Stephen Prigozy telegraph collection, circa 1844-2016.
Collection Number: 4739

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Stephen Prigozy telegraph collection, circa 1844-2016.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
4739
Abstract:
Photographs, correspondence, telegraph equipment and ephemera including a Western Union doll, telegrams, stock certificates, periodicals, pamphlets, sales catalogs, posters, stamps, clippings, and other items relating to the history of the telegraph, mainly in the United States. Also, photographs, clippings, and correspondence concerning the early history of the telephone.
Creator:
Prigozy, Stephen
Coe, Lewis, 1911-
French, Benjamin B. (Benjamin Brown), 1800-1870.
Kramer, George J.
Russell, R. W.
Rogers, Henry J., 1811-1879.
Morse Telegraph Club
Green, Eckert, Sibley (Firm)
Wade, Orton (Firm)
Quanitities:
2.5 cubic feet.
1 mapcase folders.
Language:
Collection material mainly in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Cornell University Class of 1952 (Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, 1953). Prigozy went on to become a professor of electrical engineering at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Photographs, correspondence, telegraph equipment and ephemera including a Western Union doll, telegrams, stock certificates, periodicals, pamphlets, sales catalogs, posters, stamps, and other items relating to the history of the telegraph, mainly in the United States, beginning before the Civil War. The collection includes various publications and objects relating to Western Union in particular, as well as American Rapid Telegraph Company, Atlantic Telegraph Company, U.S. Telegraph Company, Wells Fargo, Nichols Electric Company, and the United States Army Signal Corps. Authors of other publications include R.W. Russell of American Telegraph Company; the Morse Telegraph Club; firms Green, Eckert, Sibley and Wade, Orton; and Stephen Prigozy himself, who published a number of articles on the telegraph. Also included are copies of items from the collections of Prigozy's fellow telegraphy collector George Jay Kramer; letters from Lewis B. Coe, the author of a book on the telegraph; and a television script concerning Cyrus Field, a promoter of the transatlantic cable.
Technical items in the collection include telegraph senders and receivers, insulators, Western Union code books, switchboard specifications from 1929, a U.S. Army Signal Corps relay, a Vibroplex relay, catalogs of telegraph equipment, and issues of Western Union's periodical, Technical review.
Also included in the collection are two volumes documenting the court case, Benjamin B. French et al. vs. Henry J. Rogers et al. (1850-1851), concerning a telegraph patent.
Collection also includes photographs, clippings, and correspondence concerning the early history of the telephone. Also digital materials including images of many items from the collection, presentations given by Prigozy and other files relating to the collection and telegraph research.
NOTES

Books (approximately 21 additional cubic feet) are cataloged individually.


INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

Stephen Prigozy Telegraph Collection, #4739. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

Related Materials

Related material located in Robert Dalton Harris, Jr. telegraph collection, #8720.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Field, Cyrus W. (Cyrus West), 1819-1892.
Western Union Telegraph Company
American Rapid Telegraph Company
Atlantic Telegraph Co
U.S. Telegraph Company
Wells, Fargo & Company
Nichols Electric Company
United States. Army. Signal Corps
Subjects:
Telephone -- History.
Transatlantic cables.
Telegraph -- Europe -- History.
Telegraph -- United States -- History.
Form and Genre Terms:
Stock certificates.
