idea for an electromechanical telegraph, which he called the "Recording Telegraph." This commercial application of electricity was made tangible by their construction of a crude working model in 1835-36.

This instrument probably was never used outside of Professor. Morse's rooms where it was, however, operated in a number of demonstrations. This original telegraph instrument was in the hands of the Western Union Telegraph Company and had been kept carefully over the years in a glass case. It was moved several times in New York as the Western Union headquarters building changed location over the years. The company presented it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1950.

The telegraph was further refined by Morse, Vail, and a colleague, Leonard Gale, into working mechanical form in 1837. In this year Morse filed a caveat for it at the U.S. Patent Office. Electricity, provided by Joseph Henry's 1836 "intensity batteries", was sent over a wire. The flow of electricity through the wire was interrupted for shorter or longer periods by holding down the key of the device. The resulting dots or dashes were recorded on a printer or could be interpreted orally. In 1838 Morse perfected his sending and receiving code and organized a corporation, making Vail and Gale his partners.

In 1843 Morse received funds from Congress to set-up a demonstration line between Washington and Baltimore. Unfortunately, Morse was not an astute businessman and had no practical plan for constructing a line. After an unsuccessful attempt at laying underground cables with Ezra Cornell, the inventor of a trenchdigger, Morse switched to the erection of telegraph poles and was more successful. On May 24, 1844, Morse in the U.S. Supreme Court Chambers in Washington sent by telegraph the oft-quoted message to his colleague Vail in Baltimore, "What hath God wrought!"

In 1845 Morse hired Andrew Jackson's former postmaster general, Amos Kendall, as his agent in locating potential buyers of the telegraph. Kendall realized the value of the device, and had little trouble convincing others of its potential for profit. By the spring he had attracted a small group of investors. They subscribed $15,000 and formed the Magnetic Telegraph Company. Many new telegraph companies were formed as Morse sold licenses wherever he could.

The first commercial telegraph line was completed between Washington, D.C., and New York City in the spring of 1846 by the Magnetic Telegraph Company. Shortly thereafter, F. O. J. Smith, one of the patent owners, built a line between New York City and Boston. Most of these early companies were licensed by owners of Samuel Morse patents. The Morse messages were sent and received in a code of dots and dashes.

At this time other telegraph systems based on rival technologies were being built. Some companies used the printing telegraph, a device invented by a Vermonter, Royal E. House, whose messages were printed on paper or tape in Roman letters. In 1848 a Scotch scientist, Alexander Bain, received his patents on a telegraph. These were but two of many competing and incompatible technologies that had developed. The result was confusion, inefficiency, and a rash of suits and countersuits.

By 1851 there were over fifty separate telegraph companies operating in the United States. This corporate cornucopia developed because the owners of the telegraph patents had been unsuccessful in convincing the United States and other governments of the invention's potential usefulness. In the private sector, the owners had difficulty convincing capitalists of the commercial value of the invention. This led to the owners' willingness to sell licenses to many purchasers who organized separate companies and then built independent telegraph lines in various sections of the country.

Hiram Sibley moved to Rochester, New York, in 1838 to pursue banking and real estate. Later he was elected sheriff of Monroe County. In Rochester he was introduced to Judge Samuel L. Selden who held the House Telegraph patent rights. In 1849 Selden and Sibley organized the New York State Printing Telegraph Company, but they found it hard to compete with the existing New York, Albany, and Buffalo Telegraph Company.

After this experience Selden suggested that instead of creating a new line, the two should try to acquire all the companies west of Buffalo and unite them into a single unified system. Selden secured an agency for the extension throughout the United States of the House system. In an effort to expand this line west, Judge Selden called on friends and the people in Rochester. This eventually led in April 1851 to the organization of a company and the filing in Albany of the Articles of Association for the "New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company" (NYMVPTC), a company which later evolved into the Western Union Telegraph Company.

In 1854 there were two rival systems of the NYMVPTC in the West. These two systems consisted of thirteen separate companies. All the companies were using Morse patents in the five states north of the Ohio River. This created a struggle between three separate entities, leading to an unreliable and inefficient telegraph service. The owners of these rival companies eventually decided to invest their money elsewhere and arrangements were made for the NYMVPTC to purchase their interests.

Hiram Sibley recapitalized the company in 1854 under the same name and began a program of construction and acquisition. The most important take-over was carried out by Sibley when he negotiated the purchase of the Morse patent rights for the Midwest for $50,000 from Jeptha H. Wade and John J. Speed, without the knowledge of Ezra Cornell, their partner in the Erie and Michigan Telegraph Company (EMTC). With this acquisition Sibley proceeded to switch to the superior Morse system. He also hired Wade, a very capable manager, who became his protege and later his successor. After a bitter struggle Morse and Wade obtained the EMTC from Cornell in 1855, thus assuring dominance by the NYMVPTC in the Midwest.

In 1856 the company name was changed to the "Western Union Telegraph Company," indicating the union of the aforementioned Western lines into one compact system. In December 1857 the Company paid stockholders their first dividend.

Between 1857 and 1861 similar consolidations of telegraph companies took place in other areas of the country so that most of the telegraph interests of the United States had merged into six systems. These were the American Telegraph Company (covering the Atlantic and some Gulf states), The Western Union Telegraph Company (covering states north of the Ohio River and parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Minnesota), the New York Albany and Buffalo Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company (covering New York State), the Atlantic and Ohio Telegraph Company (covering Pennsylvania), the Illinois & Mississippi Telegraph Company (covering sections of Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois), and the New Orleans & Ohio Telegraph Company (covering the southern Mississippi Valley and the Southwest). All these companies worked together in a mutually friendly alliance, and other small companies cooperated with the six systems, particularly some on the West Coast.

By the time of the Civil War, there was a strong commercial incentive to construct a telegraph line accross the western plains to link the two coasts of America. Many companies, however, believed the line would be impossible to build and maintain.

In 1860 Congress passed, and President James Buchanan signed, the Pacific Telegraph Act, which authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to seek bids for a project to contruct a transcontinental line. When two bidders dropped out, Hiram Sibley, representing Western Union, was the only bidder left. By default Sibley won the contract. The Pacific Telegraph Company was organized for the purpose of building the eastern section of the line.

Sibley sent Wade to California, where he consolidated the small local companies into the California State Telegraph Company. This entity then organized the Overland Telegraph Company, which handled construction eastward from Carson City, Nevada, joining the existing California lines, to Salt Lake City, Utah. Sibley's Pacific Telegraph Company built westward from Omaha, Nebraska. Sibley put most of his resources into the venture. The line was completed in October 1861. Both companies were soon merged into Western Union. This accomplishment made Hiram Sibley leader of the telegraph industry.

Further consolidations took place over the next several years. Many companies merged into the American Telegraph Company. With the expiration of the Morse patents, several organizations were combined in 1864 under the name of "The U.S. Telegraph Company." In 1866 the final consolidation took place, with Western Union exchanging stock for the stock of the other two organizations. The general office of Western Union moved at this time from Rochester to 145 Broadway, New York City. In 1875 the main office moved to 195 Broadway, where it remained until 1930 when it relocated to 60 Hudson Street.

In 1873 Western Union purchased a majority of shares in the International Ocean Telegraph Company. This was an important move because it marked Western Union's entry into the foreign telegraph market. Having previously worked with foreign companies, Western Union now began competing for overseas business.

In the late 1870s Western Union, led by William H. Vanderbilt, attempted to wrest control of the major telephone patents, and the new telephone industry, away from the Bell Telephone Company. But due to new Bell leadership and a subsequent hostile takeover attempt of Western Union by Jay Gould, Western Union discontinued its fight and Bell Telephone prevailed.

Despite these corporate calisthenics, Western Union remained in the public eye. The sight of a uniformed Western Union messenger boy was familiar in small towns and big cities all over the country for many years. Some of Western Union's top officials in fact began their careers as messenger boys.

Throughout the remainder of the nineteenth century the telegraph became one of the most important factors in the development of social and commercial life of America. In spite of improvements to the telegraph, however, two new inventions -- the telephone (nineteenth century) and the radio (twentieth century) -- eventually replaced the telegraph as the leaders of the communication revolution for most Americans.

At the turn of the century, Bell abandoned its struggles to maintain a monopoly through patent suits, and entered into direct competition with the many independent telephone companies. Around this time, the company adopted its new name, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T).

In 1908 AT&T gained control of Western Union. This proved beneficial to Western Union, because the companies were able to sharelines when needed, and it became posible to order telegrams by telephone. However, it was only possible to order Western Union telegrams, and this hurt the business of Western Union's main competitor, the Postal Telegraph Company. In 1913, however, as part of a move to prevent the government from invoking antitrust laws, AT&T completely separated itself from Western Union.

Western Union continued to prosper and received commendations from the U.S. armed forces for service during both world wars. In 1945 Western Union finally merged with its longtime rival, the Postal Telegraph Company. As part of that merger, Western Union agreed to separate domestic and foreign business. In 1963 Western Union International Incorporated, a private company completely separate from the Western Union Telegraph Company, was formed and the agreement with the Postal Telegraph Company was completed. Western Union survives today.

Many technological advancements followed the telegraph's development. The following are among the more important:

The first advancement of the telegraph occurred around 1850 when operators realized that the clicks of the recording instrument protrayed a sound pattern, understandable by the operators as dots and dashes. This allowed the operator to hear the message by ear and simultaneously write it down. This ability transformed the telegraph into a versatile and speedy system.

Duplex Telegraphy, 1871-72, was invented by the president of the Franklin Telegraph Company. Unable to sell his invention to his own company, he found a willing buyer in Western Union. Utilizing this invention, two messages were sent over the wire simultaneously, one in each direction.

As business blossomed and demand surged, new devices appeared.Thomas Edison's Quadruplex allowed four messages to be sent over the same wire simultaneously, two in one direction and two in the other. An English automatic signalling arrangement, Wheatstone's Automatic Telegraph, 1883, allowed larger numbers of words to be transmitted over a wire at once. It could only be used advantageously, however, on circuits where there was a heavy volume of business.

Buckingham's Machine Telegraph was an improvement on the House system. It printed received messages in plain Roman letters quickly and legibly on a message blank, ready for delivery.

Vibroplex, c. 1890, a semi-automatic key sometimes called a "bug key," made the dots automatically. This relieved the operator of much physical strain.

Provenance

This manuscript collection originated as a portion of the Western Union Telegraph Museum begun in 1912, by H.W. Drake, an electrical engineer of the Western Union Company. He collected old telegraph instruments and other apparatus for their historic value and for their use in commercial and advertising displays or exhibits. Later these collected devices were instrumental in settling patent litigation for the company. He also collected the ancillary archival materials that comprise this manuscript collection. In 1930, when Western Union's general headquarters moved from 195 Broadway to 60 Hudson Street, a small room was set aside to house the growing collection of artifacts and papers.

In 1933 Western Union was represented in an exhibit at the Century of Progress exposition in Chicago. Many instruments from the collection of the Western Union Museum were included in the exposition. To fully detail the history of the telegraph, many original instruments were borrowed from the Smithsonian Institution and replicated. These reproductions helped improve Western Union's collection. When the fair ended, the objects were returned to the renamed Western Union Engineering Museum.

In the early 1930s internal memoranda were sent to Western Union divisional plant superintendents urging them to save old telegraph instruments. Soon thereafter old instruments arrived from Western Union's divisions around the country. Engineering Department laboratories in particular sent many objects. By 1936 over five hundred artifacts had been collected. The museum was maintained by J. Schmid and twenty volunteers from the Engineering Divisions in their spare time.

