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Western Union Telegraph Company Records

Creator:
United Telegraph Workers.  Search this
Western Union Telegraph Company  Search this
Extent:
452 Cubic feet (871 boxes and 23 map folders)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Administrative records
Articles
Books
Clippings
Contracts
Drawings
Photographs
Patents
Newsletters
Photograph albums
Scrapbooks
Specifications
Technical documents
Date:
circa 1820-1995
Summary:
The collection documents in photographs, scrapbooks, notebooks, correspondence, stock ledgers, annual reports, and financial records, the evolution of the telegraph, the development of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and the beginning of the communications revolution. The collection materials describe both the history of the company and of the telegraph industry in general, particularly its importance to the development of the technology in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The collection is useful for researchers interested in the development of technology, economic history, and the impact of technology on American social and cultural life.
Scope and Contents:
The collection is divided into twenty-six (26) series and consists of approximately 400 cubic feet. The collection documents in photographs, scrapbooks, notebooks, correspondence, stock ledgers, annual reports, and financial records, the evolution of the telegraph, the development of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and the beginning of the communications revolution. The collection materials describe both the history of the company and of the telegraph industry in general, particularly its importance to the development of the technology in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The collection is useful for researchers interested in the development of technology, economic history, and the impact of technology on American social and cultural life.
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into twenty-seven series.

Series 1: Historical and Background Information, 1851-1994

Series 2: Subsidiaries of Western Union, 1844-1986

Series 3: Executive Records, 1848-1987

Series 4: Presidential Letterbooks and Writings, 1865-1911

Series 5: Correspondence, 1837-1985

Series 6: Cyrus W. Field Papers, 1840-1892

Series 7: Secretary's Files, 1844-1987

Series 8: Financial Records, 1859-1995

Series 9: Legal Records, 1867-1968

Series 10: Railroad Records, 1854-1945

Series 11: Law Department Records, 1868-1979

Series 12: Patent Materials, 1840-1970

Series 13: Operating Records, 1868-1970s

Series 14: Westar VI-S, 1974, 1983-1986

Series 15: Engineering Department Records, 1874-1970

Series 16: Plant Department Records, 1867-1937, 1963

Series 17: Superintendent of Supplies Records, 1888-1948

Series 18: Employee/Personnel Records 1852-1985

Series 19: Public Relations Department Records, 1858-1980

Series 20: Western Union Museum, 1913-1971

Series 21: Maps, 1820-1964

Series 22: Telegrams, 1852-1960s

Series 23: Photographs, circa 1870-1980

Series 24: Scrapbooks, 1835-1956

Series 25: Notebooks, 1880-1942

Series 26: Audio Visual Materials, 1925-1994

Series 27: Addenda
Biographical / Historical:
In 1832 Samuel F. B. Morse, assisted by Alfred Vail, conceived of the idea for an electromechanical telegraph, which he called the "Recording Telegraph." This commercial application of electricity was made tangible by their construction of a crude working model in 1835-36. This instrument probably was never used outside of Professor Morse's rooms where it was, however, operated in a number of demonstrations. This original telegraph instrument was in the hands of the Western Union Telegraph Company and had been kept carefully over the years in a glass case. It was moved several times in New York as the Western Union headquarters building changed location over the years. The company presented it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1950.

The telegraph was further refined by Morse, Vail, and a colleague, Leonard Gale, into working mechanical form in 1837. In this year Morse filed a caveat for it at the U.S. Patent Office. Electricity, provided by Joseph Henry's 1836 "intensity batteries", was sent over a wire. The flow of electricity through the wire was interrupted for shorter or longer periods by holding down the key of the device. The resulting dots or dashes were recorded on a printer or could be interpreted orally. In 1838 Morse perfected his sending and receiving code and organized a corporation, making Vail and Gale his partners.

In 1843 Morse received funds from Congress to set-up a demonstration line between Washington and Baltimore. Unfortunately, Morse was not an astute businessman and had no practical plan for constructing a line. After an unsuccessful attempt at laying underground cables with Ezra Cornell, the inventor of a trench digger, Morse switched to the erection of telegraph poles and was more successful. On May 24, 1844, Morse, in the U.S. Supreme Court Chambers in Washington, sent by telegraph the oft-quoted message to his colleague Vail in Baltimore, "What hath God wrought!"