Telegrams.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Series I. Historical
General Historical
Box 1 Folder 1
Morse's Patent: Full Exposure of Dr. Charles T. Jackson's Pretensions to the Invention of the American Electro-Magnetic Telegraph (2 manuscripts)
1852, 1867
Scope and Contents
by Hon. Amos Kendall
Box 1 Folder 1
Print of a portrait of Samuel Morse and a list of names that includes his signature
Undated
Box 1 Folder 2
Map of the Submarine Telegraph between American and Europe
1858
Box 1 Folder 3
The Safety and Insulated Wire & Cable Co. Correspondence
1898-1900
Box 1 Folder 4
Clipping & Chronologies
1941, 1944
Scope and Contents
"Early History of the Telegraph" newspaper clipping, "Chronology of the Electric Spark", "Chronology of Telegraph Communications"
Box 1 Folder 5
Centennial of the Telegraph
1944
Box 1 Folder 6
Burlingame Telegraphing Typewriter
1908-1912
Box 1 Folder 8
Emulation and Invention
1981
Scope and Contents
by Brooke Hindle
Box 1 Folder 9
Guide to Morse Exhibit by Karpeles Manuscript Library
May 26-27, 1990
Box 1 Folder 10
150th Anniversary of the First Electromagnetic Telegraph
1994
Box 1 Folder 11
Historical Publications
1998
Scope and Contents
"Jeptha H. Wade and the Cleveland and Cincinnati Telegraph Company" by Russel H. Anderson, "Marconi's History" by Gian Carlo Corazza, "From Connections to Collections" by Henry Petroski
Box 1 Folder 12
The Extension of Submarine Telegraphy in a Quarter-Century
n.d.
Scope and Contents
by Charles Bright
Box 1 Folder 13
Binder: Copies of Collection of George Jay Kramer on Early Telegraph History
1846-1870
Box 1 Folder 14
Copies from the Collection of George J. Kramer
1848-1865
Box 1 Folder 15-16
Copies of articles about history of telegraph (1-2)
n.d.
Box 1 Folder 17-18
Material copied from internet about telegraph from c. late 1800s (1-2)
n.d.
Box 1 Folder 19-22
Copied materials on telegraph history (1-4)
n.d.
Box 9 Folder 1-5
Historical Research (1-5)
n.d.
Box 18 Folder 12
Stock and Bond Materials
1883-1913
Box 18 Folder 12
List of Telegraph Offices and Calls of New York Central and Hudson River Railroad -- copy
August 1, 1875
Box 18 Folder 12
"WGY Heard on an Indoor Aerial at Liverpool"
December 28, 1922-January 3, 1923
Scope and Contents
Including correspondence with General Electric
Box 18 Folder 12
Photograph of River Street -- copy
1891
Box 20 Folder 11
Guglielmo Marconi research
1899, 1994-1995
Mapcase Folder 1
Postal Telegraph Cable Co. Poster, Reproduction of Map of Telegraph Lines, Enlargement of one section of 1853 map, Reproduction of Patent Design for Edison's Automatic Telegraph Perforator & Transmitter
1853
Mapcase Folder 1
Map of the West India and Panama Telegraph Company
May 1874
S. Prigozy Research
Box 16 Folder 1
Concentrated Arc-Lamp
n.d.
Box 16 Folder 2
Internet Telegraph Info
n.d.
Box 16 Folder 3
Atlantic Cable
n.d.
Box 16 Folder 4
Hawaiian Telegraph
1903-1951
Box 16 Folder 5
Western Union
1924-1932, 1994-1999
Box 16 Folder 6
Research on New Developments
1949-1984
Scope and Contents
News clippings, advertisements, also includes outline for retirement party of J.W. Inwood
Box 16 Folder 7
Essays on Radio History
1960s
Box 16 Folder 8
Braille-Gram
1975
Scope and Contents
Press releases, photographs, news clippings
Box 16 Folder 9
Insulators
1993, 2004
Box 16 Folder 10
Ezra Cornell/Cornell Library
1995-1996
Box 16 Folder 11
Info on Telegrams and Covers
1994-2006, 2012
Scope and Contents
Auction lists, photocopies
Box 16 Folder 12
Telephone
1994-1995
Box 16 Folder 13
Talk Given by S. Prigozy -- Telegraph Similitudes Used as Early Junk Mail
n.d.
Box 16 Folder 14
Notes on Books
n.d.
Box 16 Folder 15
Bibliographies
1996-1999
Box 16 Folder 16
Correspondence with Robert Dalton Harris
1993-2008
Scope and Contents
Harris is a dealer in telegraphica from West Sand Lake, NY and friend who worked with his wife Diane DeBlois at a business called AGatherin'
Box 16 Folder 17
Correspondence with Lewis B. Coe
1994-2001
Scope and Contents
Author of two books in the collection, one on telegraph and one of telephone
Box 16 Folder 18
Correspondence with Bob Voss
1998
Scope and Contents
"Another 'telegraph pal' -- Bob Voss visited us twice in Averill Park"
Box 16 Folder 19
Stamp Catalog
n.d.