Early in 1969 Western Union officials decided to close the Museum and to use its space for offices. The objects and archival material were to be stored in a warehouse in Allentown, Pennsylvania. At that time Smithsonian curators suggested to Western Union that certain material be transferred to the Smithsonian rather than to storage. It was hoped that this would ensure the preservation and availability of at least some items, and also mean that some material could be put to some use during that period of uncertainty. At this time J.E. Stebner, the Western Union Museum curator, donated many items to the Smithsonian, believing that they would be permanently preserved and used in relating the story of communication.

In January 1971 Western Union officials proposed a transfer of the Western Union Museum to the National Museum of History and Technology (now the National Museum of American History) under an indefinite loan agreement in the hopes of making the materials more readily available for exhibition purposes and for use by historians.

In September 1971 the collection was received by the Museum as a gift and was deposited in the Division of Electricity. The archival materials were transferred to the Archives Center in June 1986.

Scope and Content Note

The collection is divided into eleven series and is contained in 112 boxes. The following scope and content note includes a series description for all series. The container list beginning on page 47 has a detailed description of the contents of the collection.This collection documents in photographs, scrapbooks, notebooks, correspondence, and reference materials the evolution of the telegraph, the development of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and the beginning of the communications revolution. The collection includes reference materials that describe both the history of the company and of the telegraph industry in general, particularly its importance to the development of the technology in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The collection is useful for researchers interested in the development of technology, economic history, and the impact of technology on American social and cultural life.

SERIES 1 (boxes 1-4) contains publications written between 1848 and 1963 that give a good general background on the history of the telegraph. The first two boxes contain published material arranged alphabetically by author. Boxes 3 and 4 are arranged alphabetically by title, as no authors are indicated.

SERIES 2 (boxes 5-10) contains published material on the Western Union Telegraph Company. Boxes 5, 6, and 7 have volumes detailing the technological development and progress of the company between 1910 and 1950. Boxes 8 and 9 hold general reference works on the company arranged alphabetically. Box 10 contains a report on the company in French.

The Western Union administrative records in SERIES 3 (boxes 11-14) are incomplete. Some administrative records were given to the Western Union Telegraph Museum, and are located in Series 9, Subseries 3 and 4. Subseries 1 of Series 3 contains a ledger from the California State Telegraph Company, 1853-60, another from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1861-79, and an unidentified Western Union Office ledger, 1881-1903. For example, Subseries 2, Annual Reports, covers the years 1869, 1873-1905, and 1935; organization charts for the company cover the years 1915 to 1956; Subseries 3 contains fragmentary records of the Superintendents of Supply, 1887-1948, containing rate tables, service rolls, and miscellaneous correspondence from that office. Subseries 4 consists of miscellaneous records, including employees' membership cards and building passes. There is a bound folder titled "Old Correspondence and Forms #2166" consisting of some early miscellaneous California correspondence, 1854-66, and correspondence from other locations, 1873-1939; applicants for Time Signal Service, 1889-98; and many other miscellaneous forms, agreements, invoices, and receipts. This subseries also contains an inventory from a Brooklyn warehouse.

SERIES 4 (box 15) contains general correspondence relating to the operation of telegraphic systems and the purchase of equipment. There is also a large amount of correspondence relating to patents. (Series 6, Patents, is quite useful for examing competing systems and Thomas Edison's patents.)

In folder 1 of Series 4 is a letterpress volume of correspondence, December 3, 1887, to September 29, 1888, which is mostly between Western Union employees Frank B. Rae, probably an electrical engineer, and G. W. Huddleston, a manager. It outlines tools and other supplies needed, repairs needed; makes personnel suggestions about firing, wage increases, and hiring; and requests approval and subsequent payment of overtime for specific personnel. There are a few letters to G.B. Scott, also of Western Union, and to outside firms requesting cost estimates of certain equipment or changes in specific machines. A few letters (October 28-November 30, 1888) on similar subjects are from A.P. Lauckhard.

Much of the correspondence, October 29, 1896, to February 27, 1911, in the second letterpress volume found in folder 2, is from Jay R. Page to E.G. Sheckler requesting supplies and repairs to equipment, or discussing the need for these. There are several letters from E.G. Sheckler protesting his "acting" status and salary to F.H. Tubbs, a Western Union superintendent. There are occasional letters regarding personnel, a few orders to outside companies for something to be made, with specifications, and several for permission to string wires from property owned by others. Like the correspondence in the first letterpress volume, most of the correspondence is within the Western Union Telegraph Company and pertains to operation of the system.

Nine folders (folders 3-11) of correspondence to Charles L. Buckingham, General Counsel for Western Union, date from 1880 to 1889. It is arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Most of the correspondence in the first five folders (folders 3-7) relates to patents; some relates to patent hearing dates and some to accounts. Included are typed Edison patent specifications, printed Essick specifications, Theodore M. Foote specifications and a large number of letters from Morris S. Hopkins of Baldwin, Hopkins and Peyton, a law firm acting on patents for the Western Union Telegraph Company.

Folder 7 contains correspondence from and to A.A. Knudson, an electrical engineer, about a patent for a printing telegraph and notes from Charles A. Judson about money owed him. Folder 8 has many letters from H.C. Nicholson about experiments, including the "Quad" telegraph and several about a proposal of the Postal Telegraph regarding the continuation of a trunk line from New York to Chicago. Other correspondence to Charles Buckingham during this period relates to Edison patents, the manufacture of printers for Australia, requests from an auditor for review and approval and bills rendered, and lost or misplaced patents.

A partial letter of October 7, 1896, to the Smithsonian Institution (folder 12) describes the original Morse telegraph. An extensive report to the Spanish Legation, 1872, describes problems in connection with retrieving and repairing an underseas cable from Key West to Havana and includes expense accounts.

Folder 14 contains miscellaneous correspondence from 1872 to 1904 that refers to many types of equipment, cables, the line between New York and Chicago, the Telegraphone, and trials on the Telegraplex system.

The miscellaneous correspondence from 1914 to 1938, contained in folder 15, pertains to Telegraphones on the P. and R. railroad, the Northern Pacific railroad, the L. and N. and the D. and H. railroads, photographs of the Missouri Pacific office; the history of the underground cable; a description of the District of Columbia time service and of the "Siemens unit"; and telegrams of congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the first public demonstration of the Morse telegraph.

In folder 16 is a letter dated July 19, 1941 from William F. Judson to John R. Hyland. This letter details a gift to Western Union of Cyrus Field's dining room furniture on which the charter for the original Atlantic cable was signed.

The most recent correspondence (1953-56) from R. Harris details the collecting of message forms, the use of less expensive copier paper, and specifications for customer bill heads.

SERIES 5 (boxes 16-22) includes a few personal and many laboratory notebooks from employees and engineers of Western Union. The numbers noted in the container list presumably refer to some Western Union Museum identification number. H.W. Drake's notebooks kept at 195 Broadway contain materials lists; equipment costs; descriptions and drawings of telegraphic equipment; lists of telegraphic line routes; accounts collected for telegraphic sevice (Central Division, 1880s); accounts of revenues, compensations for employees, expenses, receipts and rates; a comparative statement of remittances from various railroads, 1881-92; electrical diagrams and blueprints; and a Vacuum Tube Investigation Daily Record Book #2.

H. P. Gilbert's laboratory workbooks consist of laboratory reports on the results of tests of meters, rectifiers, relays, jacks, tubes, call boxes (with photoprints of the test results), and shellac. Included are negatives, some deteriorating.

J. Schmid was an engineer working at the Hudson Street office. His notebooks contain laboratory reports on batteries (Waterbury "Tele" Cells, Waterbury Battery Company, Waterbury, Conn.); test results on call box knobs, relay test tables, rectifiers, signal lamps, time service units, keepers and magnets, clocks, 400-w Call Circuit Register, relays (with photoprints of test results), motor generator set, wire samples, bells and buzzers, lamp-type resistance units, plugs, cords, microfarad meters (Jewel & Weston), volt-ammeters, diamond flasher buttons, and dry cells.

There also are two notebooks of the Apparatus Engineer's Office at 195 Broadway consisting of calibrations of electrostatic voltmeters and test results on switches, relays, repeaters, zinc and iron electrodes in different cells, sounders, and quadruplexes. Also included are oscillograms.

Other notebooks of unknown origin contain tests on dry cells, transmission studies, and entries from Selector Maintenance Cards turned over by the Repair Shop after removal from the field. The cards include reasons for the return of the equipment.

SERIES 6 (boxes 23-33; 112) contains many patents that trace the development and improvements in the telegraph (and some telephone) apparatus between 1840 and 1954. The series is organized into eleven subseries. The first eight subseries, 1840-1914, are arranged alphabetically by inventor: Charles Buckingham, Thomas A. Edison, Elisha Gray, Samuel F.B. Morse, George Phelps, Joseph Stearn, John Skirrow, and Charles Wheatstone. Subseries 9, arranged chronologically, contains miscellaneous patents, 1846-1908. Most patents are for improvements to the telegraph, though there are several for electric time-controlling systems and electric clocks.

Subseries 10 consists of three document boxes containing numbered patent specifications, 1900-54. These patent specifications came out of Western Union notebooks, so that order has been retained in this subseries. They are organized by type of improvement or invention. Among the patents represented in this subseries are those relating to: signalling systems; switching systems; automatic message exchange system; multioffice systems; storage systems; facsimile systems; oscillator systems; frequency transformation systems; printing telegraph systems; reperferators; repeaters; oscillators; generators; radio antennas; rectifiers; condensers; detectors; static reducers; and batteries.

SERIES 7 (boxes 34-37) contains scrapbooks, 1869-1956, both loose and bound, consisting mostly of news clippings. Loose pages from a scrapbook of C.H. Murphy contain information on Western Union's time service and clocks. Two small scrapbooks, titled "The Little Traveller," were kept by an unnamed Western Union employee who visited the company's offices in the West. There are photoprints of various Western Union offices and employees, with comments by the author and those he visited. There are two scrapbooks of Edward C. Brown, one in loose form, the other bound. The loose material contains memorabilia and news clippings announcing his retirement in 1938 after 51 years of service as Western Union's general supervisor of messenger equipment. The bound scrapbook contains news clippings that depict messenger boys' encounters with the law. Subseries 1 consists of eight news clippings scrapbooks, 1869-1956, containing articles on telegraphy, radio, and electrical engineering.

SERIES 8 (boxes 38-40) contains examples of telegrams wired by various U.S. telegraph companies, 1851-1946; telegrams wired by Western Union; examples of message forms celebrating holidays such as Christmas, Jewish New Year, Valentine's Day, and Happy Birthday; examples of other types of forms and order blanks; franks and advertising stamps, c. 1907-09, and telegraph emphemera, 1943 and 1948.

SERIES 9 (boxes 41-51) contains materials related to the Western Union Telegraph Museum, a separate entity within the Western Union Telegraph Company. These materials are of several types. The material was placed in the museum from other divisions or departments of the company and was created by the museum itself. Upon examination it is usually possible to tell where the material came from. The Western Union Company placed many records into the Western Union Telegraph Museum. In processing the collection we have retained that provenance. Nevertheless, the provenance of many items is unclear and often inconsistent.

Many of the manuscript materials in Series 9 are similar to other materials in the collection. Most of the materials in this series have been marked as museum objects, i.e., they have been given museum identification numbers. Much of this material was assembled and either attached or placed together in notebooks. However, some items in this series are not marked as museum items and it is unclear whether those unmarked items are museum items or company records that came to the museum when the material was transferred. All subseries of series 9 are arranged chronologically.

Subseries 1 of Series 9 contains correspondence of the Western Union Telegraph Museum. A large portion of this correspondence concerns donations of old telegraph equipment to the museum, 1925-61. Another example of a donation is a letter from Samuel Morse to Sam Houston, written in 1860, concerning telegraph service to Texas. This letter was given to the museum in 1928. All correspondence concerning donations is arranged in the order it was received by the museum.

