People throughout history have made numerous advancements in communication technology, such as Samuel Morse’s invention of the telegraph in 1843 and Alexander Graham Bell’s patenting of his phone in 1876.
The Museum houses a functional central office switch (Panel and Crossbar electromechanical switching), antique phones, outdoor plant displays complete with poles cables tools and research archives related to communications – making it one of the largest museums of its kind.
Museum of Telephony
The Museum of Telephony is part of the Telephone Historical Centre and features artifacts dating from early switchboards to smartphones. This impressive collection stands as testament to Alderic O. “Dick” Violette and Garry Mitchell as industry veterans as well as members of Violette & Bartlett families in Woodbury Connecticut who contributed their time.
This museum houses historical documents, an operational Number 5 crossbar switch and mechanical tone plant as well as other equipment – it is the only museum of its kind in North America.
This interactive museum provides visitors of all ages the opportunity to gain an in-depth knowledge of how our wired network functions, from historical phones and switches, to those responsible for its construction and upkeep. Their archives feature photos of Edmonton’s telephone pioneers as well as oral histories with former phone company employees.
AT&T Archives and History Center
AT&T Archives and History Center can be found 30 miles outside Manhattan in Somerset County. Their collections showcase over 100 years of telecommunications history ranging from an antique Western Electric washing machine to an accurate three-quarter scale model of Telstar 1 satellite.
As one can see among these objects lies many stories to be told: the invention of the transistor and telegraph; inauguration of the first television station; live phone call between President Richard Nixon and Apollo 11 astronauts – just a few to name.
Reporting directly to AT&T’s Corporate Archivist, this role will perform various archival functions at their largest collection: processing, cataloguing and digitization workflows; as well as safeguarding historic resources. She/he will assist with research requests from AT&T business units as well as outside scholars, authors and documentarians as well as support preservation activities at the 40,000 sq ft archives facility, monitor environmental conditions and respond in emergency situations.
Telecommunications History Group
Communication innovation has long been at the heart of human advancement. From prehistoric man and his smoke signals to today’s smartphone-wielding high-powered executives, communication innovation has steadily advanced over time.
In 1990, retired telecom employees realized that historical items were being lost or thrown away as buildings closed or downsized, departments shrunk and people moved on from telecom. THG now runs two museums and an extensive archive to preserve these artifacts for posterity.
Connections Museum Denver and Connections Museum Seattle each boast extensive collections of central office and outside plant equipment. In Denver, THG Archives also house an extensive archive of telephone-related materials and photographs dedicated to connecting the history of telecom with changing technologies and cultures.
Virtual Museum of Telecommunications
The Virtual Museum of Telecommunications is an online museum designed to make the collections and stories surrounding telecommunications accessible to everyone. The exhibits featured within this museum provide viewers with a personalized experience; discover how one mother used smoke signals to save her son from an attack in New Mexico or witness first-hand how one telephone operator braved a flood while staying at her switchboard despite all odds!
The THG Archives Museum serves to preserve and make accessible the history of telecommunications. Additionally, this resource offers teaching and research capabilities and features online exhibitions which present assets, processes and successes of this industry.
Its collection is one of the largest in North America, featuring wooden box phones and candlestick phones made of wood or other materials; fully functional Panel and Crossbar electromechanical central office switches; as well as antique telephones curated by both active and retired Bell System employees. It is managed by both active and retired Bell employees.