Box 16 Folder 20
Sales Catalogs
1977, 1997-1999
Box 16 Folder 21
Auction Catalog for Collection of George J. Kramer
September 15, 1990
Box 16 Folder 22
Auction Research
1992-2005
Box 16 Folder 23
Philatelic Dealers
1993, 2013
Box 16 Folder 24
Auction Lots, News Clippins and Articles
1989, 1998-2006, 2014
Box 16 Folder 25
Price Lists
2005-2013
Box 16 Folder 26
Misc. Small S. Prigozy Materials
n.d.
Scope and Contents
Labels, "telegram" to S. Prigozy, Ghana envelope, Tress brochure
Box 16 Folder 26
Auction Catalog "Western Electric Telephone Apparatus and Supplies"
CD-2413
2002
Box 16 Folder 27
Stephen Prigozy Membership to Morse Telegraph Club
1997, 2012
Box 16 Folder 28
"Cyrus Field" TV Script
May 17, 1954
Scope and Contents
by Warner Law
Box 16 Folder 43
Correspondence with David Hochfelder and Jeff Meador
2008
Scope and Contents
Letters mention "Bob" who is Robert Dalton Harris.
Box 18 Folder 8
Periodical Guide
1852-1868
Scope and Contents
Dates refer to highlighted/listed issues of interest
Periodicals and Congressional Serials
Box 10 Folder 2
24th-33rd Congress House and Senate Documents
1837-1854
Box 10 Folder 3
34th Congress House Documents
1856
Box 10 Folder 4
35th Congress Senate and House Documents
1858-1860
Box 10 Folder 5
36th-39th Congress House and Senate Documents
1861-1866
Box 10 Folder 6
40th & 41st Congress House and Senate Reports
1869-1871
Box 10 Folder 7
US House Report Postal Telegraph in the United States
1870
Box 11 Folder 1
43rd-45th Congress House and Senate Documents
1875-1879
Box 11 Folder 2
42nd Congress House and Senate Documents
1872-1874
Box 11 Folder 3
46th-48th Congress Senate and House Documents
1881-1885
Box 11 Folder 4
Senate Report on the Postal Telegraph
1884
Box 11 Folder 5
49th Congress House and Senate Documents (1)
1886
Box 11 Folder 6
49th Congress House and Senate Documents (2)
1885, 1887
Box 12 Folder 1
50th Congress House and Senate Documents
1888
Box 12 Folder 2
51st-54th Congress House and Senate Documents
1890-1896
Box 12 Folder 3
55th Congress House and Senate Documents
1897
Box 12 Folder 4
56th Congress House and Senate Documents
1900-1901
Box 12 Folder 5
57th and 58th House and Senate Documents
1902-1904
Box 12 Folder 6
Report of the Superintendent of the Census
1852
Box 12 Folder 7
Speech by S.R. Peters on the Telegraph Monopoly
1888
Box 12 Folder 8
Hearings on the Subtext of Government Ownership and Control of the Telegraph Lines
1894
Box 12 Folder 9
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania vs. The Western Union Telegraph Co.
1881
Box 13 Folder 12
Report on the Survey of Laying Cable between the U.S. and Hawaii
1892
Box 13 Folder 13
A Guide to Documents in the Congressional Series Relating to the Telegraph
Box 13 Folder 14
A Review of an Argument in Support of the Limited Post and Telegraph
1891
Box 13 Folder 15
Rates of Pay for Communication by Telegraph
1904
Box 13 Folder 16
Post Master General Report
1845
Box 13 Folder 17
Government Ownership of the Telegraph and Telephone
n.d.