Other correspondence represented in this subseries concerns Western Union Telegraph Museum donations to other museums. These include the Franklin Institute, 1933; the Smithsonian Institution, 1913-38, 1959-61; and the U.S. Army Signal Corps Museum, 1954-56. One folder contains correspondence regarding donations to other museums, 1933-43. This subseries also contains correspondence of Samuel Morse, 1937-38, and Henry Sayre Potter, 1930's, regarding paintings for the museum. There is also correspondence with several movie studios seeking the museum's help with several motion pictures, 1938-1939. Also included is correspondence concerning telegraph history. Three final folders contain miscellaneous correspondence concerning many aspects of WUTC museum administration and business.

Subseries 2 consists of technical materials such as blueprints, diagrams, specifications, instruction or repair manuals, and documentary photoprints of telegraph instruments donated to the WUTC museum over the years. There are also many newspaper articles, pamphlets, newsletters, etc., concerning either general telegraph equipment or specific instruments that were a part of the museum. Specific information includes a brochure on the Barclay Printing Telegraph System, with diagrams, specifications, and blueprints, and a brochure for Dial Telefax, the first facsimile system. Also included are photoprints, diagrams, and blueprints of the Morse Recorder of 1844; information concerning Western Union work for the U.S. Air Force; an information pamphlet on the "Brown" Drum Cable Relay; a set of Western Union code books; and various papers related to encoding. The more general records include information on vacuum tubes, belt conveyors, and teleprinters.

Subseries 3 contains various Western Union Telegraph Company records that the museum acquired over the years. A wide variety of records are represented, from an 1884 Rule Book to notebooks detailing museum acquisitions, 1937-41. The subseries also contains two Western Union code books from 1900; a Western Union Telegraph Museum visitor book, which lists visitors from 1933 to 1949; newspaper articles; photoprints; miscellaneous materials regarding the Western Union exhibit at the Chicago "Century of Progress" Exposition in 1933; and several drafts and copies of an article by J. Schmid entitled "The Western Union Engineering Museum." Other materials found in this subseries include: a Western Union log, n.d.; a Western Union Tariff book, 1910; a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. Army; and many museum object tags and object captions from former WUTC Museum exhibits.

Subseries 4 of Series 9 consists of Western Union Telegraph Company employee records given to the museum. These include Col. R.E. Clowry's membership certificate from the Old Time Telegraphers Association and his record of military duty; Horatio S. Myers's membership certificate from the Order [of] Railway Telegraphers; and the Association [of] Western Union Employees membership cards of C.F. Stearns. General employee records include a report from the Women's League of Western Union, various pamphlets describing employee economic plans, two charts listing Western Union officers, and a flow chart detailing the distribution of power.

Subseries 5 contains many different publications, arranged alphabetically, that the Western Union Telegraph Museum acquired over the years, most relating to either the telegraph industry or Western Union. Many newsletters are contained, including: "Journal of the Telegraph," "The Electrical World," "Dots and Dashes," "The Aerovox Research Worker," "Telegraph and Telephone Age," "Telegraph and Cable Illustrations," "Telegraph World," and "New York Museum of Science and Industry News Letter." There are several publications celebrating anniversaries, including the 100th anniversary of Morse's telegraph patent; the Telegraph Centennial of 1944; an Edison Centennial dinner in 1947; and the 100th anniversary of telegraph service in Texas.Catalogues in the subseries include several describing equipment for Outside Plants, 1920, '22, '24, '26, '29, and a general Western Union catalogue of 1934. Also included is a Western Union brochure for its exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair; a Smithsonian Institution Guide, 1941; various articles and photoprints detailing the first facsimile machines; a 1920 Census Atlas of the United States; and a round-by-round account of the James Sullivan and Jim Corbett heavyweight title fight of 1892.

SERIES 10 (boxes 52-84) contains a wide variety of reference material, 1868-1964, collected by the Western Union Telegraph Company. It is divided into three subseries, each with a published and an unpublished section, arranged alphabetically.

Subseries 1 contains reference materials produced by the WUTC between 1870 and 1964. The published material includes: Western Union News, 1914-18; "Roaming in the Western Union," 1932; Sales Sparks, 1938; "Western Union Golf News," 1942; and Western Union Technical Review, 1947-59; and various catalogues. There are also publications on Multifax facsimile machines, Multiplex printers, and telegraph poles. This subseries also includes substantial unpublished material produced by Western Union. Some of the materials include blueprints and specifications of exhibits for the Century of Progress Exhibition, reports on facsimile machines, reports on the Reperforator switching system, specifications and blueprints for various telegraph equipment, and reports on tickers.

Subseries 2 contains reference material produced by others about Western Union between 1913 and 1951. The published information includes a 1913 report by the Interstate Commerce Commission regarding a uniform system of accounts for telegraph and cable companies; various newspaper clippings; and articles in various publications about the WUTC. The unpublished material includes: a program of the commencement exercises of the WUTC Messengers School; license agreements, 1916-40 between the WUTC and Western Electric; and a 1944 progress report on the centennial of the telegraph celebration.

Subseries 3, General Telegraphy, 1866-1964, contains the greatest amount of reference material in Series 10. There are diverse publications relating to the telegraph industry, including: "American Telegraph Practice," 1913; "Electrical Engineer," 1894; "The Electrician," 1887-88; Journal of Electricity, 1923; Journal of the Telegraph, 1868-78; "The OHMITE News," 1937; and "Radio World," 1925-32. Published papers by distinguished telegraph men such as P.J. Howe, Walter P. Marshall, Sydney Sparks, Robert G. Kreer, and Fernand E. d'Humy can be found in this subseries. Other published material includes various catalogues, a program of the Eighth American Scientific Congress in 1940, newspaper and magazine articles, instruction and rule books, Postal Telegraph pamphlets, Sources d'Energie (in French), and manuals on wire and wiring. There is also a smaller section of unpublished reference material on general telegraphy. Included is a report on the Bartlane type XII machine, a report on the New York-Azores submarine cable, blueprint drawings of stock ticker parts, a plan for the improvement of telegraph service, and two reports on stock tickers.

SERIES 11 (boxes 85-111) has a wide variety of photographs representing all aspects of Western Union and the telegraph industry. Subseries 1 has photos of Western Union buildings from all over the world, dating from the nineteenth century until 1965. Buildings which are identified include those in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, New York City, Key West, Fla., Rochester, N.Y., Hamilton, Ohio, Morristown, N.J., Sacramento, Calif., Cumberland, Md., and Sandesville, Ga., among others. Unfortunately, most of the photoprints are not captioned.

Subseries 2, Poleyards and Construction, contains two folders of photoprints of telegraph poleyards, where poles are prepared for service. There are also photoprints of the locations where the finished poles were used. Some of the locations represented are: Minneapolis, Minn.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Nashua, N.H.; Slidell, La.; Rutherford, N.J.; Tacoma, Wash.; Miami, Fla.; and Elizabethtown, N.J. Folder three contains specifications and photoprints for pole line construction.

Western Union put many photographs into albums which are found in subseries 3. The albums themselves have been taken apart, but the order has been preserved. These albums cover a wide variety of subjects, including antiquated telegraph instruments; Telefax switching systems; switchboard, plugs, and jacks; office interiors; tickers; "Western Union Automatic Telegraph"; and miscellaneous equipment.

Subseries 4 contains photos of a wide variety of telegraph equipment. Specific photographs include: early telegraph tickers, 1866; the Western Union cable boat Robert C. Clowry, 1903; switching systems; "Multifax," c. 1940; equipment from World War II; Varioplex equipment; Carrier systems; Mono Pulse Printing Telegraphic Sets; and Deep-Sea Cable exhibit material. There is also a great deal of miscellaneous equipment which is not identified.

Subseries 5, Facsimiles, contains many news photographs transmitted via the facsimile process in the 1920s through the 1940s. These news photos can be found throughout the subseries. There are also many other photos, some in albums, that were transmitted by facsimile, but were not for newspaper use. Boxes 98 and 99 contain negatives of various photographs. The majority of facsimile photographs are from Europe and many of the subjects concern WorldWar II.

Subseries 6 contains photos of Western Union people. There are many photos of Western Union messengers, but the individuals are not identified. Several photos of Western Union presidents can be found in the subseries, including J.L. Egan, John W. Mackay, and prints of paintings of Samuel F.B. Morse. There is a photoprint of a group of telegraphers representing those at the Battle of Gettysburg, commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of that battle. There is also a folder of photos of drawings of Pony Express riders. Also included are many photos of individuals and groups not identified.

1993 Addendum of approximately 83 cubic feet

The Western Union Telegraph Company (WUTC) Records in the Archives Center consist of three separate acquisitions. The first portion, acquired by the Smithsonian in 1971, consists of manuscript materials collected for the company's Western Union Museum. Totalling approximately 60 cubic feet, it documents both the history of the company and the telegraph industry in general. It includes photographs, correspondence, scrapbooks, and reference materials, but very few administrative records. This portion of the collection is fully processed and described in a published finding aid.

Two additional groups of WUTC materials were acquired from the company in 1993. These consist of approximately 65 cubic feet of corporate records, ca. 1860s-1960s, and approximately 18 cubic feet of legal records, ca. 1850s-1920s. Neither group has been processed. There is a preliminary box inventory for the corporate records but no inventory for the legal records.

The corporate records include: articles of association, charters and by-laws; minute books of the WUTC Executive Committee (1864-1943) and of the Directors and Stockholders (1880-1943); minute books of subsidiary companies; letterpress copy books containing outgoing correspondence of the company president (1865-1893); agreements and other documents between WUTC, its subsidiaries and other companies; annual reports (1874-1984); rule books, instruction manuals, pamphlets, and other corporate publications; publications and reports relating to the history, development, and regulation of the telegraph industry (1950s-1960s); four volumes of personnel rosters (1880s-early 1900s); and several volumes of newsclippings.

The legal records include: contracts with other telegraph companies; deeds and leases of property for offices and other facilities; patent files; and contracts for telegraph service. The records document both routine and major activities, expansion of the WUTC system, and the decline of service in later years.

Acknowledgments

The Western Union Telegraph Company Collection was transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Electricity on June 10, 1986. I would like to thank the Division of Electricity for their help and cooperation in the transfer of the collection, particularly Dr. Bernard Finn, Eliot Sivowitch, and Anastasia Atsiknoudas.

Several members of the Archives Center have helped me process this collection. Thank you to Fitzroy Thomas, who helped process Series 6: Patents. Special thanks to my loyal volunteers, Don Darroch and Grace Angle, who processed many series of this collection without complaint at the difficulty or time involved. My summer intern, Wendy Barton, was very helpful in the early processing of this collection and I would like to thank her for her efforts. I particularly would like to thank another summer intern, Jonas Zuckerman, for helping me in the final arrangement and description of this collection. His consistent and concerted efforts have helped realize the publication of this Register. I also would like to thank Evon Underhill, who helped me type portions of this finding aid. I want to thank Nancy Brooks for her skillful editing of this document.

Most particularly, I would like to thank John Fleckner for his continuing guidance.

Container List

Western Union Collection, 1848-1961(36 cubic feet; 105 DB; 3 F/0)

BOX/ FOLDER

Series 1: General History of the Telegraph, 1870-1963

1/1 American Telegraphers Tournament Associates, Oct 30-31, 1903.

Archbald, G. T. The American Telegraph Systems, 1929.

Bell, J. H. Creed Printing System, n.d. (4 pp typed).

Benjamin, G. R. Notes and Sketches of the Buckingham Long-Distance Page-Printing Telegraph, Dec. 24, 1901 (3 pp).

1/2 Brenstock, Mike. Radio and Television -- How They Work. New York: John F. Rider, 1963.

1/3 Carr, J. O. The Use of Printing Telegraphs in Railroad Operation, September, 1926 (28 pp).

