Search Results

Creator:

Smithsonian Magazine  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2024-02-08T22:00:56.000Z

YouTube Category:

Film & Animation  Search this

See more by:

SmithsonianMagazine

Data Source:

Smithsonian Magazine

YouTube Channel:

SmithsonianMagazine

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_7pqQmDr1YVI

Donor Name:

John Varden  Search this

Culture:

Indian (?)  Search this

Sauk (Sac, Thakiwaki) (?)  Search this

Object Type:

Pipe

Place:

Lemay (not certain), Missouri River (not certain) / St. Louis County (not certain), Missouri (not certain), United States, North America

Accession Date:

1 Jan 1867

Topic:

Ethnology  Search this

Accession Number:

68A00002

USNM Number:

E5393-0

See more items in:

Anthropology

Data Source:

NMNH - Anthropology Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/36327d198-6eed-4a2c-b913-abbfa346b5a6

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_8468153

Biogeographical Region:

78 - Southeastern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

B. A. Sorrie  Search this

Place:

Andrew Jackson Memorial, east of Maggie Robinson Road., North Carolina, United States, North America

Collection Date:

8 Sep 2010

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Aquifoliales Aquifoliaceae

Published Name:

Ilex longipes

Barcode:

03350110

USNM Number:

3635990

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/37d2a7ecc-d3d2-4e6f-b69a-868a1259b354

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_14863567

Culture/People:

probably Cherokee (attributed)  Search this

Previous owner:

Governor Sam Houston (Co'kwiwa), Non-Indian, 1793-1863  Search this

President Andrew Jackson, Non-Indian, 1767-1845  Search this

Walter C. Wyman (Walter Channing Wyman), Non-Indian, 1850-1927  Search this

Possible owner:

Andrew Jackson, IV, Non-Indian, 1887-1953  Search this

Albert Prescott Marble Jackson, Non-Indian, 1889-ca. 1925  Search this

Seller:

Estate of Walter C. Wyman  Search this

Object Name:

Shoulder bag inscribed "To General Jackson from Sam Houston"

Media/Materials:

Wool cloth, cotton cloth, glass bead/beads, silk embroidery floss, silk ribbon, wool yarn

Techniques:

Sewn, overlay beadwork, embroidered, tasseled

Dimensions:

72.2 x 28.9 cm

Object Type:

Bags/Pouches (and parts)

Place:

Tennessee; USA (inferred)

Date created:

1810-1820

Catalog Number:

17/9690

Barcode:

179690.000

See related items:

Cherokee

Bags/Pouches (and parts)

Data Source:

National Museum of the American Indian

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ws6ee1949a2-a86d-40b9-bd40-1481a52b3caf

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:NMAI_192406

Culture/People:

Lower Muscogee (Georgia Creek)  Search this

Artist/Maker:

Daughter of William McIntosh, Lower Muscogee (Georgia Creek)  Search this

Previous owner:

Chief William McIntosh (Tustunnugee Hutkee [White Warrior]/William MacIntosh), Lower Muscogee (Georgia Creek), ca. 1775-1825  Search this

Family of White, Non-Indian  Search this

Benjamin D. Palmer (Benjamin Duvall Palmer), Non-Indian, 1909-1992  Search this

Rudolf G. Wunderlich, Non-Indian, 1920-2004  Search this

Possible owner:

Major Daniel Hughes, Non-Indian, 1774-1854  Search this

Donor:

Rudolf G. Wunderlich, Non-Indian, 1920-2004  Search this

Object Name:

Sash/Belt

Media/Materials:

Wool yarn, glass bead/beads

Techniques:

Strung, fingerwoven

Object Type:

Clothing/Garments: Accessories

Place:

Coweta County; Georgia; USA

Date created:

1810-1825

Catalog Number:

24/2402

Barcode:

242402.000

See related items:

Lower Muscogee (Georgia Creek)

Clothing/Garments: Accessories

Data Source:

National Museum of the American Indian

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ws61cd01bbb-fbdd-4c2d-bf30-874a31087b32

