The Telephone Historical Centre opened on December 3rd 1987 at Edmonton’s Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre. Its collection traces Edmonton’s phone history back to 1878.
This collection comprises records of the District Telephone Company of New Haven, Connecticut established by George Coy within one year after Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated his invention at Skiff’s Opera House there. Additionally, early directories are included.
The History of the Telephone
When the telephone first emerged, it was an incredible breakthrough. Allowing communication between people and businesses quickly and effortlessly. However, many were initially wary of using it due to fear over hearing sounds traveling over a thin wire connection.
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876 after working to refine telegraphy technology, ultimately developing it further to create this miraculous invention.
Initial access to telephones was only accessible to those able to afford having their homes wired for phone connections and who possessed enough privacy concerns that someone might eavesdrop.
With the invention of the telephone came many controversies and issues. Early telephones were unreliable, experiencing frequent problems like fading and interference; additionally, an exchange was required to connect pairs of phones through manual or automatic machine switching; today this system makes long distance calling possible.
The Museum’s Collection
The Museum’s archives boast an impressive selection of vintage telephone directories spanning more than 100 years; technical manuals on telephone equipment; photographs that document line-laying processes and people involved – including Edmontonians who erected poles, buried wires, and built technology behind wired communication networks – among many other pieces. According to Sheldon Hochheiser, corporate historian of the Museum:
Visitors of all ages can gain insight into the development of the telephone from its humble roots to today’s electronic devices through interactives, songs about various eras of telephones and oversize models. Experience how an innovation that changed communication was realized!
The Museum’s Archive
The Museum Archives are comprised of all records that document its establishment, growth, and mission over time. This includes publications and other forms of documentation in any format or medium available including primary source research materials like manuscript collections and photographs.
Museums not only collect archival records but also manage a wide array of art objects for public discussion and education; as well as entertaining. These objects can serve multiple purposes in stimulating debate amongst visitors while simultaneously entertaining.
Archival collections in museums generally focus on two areas of research. First is records about the museum itself – for instance annual reports sent to overseers such as government ministries or municipal boards of trustees – while secondly are personal papers associated with it (for instance inventories and catalogs of donated objects or former employee reminiscences). Our collection dates back as far as 1877 with Alexander Graham Bell’s revolutionary invention “The Speaking Telephone,” published just one year after it had been patented.
The Museum’s Exhibits
The Museum presents a selection of antique telephones, telecommunications technology and research documents in an interactive environment for visitors to explore and interact with. It pays homage to generations of workers and volunteers who worked on creating a network of wires across America.
These archives contain detailed information on the early operations of a company; accounting ledgers, letter books and other correspondence; maps that document network evolution and miscellaneous items. There is also a working Central Office Step Switch and operator switchboard as well as numerous telephone models from late Victorian era telephones right up until modern mobile technology telephones.
It is the largest of its kind in North America and an invaluable attraction for both locals and visitors. Housed at Edmonton’s Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre, it was established by former employees from ED TEL in 1987.