Department of Commerce. Radio Communication Laws of the United States and the International Telegraphic Convention, 1914 Edition.

Creed and Company. Typewriting by Telegraph: The Creed "Start-Stop" Telegraph System, Croydon, Surrey, England: n.d. (7 pp).

Desire-Korda, M. Pollak-Verag High Speed Telegraph System, Paper read before the International Society of Electricians,n.d. (20 typed pp).

1/4 Drake, H.W. & Hobart Mason. The Development and Improvement in the Telegraphic Art, c. 1931 (37pp).

Edgar, W. S. W. "Regarding references concerning high working speed telegraph systems," October 26, 1948.

1/5 Finn, William. "The Barclay Printing Telegraph System."Reprint. Telegraph Age June 16, 1908-March 1, 1909 (42 pp).

Government Control and Operation of Telegraph, Telephone and Marine Cable Systems, 8/1/18-7/31/19.

Harrison, H.H. The Historical Basis of Modern Printing Telegraphy, 1915 (64 pp).

Perforators, extracted from "The Historical Basis of Modern Printing Telegraphy," 1915 (1 p).

"Principles of Modern Printing Telegraphy," Journal of the Institute of Electrical Engineers. Vol. 54, No. 256, February 15, 1916 ( 69 pp).

"Telegraphy in America," Telegraph and Telephone Journal. 1922 (6 pp).

1/6 Hayes, Jeff W. Autographs and Memoirs of the Telegraph, 1916.

1/7 Hoskicer, Captain V. Description of Sir Charles Wheatstone's Automatic Instrument, Society of Telegraph Engineers, Vol. V,Nos. 15 and 16, 1876.

Houston, Edward J. The Delany Synchronous Multiplex System of Telegraphy. Reprint. Philadelphia: The Journal of the Franklin Institute, 1884 (19 pp).

Jones, L.M., A.J. Hanks and C.M. Brown. Low Frequency Power Inductions and Its Effect on D.C. Telegraph Operation. June 12, 1934 (37 pp).

Kinsley, Carl. A High-Speed Printing Telegraph System, June, 1914 (11 pp).

Kempe, H.R. Telegraph History, March 11, 1912.

1/8 McNicol, Donald. A Chronological History of Electrical Communication: Telegraph, Telephone, Radio, 2000 BC to 1910 AD. Published in issues of Radio Engineering, 1932.

Milnor, J.W. Report of the Kinsley System, July 16, 1914 (typed). One memo for Mr. G. R. Benjamin (6 pp). One memo for Mr. R. E. Chetwood (4 pp).

1/9 Moreira, Lirio G. System of Distribution or Selection of Electrical Impulses Without Revolving Parts, July 1920.Translation (5 pp typed).

Murray, Donald. The Murray Printing Telegraph Journal, 1912.

Speeding Up the Telegraphs: A Forecast of the New Telegraphy, 1925 (35 pp).

Newlands, John. The Telegraphic Service: Methods and Results, 1913 (48 pp).

Pinter, Herr. The Pollak-Verag Telegraph Scientific American Supplement no. 1306, January 12, 1901 (2 pp).

Rawson, Hobart, E.M. Miller, and E.L. Irving. Printing Telegraphs, n.d. (32 pp).

1/10 Singer, F.J. "American Railroad Signals," Exide News, Spring, 1935. "Military Typewriter Systems of World War II," AIEE Proceedings, Vol. 67, 1948.

Tallendeau, M. The Gell Perforator, March, 1913 (2 typed pp).

2/1 Taltavall, John B. Telegraphers of Today. 1894.

2/2 Universal Machine Co. Potts Machine Telegraph System: Technical Description, c. 1909 (17 pp with illustrations); Appendix No. 1, Description of Potts Page Automatic System, n.d.

Universal Machine Co. Potts Machine Telegraph System Instructions for Care and Management, n.d. (6 pp withillustrations).

2/3 U.S. Senate, 60th Congress, 2nd Session. Investigation of Western Union and Postal Telegraph Companies, 1909.2/4 Western Union Telegraph Company. The Telegraph Its History and Present Development, n.d. (23 pp).

3/0 "Brassbounders Gossip," Toledo Chapter of Morse Telegraph Club, Vol. 5, 3, 1964.

3/1 Call Boxes: "American District Telegraph Company History," n.d. (includes "Chronological Outline of the Development of the Electric Call Box"); "History of District Call Boxes" (Fire Alarms), 1940. (with photoprints).

3/2 Corn Exchange Bank Trust Company Checkbook, 1942 and 1943, with some notations by Till Schmid.

3/3 The Code for Creed Telegraph System, n.d. (2 cards).

Creed Receiving Telegraph Perforator (2 pp).

"The Creed Telegraph Printer." Reprint. Electrical Review, Sept. 25, 1908, (1 p).

"The Creed Telegraph Translator". Reprint. Electrical Review, December 4, 1908, (1 p and illustrations).

Synopsis of Charles Bright's "The Story of the Atlantic Cable;" "Plowing Ocean Cables into the Ocean Bottom."Ocean Cables

3/4 Delany Multiplex, n.d. (2 pp typed with illustrations).

"Edison's New System," March 24, 1888.

"Notable Events and Achievements in the Life of Thomas Alva Edison."

"FCC Turns Original Morse Papers to National Archives," September 13, 1946. (Press Release)

3/5 Mercadier System, n.d. (3 pp typed).

Der Mehrfach - Typendruek - Telegraph von Rowland,n.d. (8 pp in German).

3/6 Catalogue. Manhattan Electrical Supply Company, n.d.

3/7 "Memories in Morse," Newark News Sunday Magazine, Sept. 5, 1965.

3/8 Argument of William Orton President of the Western Union Telegraph Company, on the Bill to Establish Postal Telegraph Lines, Delivered Before the Select Committee of the UnitedStates House of Representatives. New York, 1870.

Argument of William Orton on the Postal Telegraph Bill,Delivered Before the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads of the Senate of the United States, January 20, 21, 22, and 23. New York, 1874.

3/9 Rowland, n.d. (2 pages typed with illustration).

"Betsy Ross House," Philadelphia Forum Magazine. Reprint.

Official Railway List, 1890.

3/10 Synchronograph, n.d. (2 pp typed with illustration).

Science and Invention, April 1926.

3/11 Old Time Telegraphers and Historical Association Annual Reunion Reports, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1925.

3/12 Old Time Telegraphers and Historical Association Annual Reunion Report, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929.

3/13 Miscellaneous historical data--chronology of telegraph, 1832-1907.

3/14 Telegraph Age, June 16, 1905.

4/1 "Principles Involved in Fast Speed Telegraphy." n.d.

4/2 Miscellaneous articles, notes, newspaper articles, booklets, and photoprints on Automatic Telegraph. (bound folderfrom Engineering Department)

4/3 The Teletype - A Simplified Printing Telegraph, 1920.

The Teletype Story. Teletype Corporation, 1958.

4/4 "$30,000,000 Dollars Worth of Teletype," Fortune Magazine, January 24, 1936.

4/5 The Union Printing Telegraph, n.d. (10 pp typed).

Description of the Universal Perforating Receiver, n.d. (5 pp typed with illustration).

Bille Receiving Perferator, n.d. (typed).

4/6 The Birth of the Vacuum Tube; To Commemorate the Edison Effect, October 15, 1947.

4/7 "Wheatstone Equipment Trials Report," 1894.

BOX/ FOLDER

Series 2: History of the Western Union Telegraph Company, 1854-1962

5/1-4 Brief Outline of the Technological Progress made by Western Union Telegraph Company, 1910 - 1934. Vol I (pp 1-302,with illustrations).

5/5-8 Brief Outline of the Technological Progress made by WesternUnion Telegaph Company, 1910 - 1934. Vol I (pp 1-302,no illustrations).

6/1-4 Brief Outline of the Technical Progress Made by Western Union Telegraph Company, 1910 - 1934. Vol II (pp 1-262,with illustrations).

6/5-7 Brief Outline of the Technical Progress Made by Western Union Telegraph Company, 1910 - 1934. Vol II (pp 1-262,no illustrations).

6/8 Brief Outline of the Technological Progress Made by Western Union Telegraph Company During the Year 1935.

6/9 Uncompleted Manuscript for Engineering Progress, 1945-1950.

7/1 History of Technical Progress, Western Union, 1935 - 1945. Vol I (with illustrations).

7/2 History of Technical Progress, Western Union, 1935 - 1945.Vol 1 & 2 (text only, no illustrations).

7/3 History of Technical Progress, Western Union, 1946 - 1950. Vol 3 [possibly].

7/4 History of Technical Progress, Western Union, 1946 - 50. Vol 4 [possibly].

7/5 "Western Union Technical Review."

7/6 American Telegraphy After 100 years. The Western Union Telegraph Company, 1944. (2 copies).

7/7 Western Union Telegraph Company: A Retrospect, 1851 - 1901.(3 copies).

8/1 Angel, Herbert. "Notice of Retirement" (news clipping).

8/2 Bramhill, F.B. "Carrier Systems for Data Transmission, An Anthology: A Work Report Prepared for Information and Guidance of Western Union Personnel Only," 1956.

8/3 Central and South America Telegraph Company Line in Mexico. Contracts and correspondence upon divestment of foreign service by Western Union, 1882-1908.

8/4 Citations and Commendations to Western Union Company or its officers for various accomplishments and service, 1915-45.

8/5 Miscellaneous clippings and press releases on Western Union Co., 1858-1942: Trans Atlantic Telegraph; Morse and Vail, Telegraph in Galveston, Texas; WUTC employees biographies or announcements of advancement; C.W. Gift to Museum; and cable repair ships.

8/6 R.C. Clowry, General Superintendent, WUTC, Code Book (ciphers),March 20, 188?.

8/7 Miscellaneous diagrams and schematics: drawings of "Batteries Used Chiefly on Main Line Circuits in 1865," Repeating sounders, 1902, Portable Repeater, 1917, and Quadraplex Set, 1917; circuit diagrams, 1905-07; and Self-winding Ticker Connections for Long Distance Transmission, 1915.

8/8 Dots and Dashes, WUTC House Organ, 1931 and 1936.

8/9 Exhibitions, 1893-1934.

8/10 Mileage Diagrams for WUTC, 1891.

8/11 Miller, Colonel Julian. A Preview of the Western Union Systemof Radio Beams Telegraphy, Parts I and II. Reprint, The Journal of the Franklin Institute, 1946.

9/1 Record Book - Louisville Office, Western Union 1877-1940.

9/2 Reid, James D. "Western Union Telegraph Co." Chapter XXXV. The Telegraph in America. Albany, New York: Weed Parsons & Co., 1879.

9/3 Safety Bulletin, Western Union Telegraph Co., May, 1942.

9/4 Schmid, J. Testing and Regulating Training Course: LaboratoryExperiments, n.d.

9/5 Selden, Clara Sayre. Family Sketches, 1939.

9/6 Selden, Henry Rogers (President, New York and Mississippi Valley Telegraph Co.), Rochester, New York, 1844 (photograph).

9/7 Selden, Samuel Lee. Stock Certificate, House's Printing Telegraph Co. Six shares, 1854.

9/8 The Telegraph - Its History and Present Development. Western Union Telegraph Co., n.d.

9/8A "Telegraph World," Organ of Western Union employees, Vol. 15, January, 1933.

9/9 Welch, J.J. Instruction Paper on Electromagnetism. January 1, 1930.

9/10 "Western Union Changes Telegraph System Here" Fulton County News, September 15, 1938.

9/11 Western Union News Special Edition, June, 1918. "Correspondence Between the President of the United States and the President of the Western Union Telegraph Company."

Western Union News, June 15, 1918. "The Company and its Employees."