Box 13 Folder 18
The Great Telegraph Suit of Samuel F.B. Morse and Alfred Vail vs. Francis O.J. Smith
1858
Box 13 Folder 19
New York Senate Memorial and an Act of the Maine Legislature
1861, 1876
Box 18 Folder 4
Issue of New York Weekly Tribune
1843
Box 18 Folder 4
Issue of Boston Recorder and Telegraph
1827
Box 18 Folder 5
Issues of The Illustrated London News
1856-1859, 1866-1867
Box 18 Folder 5
Issues of Harper's Weekly
1865-1872
Box 18 Folder 6
Issue of New York Observer
1838
Box 18 Folder 6
Issue of New York Daily Tribune
1843
Box 18 Folder 7
Issues of Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newsletter
1879-1886
Box 18 Folder 7
Issue of New-Orleans Commercial Bulletin
January 10, 1870
Box 18 Folder 7
Issue of The World Morning Courier and New York Enquirer
October 26, 1861
Box 18 Folder 7
Issue of National Intelligencer
July 17, 1849
Photographs and prints
Box 16 Folder 29
Historical Photos and Illustrations
1844-1890, 1924-1929, 1937
Box 16 Folder 44
Color print of a section of the Atlantic Cable, Carried by Adams & Cos Express Wagon in the Procession of the 1st September
Undated
Box 31
Framed Photo: Section of the Atlantic Cable, Carried by Adams & Cos Express Wagon in the Procession of the 1st September
n.d.
Box 16 Folder 30
Post Cards
1906, 1910, n.d.
Scope and Contents
2 photos featuring WU employees, 1906 features ruins of workshop where Morse invented the telegraph
Box 16 Folder 31
Western Union: Los Angeles (1)
1939, 1952-1977
Scope and Contents
People, Sales Meetings
Box 16 Folder 32
Western Union: Los Angeles (2)
1940, 1960, 1962, 1977
Scope and Contents
People, Sales Meetings
Box 16 Folder 33
Western Union Photographs (1)
1928-1941, 1958, 1970
Box 16 Folder 34
Western Union Photographs (2)
1939-1940, 1953, 1959
Box 16 Folder 35
Western Union Photographs (3)
1932, 1945, 1956-1959
Box 16 Folder 36
Western Union Photographs (4)
1945, 1949, 1960
Box 16 Folder 37
Hollywood-Related Photos
1940, 1955
Box 16 Folder 38
Small Photographs
n.d.
Scope and Contents
Some labeled "Inglewood, Calif."
Box 16 Folder 39
Misc. Photographs
n.d.
Scope and Contents
Kodak Envelope of Photos and Negatives, Photographs of Railroads, WU Photographs, Otto Rothschild Negative
Box 16 Folder 40
Photograph of Man in Telegraph Office
n.d.
Box 16 Folder 41
Photograph of Three Men in Front of a Telegraph Office
n.d.
Box 16 Folder 42
Photograph of Telegraph Office
n.d.
Box 19
Stereo views of the Western Union Telegraph Building and the Ship News Office in New York City
n.d.
Corporate History
Western Union
Box 1 Folder 7
American Telegraphy After 100 Years
1944
Scope and Contents
The Western Union Telegraph Company
Box 1 Folder 23
Western Union Telegraph Company
1901
Scope and Contents
Historical publication by WU (copy)
Box 1 Folder 24
Telegraph Companies Forming Western Union
1914
Scope and Contents
From diagrammatic charts prepared by the Western Union Telegraph Company showing its important constituents as existing on Dec. 31, 1914
Box 1 Folder 25
WU memos
1920s
Box 1 Folder 26
WU Annual Reports
1924, 1946-1978
Box 1 Folder 27
WU Los Angeles Office (1)
1938-1973
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, press releases, photos, publications. Many materials involve Paramount Pictures.
Box 1 Folder 28
WU Los Angeles Office (2)
1939-1969
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, press releases, photos, script entitled "Field and the Atlantic Cable". Many materials involve Paramount Pictures.
Box 2 Folder 6
Payments and Bonds
1871-1874, 1951
Scope and Contents
Western Union, Gold & Stock Telegraph Co., bond for Emanuel R. Posnack and Ann B. Posnack to Century Federal Savings and Loan Association
Other Companies
Box 1 Folder 29
Various articles regarding investments and competition between companies
1881-1930
Box 1 Folder 30
Remarks of R.W. Russell of American Telegraph Co. (copy)
1860
Box 1 Folder 31
Correspondence re: Postal Telegraph
1875-1880
Box 1 Folder 32
American Rapid Telegraph Co., Atlantic Telegraph Co., Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Co.