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:NMAI_258123

Creator:

National Portrait Gallery  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2017-09-19T14:17:47.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

Portraits  Search this

See more by:

NatlPortraitGallery

Data Source:

National Portrait Gallery

YouTube Channel:

NatlPortraitGallery

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_s5WCFVepPS0

Referenced:

Jackson, Andrew  Search this

Maker:

Bell & Bro.  Search this

Physical Description:

paper (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 3 3/8 in x 6 7/8 in; 8.5725 cm x 17.4625 cm

Object Name:

stereograph

Place made:

United States: District of Columbia, White House

Subject:

Monuments  Search this

ID Number:

2017.0037.0014

Accession number:

2017.0037

Catalog number:

2017.0037.0014

See more items in:

Work and Industry: Photographic History

Photography

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b3-8261-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1842095

Depicted:

Van Buren, Martin  Search this

Harrison, William Henry  Search this

Tyler, John  Search this

Benton, Thomas Hart  Search this

Calhoun, John Caldwell  Search this

Blair, Francis Preston  Search this

Woodbury, Levi  Search this

Artist:

Dacre, Henry  Search this

Maker:

Robinson, Henry R.  Search this

Measurements:

image: 9 1/4 in x 15 in; 23.495 cm x 38.1 cm

Object Name:

Lithograph

Object Type:

Lithograph

Place made:

United States: New York, New York City

Depicted:

United States: District of Columbia, White House

Date made:

n.d.

Subject:

U.S. National Government, executive branch  Search this

Furnishings  Search this

Architecture, Historic Residences  Search this

Communication, newspapers  Search this

Diplomacy  Search this

Pets  Search this

Carriages  Search this

Political Caricatures  Search this

Credit Line:

Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection

ID Number:

DL.60.3330

Catalog number:

60.3330

See more items in:

Home and Community Life: Domestic Life

Clothing & Accessories

Peters Political Prints

Art

Domestic Furnishings

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b5-1781-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_325562

Depicted:

Van Buren, Martin  Search this

Marcy, William L.  Search this

Cambreleng, Churchill C.  Search this

Maker:

Robinson, Henry R.  Search this

Measurements:

image: 9 5/8 in x 15 1/2 in; 24.4475 cm x 39.37 cm

Object Name:

Lithograph

Object Type:

Lithograph

Place made:

United States: New York, New York City

Depicted:

United States: District of Columbia, Washington

United States: District of Columbia, White House

Date made:

1838

Subject:

Furnishings  Search this

U.S. National Government, executive branch  Search this

Political Parties  Search this

Chronology: 1830-1839  Search this

Uniforms, Military  Search this

Political Caricatures  Search this

Credit Line:

Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection

ID Number:

DL.60.3332

Catalog number:

60.3332

See more items in:

Home and Community Life: Domestic Life

Clothing & Accessories

Peters Political Prints

Art

Domestic Furnishings

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b5-2283-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_325565

Depicted:

Van Buren, Martin  Search this

Jackson, Andrew  Search this

Kendall, Amos  Search this

Maker:

Swett, Moses  Search this

Measurements:

image: 10 3/4 in x 14 1/2 in; 27.305 cm x 36.83 cm

Object Name:

Lithograph

Object Type:

Lithograph

Place made:

United States: District of Columbia, Washington

Depicted:

United States: District of Columbia, White House

Date made:

1837

Subject:

Furnishings  Search this

Communication, newspapers  Search this

Economy  Search this

Exploration and Discovery  Search this

Political Parties  Search this

Communication, letter writing  Search this

Chronology: 1830-1839  Search this

Indians  Search this

Political Caricatures  Search this

Credit Line:

Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection

ID Number:

DL.60.3400

Catalog number:

60.3400

See more items in:

Home and Community Life: Domestic Life

Clothing & Accessories

Peters Political Prints

Art

Domestic Furnishings

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b5-19c3-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_325626

Creator:

National Portrait Gallery  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2017-12-13T18:08:31.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

Portraits  Search this

See more by:

NatlPortraitGallery

Data Source:

National Portrait Gallery

YouTube Channel:

NatlPortraitGallery

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_DPqKDH0xinY

Artist:

Jackson Pollock, American, b. Cody, Wyoming, 1912–1956  Search this

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

72 x 29 in. (182.7 x 73.7 cm)

Type:

Painting

Date:

(1945)

Credit Line:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1966

Accession Number:

66.4087

See more items in:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Collection

School:

Abstract Expressionism (First Generation)

On View:

Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden (Washington, DC), 2nd Floor

Data Source:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/py266797cd8-92c1-47b9-8ff7-46d1236a81ee

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:hmsg_66.4087

Artist:

Jackson Pollock, American, b. Cody, Wyoming, 1912–1956  Search this

Medium:

Oil, enamel, and cigarette fragment on canvas mounted on fiberboard

Dimensions:

62 x 37 1/4 in. (157.5 x 94.6 cm)

Type:

Painting

Date:

1949

Credit Line:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1972

Accession Number:

72.235

See more items in:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Collection

School:

Abstract Expressionism (First Generation)

On View:

Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden (Washington, DC), 2nd Floor

Data Source:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/py23a0e72b1-1137-4d13-9ff4-b9e2ed8071e2

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:hmsg_72.235

Creator:

National Museum of the American Indian  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2018-11-16T21:37:49.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

Native Americans;American Indians  Search this

See more by:

SmithsonianNMAI

Data Source:

National Museum of the American Indian

YouTube Channel:

SmithsonianNMAI

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_oDXPJhpzTjM

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

Collector:

Western Union Telegraph Company  Search this

Names:

Democratic National Convention (1932 : Chicago, Ill.).  Search this

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845  Search this

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924  Search this

Collection Creator:

United Telegraph Workers.  Search this

Western Union Telegraph Company  Search this

Extent:

1 Item (Ink on paper., 7.2" x 8.7")

Container:

Box 693, Folder 7: Blank Forms, Political Conventions

Type:

Archival materials

Telegrams

Forms (documents)

Place:

Chicago (Ill.)

Date:

1932

Local Numbers:

AC0205-0000028.tif (AC Scan)

Collection 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.

Collection 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:

Democratic Party  Search this

Telegraph, Wireless  Search this

Genre/Form:

Telegrams

Forms (documents)

Collection Citation:

Western Union Telegraph Company Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

See more items in:

Western Union Telegraph Company Records

Western Union Telegraph Company Records / Series 22: Telegrams / 22.3: Western Union Telegrams--Specialty / Political Conventions

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8b8d63885-67c0-4db1-b5dd-de0d549b617a

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0205-ref11306

Creator:

Spencer Family  Search this

Clarke, John H.  Search this

Lisle, Arthur B.  Search this

Slide manufacturer:

Van Altena, Edward  Search this

Landscape architect:

Steele, Fletcher, 1885-1971  Search this

Olmsted Brothers  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Extent:

1 Photograph (lantern slide, hand-colored, 3.25 x 4 in.)

Type:

Archival materials

Photographs

Lantern slides

Place:

Rhode Island -- East Greenwich

United States of America -- Rhode Island -- Kent County -- East Greenwich

Date:

[between 1914 and 1949?]

General:

The slides were commissioned by Mrs. Hugh D. Auchincloss Sr. The house was named after the white swan fountain. The white swan fountain dates from the 1839 period and is a typical Andrew Jackson Downing garden ornament.

Mount reads: "Edward Van Altena, 71-79 W. 45th St., N.Y.C."

Historic plate number: "28."

Historic plate caption: "East Greenwich, R.I.; Swan Fountain; (Lisle)."

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Topic:

Fountains  Search this

Trees  Search this

Swans  Search this

Genre/Form:

Lantern slides

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.