9/12 Western Union Presidents, Officers, Directors, and Office Locations, 1856-1941.

9/13 Rules and Instructions for Information and Guidelines of the Employees of the Western Union Telegraph Co. New York:Russell Brothers, 1870.

9/14 Western Union Telegraph Co. Tariff Circular, June 1, 1920.

9/15 "Wire Fox," The Literary Digest, January 30, 1937.

9/16 Your Western Union Teledater, 1962.

9/17 "Western Union Telegraph Company, 1851-1901."

9/18 "Short History of the Western Union Telegraph Company"; "Western Union Cable System."

10/ Report of Western Union Telegraph Company,1869-1871 (in French).

BOX/ FOLDER

Series 3: WUTC Administrative Records, 1853-1956

Subseries 1: Ledgers and Accounting, 1853-1903

11/1 Receipts & expenses, California State Telegraph Co., 1853-1860.

11/2 Harrisburg Ledger, 1861-79.

11/3 Ledger, 1881-1903.

Subseries 2: Annual Reports of WUTC, 1869-1956

12/1 Annual Reports: 1869; 1873-79.

12/2 Annual Reports: 1880-1905; 1933; 1935 (80th Annual Report); 1941.

12/3 WUTC organization charts, 1915-56.

Subseries 3: Superintendent of Supplies' Records, 1887-1948

13/1 George B. Scott, Superintendent, New York memorandum book, Gold & Stock Telegraph Co., 1891-1910. (includes miscellaneous correspondence, 1887-1910; 1949).

13/2 Deductions from Salaries, including Table of Rates, 1/1/1893-8/8/1904; 1/3/06.

Payroll Notebook: Edward C. Cockey, Superintendent of Supplies, WUTCO, 12/1/1901 - 11/1903.

13/3 Fifth Eastern District, 1890-1902.

New York Supply Department, 1904-11.

13/4 "Returned materials": correspondence and invoices to W.G. Higgins, Superintendent, 152-154 Franklin Street, New York, 1910-42.

13/5 Service Rolls, 1913-21.

Subseries 4: Miscellaneous Records

14/1 Correspondence and forms, 1857-1935. Bound.

14/2 WUTC Internal Memos and Forms, etc., 1888-1948. Bound.

14/3 Applications for Time Signal Service, 1889, 1892, 1907.

14/4 Postal merger inventory (from a Brooklyn warehouse), 1943.

14/5 J. Schmid's membership cards in Association of Western Union Employees; building passes; operator's discharge receipt, 8/10/07.

BOX/ FOLDER

Series 4 : Correspondence, 1848-1956

15/0 WUTC early miscellaneous correspondence, 1848-84.

15/1 Letterpress book:Frank B. Rae to George W. Huddleston, 12/13/87-9/29/88;A. P. Lauckhardt to George W. Huddleston 10/88.

15/2 Letterpress book:Jay R. Page to E.G. Scheckler.E.G. Scheckler to F.H. Tubbs et al, 10/29/96-2/27/11.

15/3-11 Correspondence, 1880-89, with Charles L. Buckingham, attorney for WUTC (arranged alphabetically by correspondent).

15/12 To Smithsonian Institution, October 7, 1896 (incomplete).

15/13 George B. Scott, July 6, 1906.

15/14 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1872-1904.

15/14A Miscellaneous correspondence from Western Union Superintendent's Office, 1887-1910; 1948-49.

15/15 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1914 - 1938.

15/16 To John R. Hyland from W.F. Judson, July 19, 1941 (re: dining room furniture of Cyrus Field).

15/17 To R. Harris, 1953; 1956 (re: Western Union forms).

BOX/ FOLDER

Series 5: Notebooks, 1880-1942

16/1 H. W. Drake, Personal Notebooks, 1880-1915.

16/2 1906-09.

16/3 1926-33.

16/4 Laboratory Notebook, 1926-28: #1014.

17/1 H. P. Gilbert, Laboratory Notebook, 1928-30,with photos: #1233.

17/2 (notes), 1929-30.

17/3 (negatives).

18/1 Laboratory Notebook, 1929-30: #1234.

18/2 1930-33: #1236.

18/3 1932: #1235.

19/1 J. Schmid, Laboratory Notebook, 1926: #1230.

19/2 1926-27: #1227.19/3. 1926-30: #1228.

19/4 1927-30: #1219.

20/1 1927-29: #1229.

20/2 1927-30 : #1221.

20/3 1927-31: #1232.

21/1 Apparatus Engineer's Office (195 Broadway)Laboratory Notebook, 1915-17: #1223.

21/2 1917-24: #1225.

21/3 1928.

21/4 Unsigned Laboratory Notebook, 1919-23: #1226.

21/5 1927-32: #1220.

22/1 Unsigned Laboratory Notebook, 1929 (Transmission Studies).

22/2 1932: #1222.

22/3 1936: #1224.

22/4 Personal Notebook, 1942 (unknown WU Museum employee Work Diary).

BOX/ FOLDER

Series 6: PATENTS, 1840-1954

Subseries 1: Charles Buckingham Patents, 1882-1900

23/1 Telegram to Buckingham regarding stock interests, 1/7/82; Letter from Buckingham regarding royalty agreement between Western Union and Thomas Edison regarding assignment of inventions to Edison, 11/1/84.

23/2 Printing telegraph, 1892.

23/3 Perforators, 1896.

23/4 Telegraph transmitters and printing telegraph, 1897-1899.

23/5 Perforator keyboards, 1900.

Subseries 2: Thomas A. Edison Patents, 1868-1884

24/1 Lists of Patent Office assignments, licenses, etc., for or relating to telegraphy, 1868-76; List of U.S. Telegraph Patents granted to Edison, 1869-1970.

24/2 Patent Specifications: Improvement in Printing-Telegraph Apparatus, 1869; Electrical Printing Instrument, 1869.

24/3 Copy of bond in the sum of $20,000, Thomas A. Edison to William Unger, 7/3/72.

24/4 Patents for various improvements to the telegraph, 1872-76.

24/5 Patents, caveats, and diagrams (Oversize see folder 5A, Box 112)relating to Edison's invention of fire alarm mechanism and signal apparatus, 1868-75.

24/6 Articles of Agreement between Edison and George A.Prescott conveying half of the title and interest in specific inventions to Mr. Prescott, 8/29/74.

24/7 Edison's Patents regarding improvements in telegraph apparatus, 1875-76.

24/8 Acoustic Telegraph, 5/16/76 (diagrams).

24/9 Announcement of Edison's invention of improvement in Duplex Telegraphs, 4/76.

24/10 Letter 10/5/1876, Patent Office communique 1/10/77, and diagrams regarding Edison's interference suit on Acoustic Telegraph (case 123).

24/11 Copy of agreement between Western Union, Thomas Edison, and American Bell, 5/31/78; Related letter, 4/3/80.

24/12 Patents for various improvements to the telegraph, 1878-91.

24/13 Patents for improvement in telephones, 1882.

24/14 Diagrams regarding Edison's speaking telegraph; Edison's Canadian patents for Speaking Telegraph, 1879; 1883.

24/15 Printing Telegraph, 1884 (reisssue 10,542).

Subseries 3: Elisha Gray Patents, 1872-1879

25/1 Patent granted to Gray for improvement in telegraph instruments,1872-75.

25/2 Diagrams of Elisha Gray's invention of telegraphic equipment, 1/27/76.

25/3 Elisha Gray's handwritten copy of a letter relating to his invention of improvements in circuit-breakers for electro-harmonic telegraph, 2/15/76; also diagram relating to invention, 2/15/76.

25/4 Improvement in Apparatus for Transmitting Musical Impressions or Sounds Telegraphically, 1879 (reissue of 166.095).

Subseries 4: Samuel F.B. Morse Patents, 1840-48

25/5 Telegraph patent specifications, 1840-48.

Subseries 5: George Phelps Patents, 1859-79

26/1 Telegraphic machines, 1859; Telegraphic apparatus, 1861.

26/2 Printing Telegraph, 1869-77, 1882;

26/3 Galvanic Batteries, 1872; Magnetic Motors, 1874.

26/4 Printing Telegraph transmitters and Speaking telephones,1877-79.

Subseries 6: Joseph Stearn Patents, 1872-74

27/1 Improvement in Duplex telegraph instruments,1872-74 (including keys and circuits).

Subseries 7: John Skirrow Patents, 1901-14

27/2 Improvement in and Relating to Telegraph Receiving Instruments, 1901; Telegraph Recording Apparatus, 1901; Quadruplex Telegraph Systems, 1903; Spring Jacks for Telegraph Switchboards, 1904; Multiple Contacts for Electrical Condensers, 1906; Apparatus to Indicate the Stoppage of Carriers in the Transmission-Tubes of Pneumatic-Despatch-Tube Systems, 1914.

Subseries 8: Charles Wheatstone Patents, 1874-75

28/1 Agreement between Wheatstone and Sir Charles Eckert regarding Wheatstone's patents, 9/8/74.

28/2 Patent to Sir Charles Wheatstone for improvement totransmitters for automatic telegraphs, 12/22/74.

28/3 Assignment of American patents for Wheatstone's automatic or fast speed telegraph, to the Atlantic and PacificTelegraph Co., 1875 (draft).

Subseries 9: Miscellaneous Patents, 1846-1908

29/1 R.E. House, George B. Hicks, E.A. Calahan, 1846-68.

29/2 George Anders, George Bartlett, Edward Calahan, Theodore Foote and Charles Randall, Samuel Laws, Henry Paine, Marshall Lifferts, Landy Lindsay, Frank Pope and James Rowe forimprovements in telegraph apparatus, 1870-71.

29/3 Edward Calahan, Davis Hermann, Moses Farmer, Theodore Footeand Charles Randall, Frank Joes, Henry Nicholson, George Prescott, Henry Van Hoevenbergh, Gerritt Smith, and John Smith for improvements in the printing telegraph, 1872-74.

29/4 Pierre Dujardin, Thomas Eckert, Stephen Field, Thomas Foote and Charles Randall, Gerritt Smith, and John Smith for improvements in the printing telegraph, 1872-74.

29/5 Handbound notebook of patents for electrical conduits and electrical wiring, 1872-84.

29/6 Agreement between John and Augusta Guest and the American District Telegraph Co. regarding transfer of patents, 1874.

29/7 Two diagrams of Alexander Graham Bell's telegraph, 1875.

29/8 Stephen Field, Joseph Stearns, Georges d'Infreville,Joseph Stearns - Reissued Patents, 1880-82.

29/9 Charles Chester, James Clark, Mahlon Frost, George Hicks,David Hughes, John Humaston, Austin Park; 8-page bookletadvertising a time clock, 1882).

29/10 Electric time-controlling system (William F. Gardner, inventor), 1883-86 (including photoprint of Gardner).

29/11 Patent specifications for electric clocks: James Hamblet, 1883; Chester H. Pond, 1884-86.

29/12 John Barclay, Thomas Eckert, and Sigmund Bergmann, Bradley Fiske, Samuel Freir, Oliver Robinson, and Pierson Wicks for improvement in telegraph transmitters and relays, 1893-1908.

Subseries 10: Numbered Patent Specifications, 1900-1954

Telegraph system improvements and others as noted:

30/1 # 689,426 to 1,834,910, 1901-31(radio antenna, signaling system, Simplex printers, regenerative repeaters, and printing telegraph systems).

30/2 # 1,860,343 to 2,227,121, 1932-40(secret telegraph receiver, automatic message exchange system).

30/3 # 2,265,339 to 2,484,838, 1941-49(Telegraph exchange systems, multi-office systems, storage systems, facsimile telegraph system).

30/4 # 2,511,832 to 2,673,235, 1950-54(message allotting, reperferators, switching systems).

31/1 # 173,750, 1876 (improvements in printing telegraphs).