In 1845 Morse hired Andrew Jackson's former postmaster general, Amos Kendall, as his agent in locating potential buyers of the telegraph. Kendall realized the value of the device, and had little trouble convincing others of its potential for profit. By the spring he had attracted a small group of investors. They subscribed $15,000 and formed the Magnetic Telegraph Company. Many new telegraph companies were formed as Morse sold licenses wherever he could.

The first commercial telegraph line was completed between Washington, D.C., and New York City in the spring of 1846 by the Magnetic Telegraph Company. Shortly thereafter, F. O. J. Smith, one of the patent owners, built a line between New York City and Boston. Most of these early companies were licensed by owners of Samuel Morse patents. The Morse messages were sent and received in a code of dots and dashes.

At this time other telegraph systems based on rival technologies were being built. Some companies used the printing telegraph, a device invented by a Vermonter, Royal E. House, whose messages were printed on paper or tape in Roman letters. In 1848 a Scotch scientist, Alexander Bain, received his patents on a telegraph. These were but two of many competing and incompatible technologies that had developed. The result was confusion, inefficiency, and a rash of suits and counter suits.

By 1851 there were over fifty separate telegraph companies operating in the United States. This corporate cornucopia developed because the owners of the telegraph patents had been unsuccessful in convincing the United States and other governments of the invention's potential usefulness. In the private sector, the owners had difficulty convincing capitalists of the commercial value of the invention. This led to the owners' willingness to sell licenses to many purchasers who organized separate companies and then built independent telegraph lines in various sections of the country.

Hiram Sibley moved to Rochester, New York, in 1838 to pursue banking and real estate. Later he was elected sheriff of Monroe County. In Rochester he was introduced to Judge Samuel L. Selden who held the House Telegraph patent rights. In 1849 Selden and Sibley organized the New York State Printing Telegraph Company, but they found it hard to compete with the existing New York, Albany, and Buffalo Telegraph Company.

After this experience Selden suggested that instead of creating a new line, the two should try to acquire all the companies west of Buffalo and unite them into a single unified system. Selden secured an agency for the extension throughout the United States of the House system. In an effort to expand this line west, Judge Selden called on friends and the people in Rochester. This led, in April 1851, to the organization of a company and the filing in Albany of the Articles of Association for the "New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company" (NYMVPTC), a company which later evolved into the Western Union Telegraph Company.

In 1854 there were two rival systems of the NYMVPTC in the West. These two systems consisted of thirteen separate companies. All the companies were using Morse patents in the five states north of the Ohio River. This created a struggle between three separate entities, leading to an unreliable and inefficient telegraph service. The owners of these rival companies eventually decided to invest their money elsewhere and arrangements were made for the NYMVPTC to purchase their interests.

Hiram Sibley recapitalized the company in 1854 under the same name and began a program of construction and acquisition. The most important takeover was carried out by Sibley when he negotiated the purchase of the Morse patent rights for the Midwest for $50,000 from Jeptha H. Wade and John J. Speed, without the knowledge of Ezra Cornell, their partner in the Erie and Michigan Telegraph Company (EMTC). With this acquisition Sibley proceeded to switch to the superior Morse system. He also hired Wade, a very capable manager, who became his protege and later his successor. After a bitter struggle Morse and Wade obtained the EMTC from Cornell in 1855, thus assuring dominance by the NYMVPTC in the Midwest. In 1856 the company name was changed to the "Western Union Telegraph Company," indicating the union of the Western lines into one compact system. In December, 1857, the Company paid stockholders their first dividend.

Between 1857 and 1861 similar consolidations of telegraph companies took place in other areas of the country so that most of the telegraph interests of the United States had merged into six systems. These were the American Telegraph Company (covering the Atlantic and some Gulf states), The Western Union Telegraph Company (covering states North of the Ohio River and parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Minnesota), the New York Albany and Buffalo Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company (covering New York State), the Atlantic and Ohio Telegraph Company (covering Pennsylvania), the Illinois & Mississippi Telegraph Company (covering sections of Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois), and the New Orleans & Ohio Telegraph Company (covering the southern Mississippi Valley and the Southwest). All these companies worked together in a mutually friendly alliance, and other small companies cooperated with the six systems, particularly some on the West Coast.

