Indiana telegraph and telephone collection
Collection
Identifier: L223
Scope and Contents
This collection includes correspondence, blueprint maps, legal documents, and reports from telephone and telegraph companies, lawyers, insurance companies, and city officials in Indianapolis, Indiana, ranging from 1893 to 1920, regarding telegraph and telephone right of ways, installation, and legal and business matters.
There are also oversize blueprint maps, correspondence, and documents ranging from 1897 to 1920 and undated (OBE031).
There are also oversize blueprint maps, correspondence, and documents ranging from 1897 to 1920 and undated (OBE031).
Dates
- 1893-1920, undated
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Historical Note
The telegraph was first demonstrated in 1838 by Samuel Morse. Congress funded the first telegraph lines in 1843 and the first news (the nomination of Henry Clay for president) was transmitted in 1844. Western Union built its first transcontinental telegraph line in 1861, mainly along railroad rights-of-way.
"Until 1877, all rapid long-distance communication depended upon the telegraph. That year, a rival technology developed that would again change the face of communication -- the telephone. By 1879, patent litigation between Western Union and the infant telephone system was ended in an agreement that largely separated the two services."
The first telephones in Indianapolis were installed in 1877 by Wales and Company, an Indianapolis coal supply firm. Indiana District Telephone Company, the state's first telephone company, was organized in Dec. 1878. It became the Telephone Exchange Company of Indianapolis in 1880. Central Union Telephone Company, Indiana Bell Telephone Company's direct predecessor, was organized i n 1883. At that time, there were three telephone companies serving Indianapolis. Central Union and four other Indiana telephone companies were consolidated into Indiana Bell in 1920.
Sources:
Bodenhamer, David J., David Gordon, and Robert Graham Barrows, eds. "Ameritech." In Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, p. 260-261. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1994.
"The History of the Electric Telegraph and Telegraphy." Accessed April 4, 2016. http://inventors.about.com/od/tstartinventions/a/telegraph.htm.
"Until 1877, all rapid long-distance communication depended upon the telegraph. That year, a rival technology developed that would again change the face of communication -- the telephone. By 1879, patent litigation between Western Union and the infant telephone system was ended in an agreement that largely separated the two services."
The first telephones in Indianapolis were installed in 1877 by Wales and Company, an Indianapolis coal supply firm. Indiana District Telephone Company, the state's first telephone company, was organized in Dec. 1878. It became the Telephone Exchange Company of Indianapolis in 1880. Central Union Telephone Company, Indiana Bell Telephone Company's direct predecessor, was organized i n 1883. At that time, there were three telephone companies serving Indianapolis. Central Union and four other Indiana telephone companies were consolidated into Indiana Bell in 1920.
Sources:
Bodenhamer, David J., David Gordon, and Robert Graham Barrows, eds. "Ameritech." In Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, p. 260-261. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1994.
"The History of the Electric Telegraph and Telegraphy." Accessed April 4, 2016. http://inventors.about.com/od/tstartinventions/a/telegraph.htm.
Extent
0.45 Cubic Feet (1 manuscript box, 1 extra-large oversize folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged alphabetically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2016/04/04 by Edythe Huffman. EAD finding aid created 2016/04/04 by Edythe Huffman. EAD finding aid revised 2024/08/12 by Brittany Kropf.
- Title
- Indiana telegraph and telephone collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