31/2 # 1,732,556 to 1,766,270, 1929 (high-frequency radio oscillators).

31/3 # 1,771,375 to 1,830,329, 1930-31 (high-frequency oscillators and generators).

31/4 # 1,830,642 to 1,875,347, 1931-32 (oscillator/generator).

31/5 # 1,877,872 to 1,900,038, 1932-33 (oscillator systems, frequency transformation systems).

32/1 # 644,497 to 1,410,793; also # 773,171, 1900-22 (Granular detectors).

32/2 # 854, 813 to 1,211,754, 1907-19 (Detectors and rectifiers).

32/3 # 1,229,915 to 1,391,672, 1917-21 (Condensers).

32/4 # 1,214,265 to 1,523,401 (also # 18,579), 1917-32 (detectors, rectifiers, batteries, and static reducers).

32/5 # 1,525,159 to 1,810,475, 1925-31 (Crystal detectors).

Subseries 11: Litigation, 1851-1887

33/1 Benjamin B. French et al. vs. Henry J. Rogers et al., Bill, Answer, and Exhibits, U.S. Steam Power Book and Job Printing Office: Philadelphia, 1851.

33/2 Court documents pertaining to The American District Telegraph Co. vs. The Mutual Telegraph District Co. case, 7/6/83.

33/3-6 Western Union vs. Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Co. case.Original exhibit patents (indexed), including patents of Moses Farmer, J. Stearns, D. Hughes, 1887.

BOX/ FOLDER

Series 7: Scrapbooks, 1869-1956

34/1 News clippings, 1901-38, regarding Western Union Time Service, from a scrapbook of C. H. Murphy, formerly General Superintendent, Time Service, New York, 1900-32; "Standard Time Zone Investigation (No. 10122)," Interstate Commerce Commission, 1918; "The Poole Clock," n.d.; "The Absolute Time Company," n.d.; early photoprint of U.S. Capitol.

34/2 Miscellaneous news clippings, from an unnamed scrapbook, 1909-14.

35/1 & 2 "The Little Traveller," scrapbooks of a traveling Western Union employee, including photoprints of Western Union Offices and colleagues.

35/3 Brower, Edward C. Scrapbook contents: memorabilia and news clippings on his retirement in 1938 as general supervisor of messenger equipment, after 51 years as a Western Union employee.

35/4 Brower, Edward C. Scrapbook, 1897-1902: news clippings of messenger boys who went astray.

Subseries 1: News clippings, 1869-1956

35/5 News clippings, February 1869-April 1872.

36/1 August 1883-October 1884.

36/2 Telegrapher's strike albumn, 1919.

36/3 February 1924-August 1928.

37/1 September 1928-October 1931.

37/2 March 1930-March 1935.

37/3 November 1934-December 1939.

37/4 December 1936-November 1943.

37/5 1938; 1951; 1956.

BOX/ FOLDER

Series 8: Telegrams, 1857-1948

38/1 Morse Line: Eastern, Western and Southern Telegraph, 1851.Morse American Telegraph Company, 1853.

38/2 Telegrams wired by various telegraph companies, 1852-89.

38/3 Telegraph Scrapbook # 331520, includes telegraphs of various telegraph companies, 1857-1938.

38/4 Western Union wired telegrams and envelopes, n.d.

38/5 Western Union wired telegrams, 1857-80.

38/6 1881.

38/7 1882-1912.

38/8 1921-54.

39/1 Message Forms: Christmas; Holiday Greetings; "Santa Grams."

39/2 Jewish New Year; New Year's; Easter.

39/3 Happy Birthday; Miscellaneous.

39/4 Bon Voyage; Souvenir.

39/5 Thanksgiving; Mother's Day; Father's Day.

39/6 Congratulations; Valentine's Day.

39/7 Telefax Forms; Tabulation Stock Form.

39/8 Telegraph Order Blank Book, 1870s, # 2328.

39/9 Obsolete Forms, 190?-191?.

39/10 Wired souvenir Facsimile Telegrams, 1936.

39/11 Facsimile Telegram Forms.

39/12 Franks and Advertising Stamps, c. 1907-09.

39/13 Telegraph ephemera, 1943; 1948.

40/1 Candygram Box; Telegram blanks.

40/2 Western Union Telegram blanks (standard and special use; e.g. NY World's Fair).

40/3 Postal Telegraph blanks.

BOX/ FOLDER

Series 9: Western Union Telegraph Museum, 1859-1961

Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1925-61

41/1 Century of Progress Exposition: Chicago, 1933-34.

41/2 Donations made to WUTM, n.d.

41/3 1925-40.

41/4 1941-43.

41/5 1944-50 (incl. photo).

41/6 1955-61 (incl. photo).

41/7 Donations made by WUTM, 1933-43 (incl. photo).

41/8 Exhibitions and gifts, 1927-40, Nos. #2277-2416.

41/9 1934-38, Nos. #2240-2276.

42/1 Franklin Institute, 1933.

42/2 Samuel F.B. Morse Letter to Sam Houston, 1928 accession.

42/3 Samuel F.B. Morse, Painting of, 1937-38 (incl. photos).

42/4 Motion Picture Props, 1938-39.

42/5 Henry Sayre Potter, Painting of, 1930s.

42/6 U.S. Army Signal Corps Museum, correspondence (including photo) on WUTC equipment on permanent loan, 1954-56.

42/7 Smithsonian Institution, 1913-38.

42/8 1959-61.

42/9 Telegraph history, 1932-57.

42/10 Miscellaneous correspondence, n.d.

42/11 1925-35.

42/12 1936-59.

Subseries 2: Technical Materials

43/1 Miscellaneous technical developments, 1865-1943,Nos. # 2223, 2318.

43/2 Specifications & drawings of early telegraph instruments, 1874 No. # 2433.

43/3 Bibliographies, repair manuals, stenocode,1888-1925, Nos. # 25-54, 84-81, 84-83, 84-85, 84-66, # 2171.

43/4 Barclay Printing Telegraph System; technical articles, specifications, blueprints, 1908-13.

43/5 Engineering blueprints, 1913-43; Standard WUTC signs, n.d.

43/6 Technical articles, specifications, photos,1917-49, Nos. # 22-34-1, 22-37-2, 25-55.

43/7 Technical manuals (teleprinters) 1918, 1941,Nos. # 38-15-1, #84-53/ # 2129.

44/1 Sketches of part of Cardwell Printer, 1919: WUTC Museum bibliography of books, publications, pictures, 1942.WUTC Museum list of photos on museum walls, 1942.

44/2 Maintenance and repair manuals, 1930-44, Nos. # 84-77, 84-79, 84-73, 84-80.

44/3 Miscellaneous technical data, 1930-52, no. # 2222.

44/4 Codes, 1942.

44/5 Dial Telefax, 1943.

44/6 Engineering drawings & blueprints of belt conveyors, 1944 No. # 2431.

44/7 Morse recorder of 1844: blueprints (including photo), 1955.

44/8 COMLOGNET data (1960); Bomb alarm (1960) Nos. # 2219, 2220.

44/9 "Brown" Drum Cable Relay, n.d.

44/10 Vacuum tube specifications, n.d.

Subseries 3: WUTC Records

45/1 WUTC Rule book, 1884.

45/2 Western Union Telegraphic Code, 1900.

45/3 Company log (handwritten), 1903-06.

45/4 WUTC Tariff Book, 1910.

45/5 Installation Manual, 1923-59, Nos. # 2140, 84-76.

45/6 Clippings on WUTC "Rail Car," 1926; Miscellaneous clippings.

45/7 Company internal surveys, etc., 1929-44.

46/1 Union company memo of understanding, death benefit plan, 1930; WUTC training program, 1944.

46/2 WUTC Museum object identification tags; exhibit captions.

46/3 Chicago "Century of Progress," 1933: articles and photoprints.

46/4 1934: lists and drawings of historical WUTC exhibits; Instructions to WUTC exhibitattendants.

46/5 History of museum, 1937.

46/6 Acquisitions to WUTC Museum, 1937-40.

46/7 Miscellaneous records, 1940s-50s.

46/8 "Certificate of Appreciation" from U.S. Army Signal Corps to Western Union Telegraph Company.

Subseries 4: Employee Records

47/1 Col. R.E. Clowry's membership certificate from the Old Time Telegraphers Association, March, 1888; Clowry's record of military duty, 1888.

47/2 Horatio S. Myers's membership certificate from the Order [of] Railway Telegraphers, February 16, 1889.

47/3 Report of "The Women's League of the WUTC," Chicago,1918-19, Nos. # 2142 84-25.

47/4 WUTC: "Directors and Officers"; "WUTC Employes' [sic] Income Participation Plan"; "WUTC Employes' [sic] Stock SubscriptionPlan"; Plan for Employees Pensions, Disability Benefits, and Death Benefits, 1916 and 1929, No. # 84-76; miscellaneous information regarding employees.

47/5 "Association Western Union Employees" membership cards belonging to C.F. Stearns, 1919-1940.

47/6 WUTC: employees flow chart, n.d.

47/7 Memorandum of understanding between Robert Elles and WUTC, 1941.

Subseries 5: Publications

47/8 Miscellaneous telegraphic publications, 1840-1937, Nos. # 84-28,# 2131, 2158, 2197.

47/9 1858-1937, Nos. # 84-42, -43A, -43B, -43G, # 2141, 2159, 2163, 2164.

47/10 Telegraphic journals, 1870-1911, Nos. # 2302, 2432.

47/11 Articles, reprints, memorabilia, 1887-1958, No. # 2311.

48/1 Handwritten telegraphic account of Sullivan/Corbett heavyweight championship fight, 1892, No. # 2356.

48/2 Application for telegraph service, 1894, No. # 86-08.

48/3 WUTC ranking card, 1895, No. # 85-20.

48/4 International Telegraph Conference, 1903.

48/5 Miscellaneous publications, 1904-1940, Nos. # 24-14, -15# 84-107, # 2120, 2124, 2129.

48/6 30th Annual Reunion of the Old Time Telegraphers and HistoricalAssociation, 1911.

48/7 AT&T and WUTC publications and catalogues,1912-1936, Nos. # 2146, 2147, 2151, 2156.

49/1 Western Union publications, 1914-59,Nos. # 84-12, -82, -118-7, # 2313.

49/2 "Modern Testing Facilities and their Relation to Railway Wire Plant Efficiency," 1915, No. # 2142.

49/3 Catalogue of Outside Plant equipment, 1920-29, No. # 2145.

49/4 "Dots and Dashes," 1926-42 No. # 2430.

49/5 "The Aerovox Research Worker," 1928-31.

49/6 Western Union "Telephone Directories," 1929-59, Nos. 84-118-2, -3, -4, -5.50/1 Miscellaneous publications, c. 1930s, No. # 2376.

50/2 "Telegraph & Telephone Age," 1932-40; "Telegraph & Cable Illustrations," n.d.; "Telegraph World," 1926-40.

50/3 German Museum brochures, 1933 (in English and German).

50/4 Telemusicon program, 1934.

50/5 Catalogue of WUTC Museum, 1934, Nos. # R-1732, -1771, -1832,-1852, -1895, -1900, -1922, -1945, -2130, -2688, -2689; Notebook of references to photos, 1942.

50/6 Nuremberg Museum brochure, 1935 (in German).

50/7 Notebook on work and material in museum exhibits,1936-40; "Western Union Sales Manual," 1941.

50/8 Brochures of two Savings and Loans regarding telegraphs and Western Union.

51/1 Papers and publications regarding the Postal Telegraph Company, 1938-40, Nos. # 84-21, -22.

51/2 Facsimile articles and press release, 1939, No. # 86-14.