By the time of the Civil War, there was a strong commercial incentive to construct a telegraph line across the western plains to link the two coasts of America. Many companies, however, believed the line would be impossible to build and maintain.

In 1860 Congress passed, and President James Buchanan signed, the Pacific Telegraph Act, which authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to seek bids for a project to construct a transcontinental line. When two bidders dropped out, Hiram Sibley, representing Western Union, was the only bidder left. By default Sibley won the contract. The Pacific Telegraph Company was organized for the purpose of building the eastern section of the line. Sibley sent Wade to California, where he consolidated the small local companies into the California State Telegraph Company. This entity then organized the Overland Telegraph Company, which handled construction eastward from Carson City, Nevada, joining the existing California lines, to Salt Lake City, Utah. Sibley's Pacific Telegraph Company built westward from Omaha, Nebraska. Sibley put most of his resources into the venture. The line was completed in October, 1861. Both companies were soon merged into Western Union. This accomplishment made Hiram Sibley leader of the telegraph industry.

Further consolidations took place over the next several years. Many companies merged into the American Telegraph Company. With the expiration of the Morse patents, several organizations were combined in 1864 under the name of "The U.S. Telegraph Company." In 1866 the final consolidation took place, with Western Union exchanging stock for the stock of the other two organizations. The general office of Western Union moved at this time from Rochester to 145 Broadway, New York City. In 1875 the main office moved to 195 Broadway, where it remained until 1930 when it relocated to 60 Hudson Street.

In 1873 Western Union purchased a majority of shares in the International Ocean Telegraph Company. This was an important move because it marked Western Union's entry into the foreign telegraph market. Having previously worked with foreign companies, Western Union now began competing for overseas business.

In the late 1870s Western Union, led by William H. Vanderbilt, attempted to wrest control of the major telephone patents, and the new telephone industry, away from the Bell Telephone Company. But due to new Bell leadership and a subsequent hostile takeover attempt of Western Union by Jay Gould, Western Union discontinued its fight and Bell Telephone prevailed.

Despite these corporate calisthenics, Western Union remained in the public eye. The sight of a uniformed Western Union messenger boy was familiar in small towns and big cities all over the country for many years. Some of Western Union's top officials in fact began their careers as messenger boys.

Throughout the remainder of the nineteenth century the telegraph became one of the most important factors in the development of social and commercial life of America. In spite of improvements to the telegraph, however, two new inventions--the telephone (nineteenth century) and the radio (twentieth century)--eventually replaced the telegraph as the leaders of the communication revolution for most Americans.

At the turn of the century, Bell abandoned its struggles to maintain a monopoly through patent suits, and entered into direct competition with the many independent telephone companies. Around this time, the company adopted its new name, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T).

In 1908 AT&T gained control of Western Union. This proved beneficial to Western Union, because the companies were able to share lines when needed, and it became possible to order telegrams by telephone. However, it was only possible to order Western Union telegrams, and this hurt the business of Western Union's main competitor, the Postal Telegraph Company. In 1913, however, as part of a move to prevent the government from invoking antitrust laws, AT&T completely separated itself from Western Union.

Western Union continued to prosper and it received commendations from the U.S. armed forces for service during both world wars. In 1945 Western Union finally merged with its longtime rival, the Postal Telegraph Company. As part of that merger, Western Union agreed to separate domestic and foreign business. In 1963 Western Union International Incorporated, a private company completely separate from the Western Union Telegraph Company, was formed and an agreement with the Postal Telegraph Company was completed. In 1994, Western Union Financial Services, Inc. was acquired by First Financial Management Corporation. In 1995, First Financial Management Corporation merged with First Data Corporation making Western Union a First Data subsidiary.

Many technological advancements followed the telegraph's development. The following are among the more important:

The first advancement of the telegraph occurred around 1850 when operators realized that the clicks of the recording instrument portrayed a sound pattern, understandable by the operators as dots and dashes. This allowed the operator to hear the message by ear and simultaneously write it down. This ability transformed the telegraph into a versatile and speedy system.

Duplex Telegraphy, 1871-72, was invented by the president of the Franklin Telegraph Company. Unable to sell his invention to his own company, he found a willing buyer in Western Union. Utilizing this invention, two messages were sent over the wire simultaneously, one in each direction.

