Central Union Telephone Company collection
Collection
Identifier: L289
Scope and Contents
This collection includes blueprints and requests for permission to build from Central Union Telephone Company in Indianapolis, Indiana ranging from 1913 to 1918 regarding the installation of telephone poles, cables, conduits, etc. There is also a volume of court exhibits ranging from 1876 to 1886 concerning the trial of a superintendant of the company for criminal misconduct.
Oversize materials comprise 5 folders of blueprints and attached papers, 1913-1918 (OBC128, OBD067, OBE033).
Oversize materials comprise 5 folders of blueprints and attached papers, 1913-1918 (OBC128, OBD067, OBE033).
Dates
- 1876-1918
Creator
- Central Union Telephone Company (Indianapolis, Ind.) (Organization)
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.
Administrative History
The Central Union Telephone Company provided telephone service to New Castle, Indiana and Indianapolis, Indiana in the late 1800s to the 1920s.
The Indianapolis service area comprised of five exchange districts: North, Irvington, Woodruff, Prospect, with a Main exchange at Meridian and New York Street. At some time in the 1920s, the Bell Telephone Company bought the Central Union Telephone Company. The Main Exchange location was renovated in a remarkable engineering feat in 1929 that consisted of rotating and moving the building in its entirety to suit plans for expansion on the site.
On March 3, 1886, a superintendent, Mr. Hocket, was found guilty of criminal misconduct by the Marion County Superior Court for charging rates higher than allowed by Indiana law and A.G. Bell, who then held the telephone patent.
The Public Service Commission in Indianapolis tried to force a merger in 1914 of Central Union with the Indianapolis Telephone Company, a local competitor, to eliminate duplication of services.
The Indianapolis service area comprised of five exchange districts: North, Irvington, Woodruff, Prospect, with a Main exchange at Meridian and New York Street. At some time in the 1920s, the Bell Telephone Company bought the Central Union Telephone Company. The Main Exchange location was renovated in a remarkable engineering feat in 1929 that consisted of rotating and moving the building in its entirety to suit plans for expansion on the site.
On March 3, 1886, a superintendent, Mr. Hocket, was found guilty of criminal misconduct by the Marion County Superior Court for charging rates higher than allowed by Indiana law and A.G. Bell, who then held the telephone patent.
The Public Service Commission in Indianapolis tried to force a merger in 1914 of Central Union with the Indianapolis Telephone Company, a local competitor, to eliminate duplication of services.
Extent
1.36 Cubic Feet (2 manuscript boxes, 1 large oversize folder, 4 extra-large oversize folders)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Willard Heiss on 1969/04/11.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2014/09/23 by Braden Pefley. EAD finding aid created 2014/09/23 by Braden Pefley. Collection reprocessing completed 2024/12/19 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid revised 2024/12/19 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Central Union Telephone Company (Indianapolis, Ind.) (Organization)
- Title
- Central Union Telephone Company 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