51/3 Western Union brochure for NY Worlds Fair, 1939; "Report onPlans for the Improvement of Telegraph Service," 1943,Nos. # R-4276, -5133, -5501, -5670,-5812, -5818, -6139, -6660.

51/4 Telegraph and Telephone Age, Telegraph Centenary Issue, 1940, No. # 106C.

51/5 "New York Museum of Science and Industry: Exhibit News Letter," 1940.

51/6 Status report, 1942; "Brief Guide to the Smithsonian Institution," 1940.

51/7 Centennial of telegraph, 1944, No. # 2554.

51/8 Telegraph key presented to President Truman, 1945, No. # 1519.(including drawing and photoprints).

51/9 Netherlands Museum brochures, 1947 (in Dutch).

51/10 Thomas Edison Centennial Dinner, 1947.

51/11 Texas Centennial of Telegraph, 1954.

51/12 Miscellaneous WUTC Museum photoprints and labels, Nos. # R-5538, -6246, -6247, -6299, -7271.

51/13 Kraftfahrtechnik, n.d. (in German).

BOX/ FOLDER

Series 10: Reference Materials, 1868-1964

Subseries 1: by Western Union, Published, 1870-1959

52/1 WUTC cablephotos, 1939.

52/2 Carrier Telegraph System, 1944-55.

52/3 Catalogues, 1906-14.

52/4 "Western Union Golf News," 1942.

52/5 Inside Plant Equipment Catalogue, 1917.

52/6 1929.

53/1 Instruction and rule books, 1870-84.

53/2 1900-22.

53/3 Instruction books and pricelists, 1889-1915.

53/4 Multifax facsimile machines 1937-39.

53/5 Multiplex printer, specifications and instructions,c. 1908-15.

54/1 Multiplex printers, specifications for operation & maintenance, 1915-26.

54/2 Multiplex printing telegraph system, 1936-39,and miscellaneous.

54/3 Multiplex teleprinter, c. 1941.

55/1 "New Achievements," 1948.

55/2 Outside Plant Equipment Catalogue, 1926.

55/3-4 Printing Telegraph Repair Parts Catalogue, 1930.

56/1 "Reperforator Operating Instructions for Schools and Commerical Office Forces," Bulletin No. 110-B. New York: WUTCO, Commercial Department, 1944.

56/2 "Roaming in the Western Union," 1932.

56/3 Sales Sparks, 1938.

56/4 Specification and instruction books for various telegraph equipment, 1916-1930.

56/5 "Supervisory Conference" programs, 1943.

56/6 Switching System 55A Designed for USAF by WUTC, n.d.

56/7 WUTC Tariff books, cipher codes, 1874-86.

57/1 Telegraph pole diagrams, c. 1894.

57/2 Specifications for replacement, reinforcement and treatment of telegraph poles, 1913, 1924.

57/3 Specifications for telegraph pole line construction, 1913-23.

57/4 Tele-News Gram of the Western Union National Council, Vol. 1, no. 6, 11/25/40.

57/5 Western Union News, 1914-15.

58/1 1915-18.

58/2 Western Union Technical Review, 1947-1950; Index, 1947-57.

59/1 1951-53.

59/2 1954-56.

60/1 1957-59.

60/2 WUTC miscellaneous pamphlets, n.d.

Subseries 1: By Western Union, Unpublished, 1908-1964

60/3 Black box (automatic volume control) memoranda, 1935-44.

60/4 Instructions for WUTC Boresighter (for machine guns), 1946.

60/5 Maps of cable lines.

60/6 Carrier telegraph specifications and blueprints, 1935-45.

61/1 Century of Progress Exhibition, blueprints of exhibits,1932-34.

61/2-4 Century of Progress Exhibition, blueprints and specificationsof exhibits, 1932-34.

61/5 Engineering Dept., list of main subjects used in central file.

61/6 Facsimile reports, 1934-46.

62/1 Facsimile Process, c. 1940.

62/2 Jacks & Plugs, 1939.

63/1 Laboratory reports of telegraph equipment experiments, 1925-47.

64/1 Modern Telegraphy, 1948.

64/2 Supplements to Morkrum Bulletin #101.

64/3 "Now the Speaking Light," speech, c. 1948.

64/4 Printing telegraph brochures, 1872(?)-1930.

64/5 Penmanship specimens of old-time Morse operators, 1942.

64/6 Submerged Repeaters for Long Submarine Telegraph Cables.

64/7 Reperforator switching system, Richmond, Virginia, 1941.

64/8 Reperforator switching system, 1952-59.

64/9 Specifications/blueprints, for telegraph equipment, 1910-32.

65/1 1911-25.

65/2 Specifications/blueprints,for telegraph equipment, 1912-33.

65/3 1923-50.

65/4 1933-38.

66/1 1934-38.

66/2 1917-29.

66/3 1910-15.

67/1 Specifications for the Operation of Alternator Bay 2-A, 1937.

67/2 WUTC technical notes (incl. photoprints).

67/3 handwritten.

67/4 Stock Indicators and Stock Reporters.

67/5 WUTC Telefax systems, c. 1940.

67/6 WUTC High speed Telefax 1940-50.

67/7 Telegraph carrier routes.

67/8 Modern Telegraph Office, 1943;

68/1 Teletype systems, 1908-56.

68/2 Teletype manuals and diagrams, 1962-64.

68/3 High speed tickers, patents and descriptions, 1928-37.

68/4 W. U. High Speed Ticker, 1928.

69/1 Tour of WUTC Building, 1931.

69/2 Discussion of WUTC Systems, 1930.

Subseries 2: About Western Union, Published, 1913-1951

69/3 Interstate Commerce Commission (as prescribed by the). Uniform System of Accounts for Telegraph and Cable Companies Washington, D. C.: Government Printing Office, 1913.

69/4 News clippings, miscellaneous (inc. photos).

69/5 Publications, miscellaneous 1927-51.

Subseries 2: About Western Union, Unpublished, 1916-1944

69/6 Program of Commencement Exercises of WUTC Messengers School.

69/7 License agreements, 1916-40.

69/8 "Centennial of the Telegraph, Progress Report, no. 8," May 5, 1944.

Subseries 3: General Telegraphy, Published, 1866-1964

70/1 American Institute of Electrical Engineers, 1931.

70/2 Official Program, "Eighth American Scientific Congress,"May 10-21, 1940.

70/3 "American Telegraph Practice," 1913.

70/4 "Concise History of the Atlantic Cable and the Commercial Cable Company," 1893.

70/5 "Atwater Kent Museum Bulletin."

70/6 Barclay printer, article in Telegraph Age, 1908-09.

70/7 Catalogues, price lists, 1916-20.

70/8 Standard Telegraphic Code for the Cotton Trade, 1881.

70/9 Cunningham Radio Tube manual, 1927.

71/1 Diagrams of company apparatus, 1906 (2 copies).

71/2 The Early Corporate Development of the Telephone. New York: American Telephone and Telegraph Co., 1923. Reprint, 1948.

71/3 "Electrical Engineer," 1894.

71/4 "Electrical Instruments and Testing," 1904.

71/5 "The Electrician," Vol. XX. London: 11/11/1887-5/4/1888.

71/6 Operating instructions for Cenco Electrostatic Generators.

71/7 Howe, P. J. Inductive Disturbances as Affecting Telephone andTelegraph Lines: Association of Railway Telegraph Superintendents, Annual Meeting, St. Louis, May, 1914.

71/8 d'Humy, Fernand E. The Birth of the Vacuum Tube "The EdisonEffect:" New York: The Newcomen Society of England, 1949.

71/9 Instruction and rule books, 1889-1914.

72/1 Journal of Electricity, 1923.

72/2 Postal Telegraph Co., Catalogue of Inside Plant Equipment, 1924.

72/3 1926 (3 copies).

72/4 1927.

73/1 revised to 1941.

73/2 Journal of the Telegraph, 1868-69.

73/3 1869-70.

73/4 1870-71.

74/1 1877 (copy 1).

74/2 (copy 2).

74/3 1878 (copy 1).

74/4 (copy 2).

75/1 Concentrated Arc Lamps: published articles, 1946-50.

75/2 Marshall, Walter P. Ezra Cornell, His Contribution to Western Union and Cornell University. New York: The Newcomen Society in North America, 1951.

75/3 Morkrum Printing Telegraph system 1911; Supplements to Morkrum Bulletin #101, 1919-24.

75/4 Morkrum Printer, transmitter adjustments, 1919-27.

75/5 Multiplex Telegraphy and Telephony, 1926.

75/6 "New York's Last World's Fair," May 29, 1938.

75/7 The New York Stock Exchange: History, Organization, Operation, Service. New York: Committee on Publicity, New York Stock Exchange, 1923. (including postcard of Exchange).

75/8 "The OHMITE News," OHMITE Manufacturing Company, February, 1937.

75/9 Oslin, George P. Vocational and Professional Monographs: The Telegraph Industry. Boston, Massachusetts: Bellman Publishing Co., Inc., 1941.

75/10 Postal Telegraph Co. pamphlets.

75/11 Printing telegraph brochures, 1906-29.

76/1 "Radio World," 1925-28.

76/2 1927-32.

76/3 1927-32.

76/4 1927-32.

76/5 1929-June, 1930.

76/6 July-December, 1930.

76/7 July-December, 1930.

77/1 1931.

77/2 1932.

77/3 "SD Submarine Cable System," Bell Telephone System, 1964.

77/4 Sparks, Sydney, and Robert G. Kreer. Tape Relay System for Radio Telegraph Operation. New York: RCA Communications, Inc., 1947.

77/5 Start-Stop Printer, parts catalogues, 1920.

77/6 Sources d'Energie (in French), c. 1915.

77/7 WUTC Technical manuals, 1900-30.

77/8 Technical notes, photoprints, 1920-47.

78/1 Telefax equipment price lists, 1930-53.

78/2 Telegraph Age, 1908.

78/3 Publications about telegraph equipment, 1866-1915.

78/4 Centennial of telegraph, news clippings, 1944.

78/5 "Telegraphic Connections," 1892.

79/1 Telephone Almanac, 1923.

79/2 Teleregister publications (incl. photos).

79/3 Teletype brochures, blueprints, drawings, c. 1925-36.

79/4 Teletype manuals, 1921-51.

79/5 "Teletype Printing Telegraph Systems," 1956.

80/1 Semi-automatic Teletypewriter Tape Relay System. TM 11-2212. War Department: Technical Manual, 11/15/45.

80/2 "Building Transcontinental Telegraph," 1911.

80/3 Western Electric Electrical Supply Year Book, 1915.

80/4 Manuals on wire and wiring, 1901, 1906

Subseries 3: General Telegraphy, Unpublished, 1901-1964

80/5 Report on operation and characteristics of Bartlane type XII machine.

81/1 N.Y.-Azores Submarine Cable, 1951.

81/2 Hall of Electricity (photos), 1964.

82/1 Microwave Radio Relay, 1947-50.

82/2 Multiplex Systems (including foreign), 1901-30.

83/1-2 Blueprint drawings of Stock Ticker Parts, 1927.

84/1 "Plan for Improvement of Telegraph Service," 1944;

84/2 N. Y. Stock Tickers, 1934-36.

84/3 Dow Jones Tickers, 1935.

BOX/ FOLDER

Series 11: Photographs, 1858-1957

Subseries 1: Western Union Buildings

85/1 Pre-1900.

85/2 1900 and after.

85/3 Western Union laboratory and offices, April, 1926.

85/4 Oakland Center, 1945.

85/5-7 Interior shots, various locations, n.d.

85/8 North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Western Union Cable Station, 1875-1903.

85/9 Miscellaneous, 1874-1926.

85/10 S.S. Colonia.

85/11 AT&T building, N.Y., N.Y.; New York Sunday News, March 28, 1965.

85/12 Photoprints of exhibits: American Exposition, San Diego 1935; Texas Centennial Exposition, 1936.