As business blossomed and demand surged, new devices appeared. Thomas Edison's Quadruplex allowed four messages to be sent over the same wire simultaneously, two in one direction and two in the other.

An English automatic signaling arrangement, Wheatstone's Automatic Telegraph, 1883, allowed larger numbers of words to be transmitted over a wire at once. It could only be used advantageously, however, on circuits where there was a heavy volume of business.

Buckingham's Machine Telegraph was an improvement on the House system. It printed received messages in plain Roman letters quickly and legibly on a message blank, ready for delivery.

Vibroplex, c. 1890, a semi-automatic key sometimes called a "bug key," made the dots automatically. This relieved the operator of much physical strain.
Related Materials:
Materials in the Archives Center

Additional moving image about Western Union Telegraph Company can be found in the Industry on Parade Collection (AC0507). This includes Cable to Cuba! by Bell Laboratory, AT & T, featuring the cable ship, the C.S. Lord Kelvin, and Communications Centennial! by the Western Union Company.

Materials at Other Organizations

Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, Delaware.

Western Union records (Western Union Right of Way and Other Agreements, 1848-1990, bulk: 1910-1989 and the Western Union Locality Files, 1892-1995, bulk: 1910-1989) form part of the MCI Communications Corporation Records, 1849-1999. See accession 2225.

First Data Corporation, Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Records of First Data Corporation and its predecessors, including Western Union, First Financial Management Corporation (Atlanta) and First Data Resources (Omaha). Western Union collection supports research of telegraphy and related technologies, and includes company records, annual reports, photographs, print and broadcast advertising, telegraph equipment, and messenger uniforms.

Smithsonian Institution Archives

Western Union Telegraph Expedition, 1865-1867

This collection includes correspondence, mostly to Spencer F. Baird, from members of the Scientific Corps of the Western Union Telegraph Expedition, including Kennicott, Dall, Bannister, and Elliott; copies of reports submitted to divisional chiefs from expedition staff members; newspaper clippings concerning the expedition; copies of notes on natural history taken by Robert Kennicott; and a journal containing meteorological data recorded by Henry M. Bannister from March to August, 1866.
Separated Materials:
Artifacts (apparatus and equipment) were donated to the Division of Information Technology and Society, now known as the Division of Work & Industry, National Museum of American History.
Provenance:
The collection was donated by Western Union in September of 1971.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but Series 11 and films are stored off-site. Special arrangements must be made to view some of the audiovisual materials. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Communications equipment  Search this
Communication -- International cooperation  Search this
Electric engineering  Search this
Electric engineers  Search this
Electrical equipment  Search this
Electrical science and technology  Search this
Telegraphers  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Genre/Form:
Administrative records
Articles
Books
Clippings
Contracts
Drawings
Photographs -- 19th century
Patents
Photographs -- 20th century
Newsletters
Photograph albums
Scrapbooks -- 19th century
Scrapbooks -- 20th century
Specifications
Technical documents
Citation:
Western Union Telegraph Company Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0205
See more items in:
Western Union Telegraph Company Records
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8b72e8493-288c-4bd0-84d5-011155da30a7
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0205
Online Media:

Telegraph Key

Physical Description:
brass (overall material)
mahogany (overall material)
Measurements:
overall: 1 1/2 in x 3 in x 6 in; 3.81 cm x 7.62 cm x 15.24 cm
Object Name:
telegraph key
Date made:
1843
Credit Line:
from Western Union Telegraph Co.
ID Number:
EM.181410
Catalog number:
181410
Accession number:
31652
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Telegraph Keys
Communications
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-3333-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_706715
Online Media:

Telegraph Key

Maker:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Physical Description:
brass (overall material)
ivory (overall material)
wood (overall material)
Measurements:
on mount: 3 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in x 8 in; 8.89 cm x 11.43 cm x 20.32 cm
Object Name:
telegraph key
Date made:
1845
Credit Line:
from Western Union Telegraph Co.
ID Number:
EM.181412
Catalog number:
181412
Accession number:
31652
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Telegraph Keys
Communications
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-2403-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_706535
Online Media:

Telegraph Key

Maker:
Model Shop, United States National Museum  Search this
Physical Description:
brass (overall material)
ivory (overall material)
wood (overall material)
Measurements:
overall: 3 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in x 8 in; 8.89 cm x 11.43 cm x 20.32 cm
Object Name:
telegraph key
Date made:
1898
Credit Line:
Made in museum
ID Number:
EM.181771
Catalog number:
181771
Nonaccession number:
1995.3095
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Telegraph Keys
Communications
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-2404-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_706536

Telegraph Key

Maker:
Model Shop, United States National Museum  Search this
Physical Description:
wood (overall material)
brass (overall material)
Measurements:
overall: 1 5/8 in x 3 in x 6 in; 4.1275 cm x 7.62 cm x 15.24 cm
Object Name:
telegraph key
Date made:
1898
Credit Line:
Made in museum
ID Number:
EM.181769
Catalog number:
181769
Nonaccession number:
1995.3095
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Telegraph Keys
Communications
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-2845-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_706719
Online Media:

Telegraph Key

Inventor:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese  Search this
Maker:
Model Shop, United States National Museum  Search this
Physical Description:
wood (base material)
brass (body material)
Measurements:
overall: 3 1/8 in x 2 in x 6 3/4 in; 7.9375 cm x 5.08 cm x 17.145 cm
Object Name:
key
telegraph key
Other Terms:
telegraph key; Telegraphy
Place made:
United States: District of Columbia, Washington
Date made:
1898
Credit Line:
Made in museum
ID Number:
EM.181770
Catalog number:
181770
Nonaccession number:
1995.3095
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Telegraph Keys
Communications
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-4cf6-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_713693
Online Media:

Morse-Vail Telegraph Key

Demonstrator:
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese  Search this
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Maker:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese  Search this
Physical Description:
wood (overall material)
brass (overall material)
Measurements:
overall: 3 in x 2 in x 6 3/4 in; 7.62 cm x 5.08 cm x 17.145 cm
Object Name:
telegraph transmitter
telegraph key
Place Made:
United States: New Jersey, Morristown
Used:
United States: Maryland, Baltimore
United States: District of Columbia, Washington
Date made:
1844
Used date:
1844
Related Publication:
Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History
National Museum of American History. Treasures of American History online exhibition
Related Web Publication:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/treasures
Credit Line:
from Western Union Telegraph Co.
ID Number:
EM.181411
Catalog number:
181411
Accession number:
31652
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Government, Politics, and Reform
Engineering, Building, and Architecture
Work
Communications
Computers & Business Machines
Industry & Manufacturing
American Enterprise
National Treasures exhibit
Artifact Walls exhibit
Exhibition:
American Enterprise
Exhibition Location:
National Museum of American History
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a9-46b1-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_1096762
Online Media:

Letter from Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail to Joseph Henry, July 22, 1846

Author:
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese 1791-1872  Search this
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Subject:
Henry, Joseph 1797-1878  Search this
Physical description:
Number of Images: 2; Color: Color; Size: 7.75w x 10h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper
Type:
Letters (correspondence)
Document
Paper
Place:
United States
Date:
July 22, 1846
19th century
Topic:
Letters  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetic telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetism  Search this
Telecommunication  Search this
Inventions  Search this
Science  Search this
Science--History  Search this
Standard number:
SIA2011-0822 (front) and SIA2011-0823 (back)
Restrictions & Rights:
No restrictions
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_13774
Online Media:

Letter from Alfred Vail to Samuel Morse, January 11, 1857

Author:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Subject:
Henry, Joseph 1797-1878  Search this
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese 1791-1872  Search this
Physical description:
Number of Images: 2; Color: Color; Size: 8.75w x 10h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper
Type:
Letters (correspondence)
Document
Paper
Place:
United States
Date:
January 11, 1857
19th century
Topic:
Telecommunication  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetic telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetism  Search this
Letters  Search this
Inventions  Search this
Science  Search this
Science--History  Search this
Standard number:
SIA2011-0814 (front) and SIA2011-0815 (back)
Restrictions & Rights:
No restrictions
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_13775
Online Media:

Diary of Alfred Vail, September 8 and 9, 1848 Entries

Author:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Subject:
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese 1791-1872  Search this
Physical description:
Number of Images: 1; Color: Color; Size: 8.5w x 10.25h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper
Type:
Document
Paper
Place:
United States
Date:
September 8-9, 1848
Topic:
Telecommunication  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetic telegraph  Search this
Inventions  Search this
Science  Search this
Science--History  Search this
Standard number:
SIA2011-0824
Restrictions & Rights:
No restrictions
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_13776