Sponsor:

A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, Item RI008001

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Rhode Island / RI008: East Greenwich -- White Swan

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6bc2c0ee2-0ddf-4d0e-921f-ff13099ed4cf

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref10588

Photographer:

Wiles, Marvin  Search this

Slide manufacturer:

Van Altena, Edward  Search this

Creator:

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Extent:

1 Photograph (lantern slide, hand-colored, 3.25 x 4 in.)

Type:

Archival materials

Photographs

Lantern slides

Place:

Tennessee -- Nashville

United States of America -- Tennessee -- Davidson County -- Nashville

Date:

c. 1934

General:

Mount reads: "Printed text on plate: Wiles [additional text not legible]. Printed text on mat: Edward Van Altena, 71-79 W. 45th St., N.Y.C."

Historic plate number: "75."

Historic plate caption: "label on recto: Hermitage. Tennessee. Nashville; House. Printed text on slide, visible from verso: The Hermitage built by Andrew Jackson in 1819; the three large holly trees. Manuscript on plate not legible."

Photographer attribution based on caption information found in Gardens of Colony and State by Alice G. B. Lockwood. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1934.

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Topic:

Lawns  Search this

Columns  Search this

Trees  Search this

Houses  Search this

Genre/Form:

Lantern slides

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.

Sponsor:

A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, Item TN001001

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Tennessee / TN001: Nashville -- Hermitage, The (TN)

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6b791f187-2550-477c-9cf3-1c280739e636

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref11221

Architect:

Eyre, Wilson, 1858-1944  Search this

Landscape architect:

Eyre, Wilson, 1858-1944  Search this

Creator:

Highlands Historical Society  Search this

Former owner:

Sheaff Family  Search this

Roosevelt, Nicholas Guy, 1883?-1965  Search this

Roosevelt, Emily Wharton Sickler, 1884-1970  Search this

Sinkler, Caroline, 1860-1949  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

The Highlands (Fort Washington, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Montgomery County -- Fort Washington

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes a worksheet, narrative history, copies of articles, Garden Club of America correspondence, and copy of "The Highlands Preservation Master Plan" by George E. Patton (December 1977).

General:

The Highlands lies on the old Skippack Pike in the White Marsh Valley. The English-style stone house was built by Anthony Morris in 1796. The Sheaff family developed the garden with two stone walls--one being crenelated. During Caroline S. Sinkler's ownership after 1915, the garden was renovated closely following the original existing features. Along both walls, there used to be lean-to greenhouses. These were removed by Sinkler and used to create a new wall. The plan of the garden had two axes that formed four separate gardens, one of them a parterre with a large sundial. Small pools, Italian sculptures, and garden ornaments were placed in the garden during Sinkler's time. Decay of the garden began after the death of Mrs. Roosevelt; subsequently the property was bequeathed to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Persons and organizations associated with the garden include: Anthony Morris (former owner, 1796); George Sheaff (former owner); John Sheaff (former owner, ?-1915); Caroline Sinkler (former owner, 1917-1941); Nicholas G. and Emily Roosevelt (former owners, 1941-1957); Archie Coutts (gardener); Wilson A. Eyre (landscape architect, 1917); George Saylor (gardener); Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (owners, 1957-); and the Highlands Historical Society.

Related Materials:

The Highlands related holdings consist of 1 folder (5 glass lantern slides and 7 35 mm. slides)

See others in:

The Highlands, ca. 1930.

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Fort Washington  Search this

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.

Sponsor:

A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA008

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb691f7754a-ff9c-4dd3-aeb8-58101872598f

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16467

Landscape architect:

Downing, Andrew Jackson  Search this

Creator:

Bolton, Robert, Rev  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

New York (State) -- New Rochelle

United States of America -- New York -- Westchester County -- New Rochelle

General:

Further sources of information include: "Downing's Landscape Gardening and Rural Architecture." 1865; pl 55.

Related Materials:

Pelham Priory related holdings consist of 1 slide (col.)

Collection Restrictions:

Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Collection Rights:

Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Topic:

Spring  Search this

Trees  Search this

Engraving  Search this

Houses  Search this

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.

Sponsor:

A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File NY555

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / New York

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6f96dd9ce-0a1a-45cb-b682-88b49a3cd0c4

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref26892