Subseries 2: Poleyards and Construction

86/1-2 Poleyard photoprint album, 1912-27.

86/3 Specifications and photoprints for pole line construction, 1939.

Subseries 3: Western Union Albums

87/1 [W U Album no # 279] (66-49) Miscellaneous early equipment & memorabilia, compiled c. 1933, (17 R-photos, 46 others).

87/2 [W U Album #1237] Miscellaneous equipment, c. 1920s-30s, (15 photos).

87/3 [W U Album # 2100] Photographic notebook, 1858-1920s.

87/4 pre-1900.

87/5 [W U Album # 219] Photographic notebook, 1930s.

87/6 early 1900s.

88/1 n.d.

88/2 [W U Album #2101 #84-47] WUTC Laboratories, Offices, Cable Stations, Exhibitions, 1913-39 (41 photos).

88/3-4 [W U Album #2103 #84-52] "Equipment by Kleinschmidt, Morkum, Teletype, Potts & others, c. 1918-29."

88/5 [W U Album #2107 #84-48] Miscellaneous equipment, 1926-31; 1937; 1940 (41 R-photos, 17 others).

88/6 [W U Album #2195] "Antiquated Telegraph Instruments donated to Western Union Museum" (includes R #'s).

89/1 [W U Album #2340] Subcenters & Concentrator, c. 1930s, (28 photos).

89/2 [W U Album #2342] Telefax Switching Systems, most have n.d., some 1953, (23 R-photos, 17 others).

89/3 [W U Album #2382] The Consolidated Telegraph and Electrical Subway Company, n.d.

90/1 [W U Album #2385] "Reperferator Switching System, Philadelphia, Pa.," n.d. (58 R-photos).

90/2 [W U Album no #] Switchboard, Plugs and Jacks, 1922-31.

90/3 [W U Album #2389] Switchboard, Plugs and Jacks, 1928-29. (6 R-photos, 54 others).

90/4 [W U Album #66-43, #607-651] Tickers, n.d., (35 R-photos, 12 unnumbered).

90/5 [W U Album # 66-51] Operating room, Buffalo, N.Y., c. 1896.

91/1 [W U Album #84-47] WUTC Laboratories, offices, cable stations, exhibitions, 1913-39, (31 photos).

91/2 [W U Album #84-48] Miscellaneous equipment, 1913-30s,

91/3 [W U Album no #] Reperferator switching systems, 1935-40s, (27 R-photos plus 22 others).

91/4 [W U Album no #] "Western Union Automatic Telegraph."

91/5 [W U Album no #] Chattanooga Works of WUTC, Plant Department, Mr. W.C. Titley, Vice President, 1929, (63 photos).

92/1 [W U Album no #] Reperferator switching systems, c. 1947, (47 R-photos, 5 others).

92/2 [W U Album no #] Equipment; office interiors; employees at work.

92/3 [W U Album no #] Miscellaneous equipment--Boston, Plan 21-A by floor, n.d., (33 R-photos, 8 others).

92/4 [W U Album no #] Miscellaneous equipment--Boston, n.d., (46 R-photos).

Subseries 4: Equipment

92/5 Lecture Room at New York University where Morse first demonstrated his telegraph in December, 1835; Bell Telephone Receiver, 1876 (glass plate); Bell Telephone Transmitter, 1876 (glass plate); Sprague Motor, 1909 (broken glass plate); Pittsburg, Pa., Operating Room occupied, March 31, 1899.

92/6 Early telegraph tickers, 1866.

93/1 Atlantic Cable photos, 1866-1904.

93/2 Anglo-American Telegraph Co., Ltd., Hearts Content, Newfoundland, c. 1872.

93/3 Western Union Cable boat, Robert C. Clowry, 1903.

93/4 "Installation of Raritan Bay Submarine Cable, 1917."

93/5 Calgan Switches; Spring Jack Switchboards; Small Western Office Equipment, 1920s; Promontory Point, 1869 (reproduction).

93/6 Ticker switchboards, May, 1920; various interior locations, (31 photos).

93/7 (Switchboards) 1927-48, (16 numbered R-photos, 15 unnumbered).

93/8 Chicago Century of Progress Exhibition, 1933.

93/9 "New Equipment Designed & Developed by Western Union for the Advancement of the Art of Telegraphy," June, 1938, (including facsimile equipment).

94/1 Switching Systems, c. 1930s, (12 R-photos, 33 others).

94/2 Western Union clocks and time displays, 1930s, (17 R-photos, 46 others).

94/3 Reperferator equipment, Atlanta, Oakland, St. Louis, 1930s-1940s, (33 R-photos, 7 others).

94/4 "Federal Reserve System, 1940," (20 R-photos).

94/5 "Multifax," c. 1940.

94/6 "Modern Telegraphy," 1945; "Dial Telefax System, 1942-1943."

95/1 Reperferator switching systems (US Steel), 1941, (51 R-photos).

95/2-4 "WW II," 1944.

95/5 "WW II," 1945-46.

95/6 "WW II," 1946.

95/7 "Leased switching systems," most have n.d., some 1940s, (29 R-photos).

95/8 Switching Systems and miscellaneous equipment, most have n.d., some 1956, (22 R-photos, 28 others).

95/9 Western Union Cable ship (photoprint of painting by Van Nobel, 1957).

95/10 Varioplex equipment, n.d., (20 R-photos, 1 unnumbered).

96/1 Relays; Automatic Telegraph, n.d., (24 R-photos, 10 others).

96/2 Carrier Systems, n.d.

96/3 Mono Pulse Printing Telegraphic Sets, n.d.

96/4 Cable Relay developed by W. G. Flahardy, n.d.

96/5 Deep-Sea Cable exhibit material, n.d.

96/6 Early equipment, n.d., (6 R-photos).

96/7 Intaglio engraving plate: Cartoon of President and General Manager of Western Union (no name), n.d.

96/8 Miscellaneous equipment, 1910-40s,(29 numbered R-photos, 19 unnumbered).

96/9 Miscellaneous equipment, 1916-51, (6 R-photos, 15 unnumbered).

96/10-12 Miscellaneous equipment, 1930s-40s.

97/1-2 Miscellaneous equipment, some c. 1940s, (7 R-photos, 33 others).

97/3 Miscellaneous equipment, most have n.d., some 1948, 1950,(22 R-photos, 17 others).

97/4 Miscellaneous equipment, n.d.; G. R. Benjamin Teletype,(6 R-photos 25 unnumbered).

97/5 Miscellaneous equipment, n.d., 4 negatives (see Box 9, folder 7).

97/6 Miscellaneous equipment, n.d.

97/7 Miscellaneous equipment, n.d., (53 R-photos, 18 others).

97/8 Miscellaneous equipment n.d.

Subseries 5: Facsimiles

98/1 Miscellaneous cable photos, 4x5 negatives, 1926-35.

98/2 8x10 negatives, 1938-42.

98/3 1939-40.

98/4 1939-42.

98/5 1939-40.

99/1 4x5 Negatives, 2/1939-6/1939.

99/2 3/1939-6/1939.

99/3 2/1939-4/1940.

99/4 4/1939-8/1940.

99/5 8x10 negatives, 3/1939-2/1942; 4x5 negatives, stock proxies, 1939.

100/1 Miscellaneous photoprints transmitted by cable, c. 1939.

100/2 Miscellaneous photoprints, 8/12/24; 2/20/39-4/27/39.

100/3 Miscellaneous photoprints & negatives, 9/7/39-2/6/41.

100/4 Photoprints of Shipbuilding Instruction, 3/2/41.

100/5 Photoprints, 1/18/42-6/15/42.

100/6 6/18/42-9/30/42.

100/7 10/3/42-11/14/42.

100/8 2/43.

101/1 News clipping Album of cable photoprints #783, April, 1939.

101/2 News clipping Album #784, May, 1939.

101/3 #779, June-July, 1939.

101/4 #778, August, 1939.

101/5 News clipping Album #780, Sept.-Dec., 1939.

101/6 #781, 1/1/40-5/31/40.

101/7 #782, 6/1-12/31/40.

101/8 #785, 1/41-1/42.

102/1 Cable photoprints & news clippings, c. 1920s, [Album #2172] 86-04A.

102/2 Western Union cable photoprints from London to New York, 1939 [Album].

102/3 Miscellaneous cable photoprints from London to New York, 1939.

103/1 24 Mounted "Teledeltos" facsimile recordings of photographs as transmitted by Western Union cable from London (Eng) to New York between Feb. 26, 1939 and April 4, 1939. From files of Vice Pres. F.E. d'Humy, 1949.

103/2 Miscellaneous cable photoprints notebook, London to New York (facsimiles) #1252, Vol. 4, 6/1-5/31/1940.

103/3 Miscellaneous cable photoprints notebook, London to New York (facsimiles) #1254, Vol. 6, 9/1-9/18/40.

103/4 Miscellaneous cable photoprints notebook, London to New York (facsimiles) #1254, Vol. 6, 9/19-10/9/40.

103/5 Miscellaneous cable photoprints notebook, London to New York (facsimiles) #1254, Vol. 6, 10/10-12/29/40.

104/1-2 Cable photos, London to New York, Vol. I, 2/12-5/31/39.

104/3-4 Cable photos, London to New York, #1249, vol. II, 6/1-8/31/39.

104/5-6 Cable photos, London to New York, #1251 Vol. III, 9/1-12/31/39.

105/1 "Bartlane" wirephotos received in London, 1922-29.

105/2 "Bartlane" miscellaneous photo clippings and blank sheets, 1923-35.

105/3 "Bartlane" wirephotos (European) received in New York, 1925-28.

105/4 "Bartlane" wirephotos received in London, 1927-30.

105/5 "Bartlane" wirephotos (European) received in New York, 1929-33.

105/6 "Bartlane" wirephotos received in London, 1930-31.

105/7 1932-35.

105/8 "Bartlane" wirephotos (European) received in New York, 1934-36.

106/1 Wirephoto transmission comparisions, 1924-32.

106/2 Wirephoto transmission comparisions, 1925-32.

106/3 "Bartlane" wirephotos received in New York, 1925-26.

106/4 1927.

106/5 1928-30.

106/6 1931-33.

106/7 1934-35.

107/1 Oversize photoprints of facsimile documents and facsimile equipment.

Subseries 6: People

108/1 Western Union Messengers, 1869-1930s.

108/2 1885-1933.

108/3-4 1900-30s.

108/5 1926.

108/6-7 c. 1930s.

108/8 Western Union Delivery Service, 1938 Ford.

108/9 President J. L. Egan; John W. Mackay.

109/1 195 Broadway New York City, early 1897.

109/2 Portraits/groups, pre-1900.

109/3 1900-20.

109/4 c. 1920s-40s.

109/5 Pony Express.

110/1 Photoprint of Battle of Gettysburg, fiftieth anniversary, 1913.

110/2 Portraits/groups, n.d.

110/3

110/4

111/1 Miscellaneous photos, including correspondence (J. Haggerty), 1940s-50s.

111/2 WUTC Presidents.

111/3 Photoprint of Morse commemorating Centennial of Telegraph.

111/4 Painting of S.F.B. Morse, portraits & correspondence, 1840s.

111/5 Morse family history photos, n.d..

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

National Museum of American History (U.S.). Archives Center.

Register of the Western Union Telegraph Company collection,1848-1963 / Robert S. Harding.

Includes bibliographical references.

Superintendent of Documents no.: SI 3.2R26/2

1. Western Union Telegraph Company--Archives--Catalogs.

I. Harding, Robert S. (Robert Steven), 1944-    . II. Title.Z7164.P85N3 1990 [HE7797.W55] 016.3841'06'578--dc20

All text and images © Smithsonian Institution. Updated 19 April 1999.