Cover of Alfred Vail's Experiment Notebook

Author:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Subject:
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese 1791-1872  Search this
Physical description:
Number of Images: 1; Color: Color; Size: 4w x 6.5h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper
Type:
Document
Paper
Place:
United States
Date:
c. 1844
Topic:
Telecommunication  Search this
Ciphers  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Notebooks  Search this
Electromagnetic telegraph  Search this
Inventions  Search this
Science  Search this
Science--History  Search this
Standard number:
SIA2011-0825
Restrictions & Rights:
No restrictions
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_13778

Alfred Vail's Electromagnetic Telegraph Notes

Author:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Subject:
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese 1791-1872  Search this
Physical description:
Number of Images: 1; Color: Color; Size: 17w x 10h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper
Type:
Document
Paper
Place:
United States
Date:
1848
Topic:
Telecommunication  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Magnetism  Search this
Electromagnetic telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetism  Search this
Notebooks  Search this
Inventions  Search this
Science  Search this
Science--History  Search this
Standard number:
SIA2011-0826
Restrictions & Rights:
No restrictions
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_13779

Alfred Vail's Drawing of Many Circuits with One Battery

Author:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Subject:
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese 1791-1872  Search this
Physical description:
Number of Images: 1; Color: Color; Size: 8w x 4.25h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper
Type:
Document
Paper
Place:
United States
Date:
c. 1844
Topic:
Telecommunication  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetic telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetism  Search this
Notebooks  Search this
Science  Search this
Science--Experiments  Search this
Inventions  Search this
Science--History  Search this
Standard number:
SIA2011-0827
Restrictions & Rights:
No restrictions
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_13781

Drawing of the Electromagnetic Telegraph and Alpha Code

Author:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Subject:
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese 1791-1872  Search this
Physical description:
Number of Images: 1; Color: Color; Size: 12.75w x 7.75h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper
Type:
Document
Paper
Place:
United States
Date:
c. 1844
Topic:
Notebooks  Search this
Telecommunication  Search this
Ciphers  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Inventions  Search this
Science  Search this
Science--Experiments  Search this
Electromagnetic telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetism  Search this
Science--History  Search this
Standard number:
SIA2011-0828
Restrictions & Rights:
No restrictions
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_13782

Notes on the Operation of Telegraph Lines

Author:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Subject:
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese 1791-1872  Search this
Physical description:
Number of Images: 1; Color: Color; Size: 12.25w x 7.5h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper
Date:
c. 1850
Topic:
Notebooks  Search this
Science  Search this
Telecommunication  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Inventions  Search this
Electromagnetic telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetism  Search this
Standard number:
SIA2011-0829
Restrictions & Rights:
No restrictions
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_13784

Sketch of Circuits Using One Battery

Author:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese 1791-1872  Search this
Physical description:
Number of Images: 1; Color: Color; Size: 8w x 4.25h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper
Type:
Document
Paper
Place:
United States
Date:
April 15, 1844
Topic:
Telecommunication  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Notebooks  Search this
Science  Search this
Science--Experiments  Search this
Electromagnetic telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetism  Search this
Inventions  Search this
Science--History  Search this
Standard number:
SIA2011-0830
Restrictions & Rights:
No restrictions
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_13786

Printed Material

Collection Creator:
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872  Search this
Container:
Box 2, Folder 5
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1872-1976
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Collection Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Collection Citation:
Samuel F. B. Morse papers, 1826-2009, bulk 1826-1871. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
See more items in:
Samuel F. B. Morse papers
Samuel F. B. Morse papers / Series 1: Samuel F. B. Morse Papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9a90c9390-7c3d-489a-9fd4-05acee1dd66a
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-morsesam-ref67
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Vail Telegraph Collection

