The Collection houses an expansive array of archives tracing telephone history from its infancy. This includes city directories dating back to 1895; technical manuals dating from Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone in 1876 up until modern equipment and systems; city directories dating from 1895 up until today*, technical manuals covering every imaginable aspect of telephone use, etc.
The Historical subseries contains older SNET photographs in protective sheets and folders organized alphabetically by subject. Due to their fragility, special handling must be provided when handling this subseries.
Museum of Telephony
The Museum of Telephony in Edmonton houses an intriguing collection of antique devices and artifacts related to telephone history and its impact on global civilization. It features original vintage phone directories and technical manuals from its archives; displays range from Alexander Graham Bell’s Gawl Frame Phone and wooden phones to push-button models; as well as posters and framed artwork related to telephone use.
Small in comparison with larger science or art museums, with two full-time employees but packed with material. It features an extensive research archive of paper documents as well as thousands of pieces of equipment from small independent phone companies – many from Bell Canada itself! Additionally, its holdings detail its growth over time, which the public can explore via open houses and family nights.
Telephone Collectors International
In addition to holding an annual members show, this association hosts an annual newsletter and historical data sheets about antique telephone equipment manufacturers. Furthermore, members have access to an open listserv for member communication as well as an extensive resource library. At these shows members can buy, sell or trade items while meeting like-minded collectors to discuss collecting interests.
The TCI hosts the Telephone History Symposia, an annual event where collectors and telecommunications industry employees come together to share their shared passion for telephony history. Additionally, they sponsor Switchers’ Quarterly (published four times annually and available exclusively upon special request by members).
The TCI Library is an invaluable resource for those interested in the history of telecom. With city directories and technical manuals as well as personal biographies of those involved in the creation of telephony – from installing poles and digging cables, to designing modern mobile phones – its resources make an ideal starting point.
BellSouth Telephone Museum
Jefferson Barracks Museum resides in an historic telephone company building on the National Register of Historic Places and was renovated by volunteers who have put in countless hours to transform it. Now housing operator switchboards and working step switches as well as an impressive collection of old phones and related equipment, it also holds regular public tours for visitors interested in learning about telephone history.
At the Ellsworth Phone Museum, guests are invited to become involved. Sitting down at one of two manually operated switchboards and becoming an operator connects one caller with another.
The museum archives house some priceless treasures, such as Thomas Watson’s stationery store notebook containing his entry for March 10, 1876 marking the first time he transmitted intelligible speech. Other collections at the museum include bell-related items like paper insulators and wires; Sarah “Sally” Rooke is remembered here because she stood guard to warn others about a wall of flood water that swept through Union County town Folsom in 1908 before her house was consumed by it and she lost her life while warning others.
Virtual Museum of Telecommunications
The Virtual Museum of Telecommunications provides an intriguing glimpse into how technology has advanced over 2600 years. Their collection contains operating equipment spanning from Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone to modern mobile phones – as well as equipment invented more recently than that by Thomas Edison!
The virtual museum showcases an extensive array of items and original volumes, such as 1877’s The Telephone: An Account of Electricity, Magnetism and Sound with Instructions for Making a Speaking Telephone which was written to meet public demand for more comprehensive explanation of its new invention.
Archives have an impressive array of artifacts including antique telecom equipment, company memorabilia, framed artwork and scrapbooks from years past and present. Additionally, they hold important documents including Edmonton city directories from 1895 up until today; technical manuals dating back centuries; as well as historical material related to the company.