Topic:
The Telegraph Register of the Electro-magnetic Telegraph Companies in the United States and the Canadas (Monograph : 1849)
The Electro-Magnetic Telegraph (Monograph)
Extent:
10.14 cu. ft. (10 document boxes) (4 half document boxes) (6 16x20 boxes) (oversize material)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Scrapbooks
Diaries
Field notes
Black-and-white photographs
Manuscripts
Date:
1830-1898, 1912-1917
Descriptive Entry:
This collection contains papers concerning the invention and development of the telegraph by Samuel F. B. Morse, Alfred Vail, and others, especially Vail's work with telegraph instruments and operation of telegraph stations, patent litigation, and Vail's publications concerning the telegraph; correspondence between Alfred and George Vail concerning their investment in the early telegraph enterprise; correspondence between Alfred Vail, Morse, Amos Kendall, and others, from 1837, relating to development of the telegraph; litigation and patents; administration of companies, especially the Magnetic Telegraph Company; the Morse-Joseph Henry dispute and litigation between Morse, Francis O. J. Smith, and Henry O'Reilly; correspondence between Alfred Vail and many persons concerning construction of lines and training of operators (especially valuable is that concerning construction of the Washington-Baltimore line); some Alfred Vail research notes and correspondence relating to insulation and insulators, receiving magnets and keys, and laying line in lead pipe; account books, copies of contracts, agreements and assignments, and patent applications; extensive telegraph journals; data accumulated by Alfred Vail concerning rates and telegraph lines; correspondence, returned questionnaires, and other items relating to Vail's publications, especially The Electro Magnetic Telegraph and The Telegraph Register of the Electro-magnetic Telegraph Companies in the United States and the Canadas; scrapbooks kept by Alfred Vail and his wife Amanda relating to the history of the telegraph; and correspondence of Amanda Vail after Alfred's death, relating to his role in telegraph development.
Historical Note:
Alfred Vail (1807-1859) was born in Morristown, New Jersey, where his father was owner of the Speedwell Iron Works. After working in his father's shop and preparing for the Presbyterian ministry, Alfred became interested in Samuel F. B. Morse and his telegraph. In 1837 a contract was drawn between Vail and Morse whereby Vail would construct a complete set of instruments and secure U. S. and foreign patents for them at his expense, in return for one-fourth interest in the American rights and one-half interest in the patents secured abroad. Stephen and George Vail (Alfred's father and brother) invested. Alfred, Morse, and Leonard D. Gale worked in the Speedwell shops and on January 6, 1838, demonstrated the improved telegraph. Some sources give Alfred Vail the major credit for the perfection of the instruments. Congress did not purchase the telegraph as they had hoped, but Congressman Francis O. J. Smith became a partner with 4/16 interest; subsequently, friction developed between Smith and others in the telegraph enterprise. On the capital completed by Smith's contribution, Morse went to Europe to establish the enterprise there, and Alfred lost interest; from 1839-1843, Alfred conducted his father's business in Philadelphia. In 1843, when Congress passed the act to build the Washington-Baltimore line, Vail became Morse's chief assistant and stayed with Morse until 1845, but then was relieved from duty in Washington by Morse, and by 1848 resigned as superintendent in Philadelphia. In 1845, Alfred published The Electro Magnetic Telegraph and in 1849, The Register of the Electro Magnetic Telegraph Companies. After 1848, Vail's interest in the telegraph was mostly passive. He realized little money from his interest in the telegraph and died poor in 1859.
Restrictions:
Some items cannot be reproduced due to bindings.
Topic:
Technology -- History  Search this
Science -- History  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Genre/Form:
Scrapbooks
Diaries
Field notes
Black-and-white photographs
Manuscripts
Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7055, Vail Telegraph Collection
Identifier:
Record Unit 7055
See more items in:
Vail Telegraph Collection
Archival Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-sia-faru7055

Letter from Samuel Morse to Alfred Vail, January 15, 1857

Author:
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese 1791-1872  Search this
Subject:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Henry, Joseph 1797-1878  Search this
Physical description:
Number of Images: 6; Color: Color; Size: 7.75w x 12.5h; Type of Image: Document; Medium: Paper
Type:
Letters (correspondence)
Document
Paper
Place:
United States
Date:
January 15, 1857
19th century
Topic:
Letters  Search this
Telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetic telegraph  Search this
Electromagnetism  Search this
Telecommunication  Search this
Inventions  Search this
Science  Search this
Science--History  Search this
Standard number:
SIA2011-0816 and SIA2011-0817 and SIA2011-0818 and SIA2011-0819 and SIA2011-0820 and SIA2011-0821
Restrictions & Rights:
No restrictions
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_13773

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