1882-1925
Box 1 Folder 33
American Telegraphone Company
1900-1943
Box 1 Folder 34
Bartica Company
1911, 1915
Box 1 Folder 35
Oxford Linen Mills
1908-1914
Box 2 Folder 1
Sterling Debenture Corp. & other fraudulent Co.'s
1910-1912
Box 2 Folder 2
The Telepost Company
1896-1917
Box 2 Folder 3
Booklet on Telepost History, Government Documents on The Telepost, Patents and Biographies of Patrick Delany
1908-1925
Box 2 Folder 4
Copied Material on Telegraph Companies
n.d.
Box 2 Folder 5
Stocks, Bonds, Shares
1868-1906
Box 17
Portfolio: Telegraph Stock Certificates
1851-1935, 1955-1959, 1970
Box 17
Portfolio: Telegraph Stock Certificates
1889, 1907-1918, 1930
Scope and Contents
Largely Telepost and Bartica Co.
Box 17
Portfolio: Telegraph Stock Certificates
1888-1904, 1929-1971, 1981
Box 18 Folder 5
Map of West India and Panama Telegraph Co.
1874
Series II. Technical
General
Box 2 Folder 7
Description of the American Electro Magnetic Telegraph
1845
Scope and Contents
by Alfred Vail
Box 2 Folder 8
US Patent Office: "Improvement in Magnetic Printing-Telegraphs"
April 18, 1846
Scope and Contents
Patent no. 4,464; Royal E. House
Box 2 Folder 9
Shaffner's Telegraphy Companion Devoted to the Science and Art of the Morse American Telegraph
January 1855
Box 2 Folder 10
Railroad and Telegraph Rates
1866, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 11
Velocity of the Electric Current over Telegraph Wire
June 1869
Scope and Contents
by G. W. Hough, A. M.
Box 2 Folder 12
J.H. Bunnell & Co. Telegraphy Manual
1883-1900
Box 2 Folder 13
"Recent Contributions to Electric Wave Telegraphy"
1907
Scope and Contents
by Prof. J. A. Fleming
Box 2 Folder 14
Telegraphy Guides
1910s, 1930s
Scope and Contents
Instructional booklets on telegraphy engineering and operation by various companies
Box 2 Folder 15
Misc. reports and booklets from WU
early 1900s
Scope and Contents
Delicate
Box 2 Folder 16
The World's Work: Pirates of Promotion
1919
Scope and Contents
by Tal. P. Shaffner, Esq.
Box 2 Folder 17
WU Office Documents, Employee Publications & Correspondence
1921- 1927, 1951-1981
Scope and Contents
Includes brochure titled The Story of the Telemeter.
Box 2 Folder 18
Specifications for the Installation of Double Conductor Cordless Cabinet Type Switchboards
June 26, 1929
Box 2 Folder 19
Misc. Publications
1949, n.d.
Scope and Contents
"Power Supply for Low Power Radio Installation on Cabooses", "The Application of Facsimile to Commercial Radio Communications"
Box 2 Folder 20
WU TELEX/TWX Guides
1975
Box 2 Folder 21
Catalog of Telegraph Keys of US Army Signal Corps
1993-1997
Box 2 Folder 22
Correspondence re: Canadian Telegraphs
2003-2004
Scope and Contents
Regarding primarily mid. 1800s
Box 2 Folder 23
Various Telegraph Books & Reports
Box 2 Folder 24
WU code books
n.d.
Box 2 Folder 25
Desk-Fax
n.d.
Scope and Contents
Includes newspaper clipping and press release
Box 2 Folder 26
Grove Cell/Carbon Battery Drawing
n.d.
Box 2 Folder 27
"The Story of the Greetings Telegraph Service in Great Britain"
n.d.
Scope and Contents
by John C. W. Field, F.R.G.S.
Box 3
Binder: Machines & Batteries, etc.; Telephones; Incandescent Lamps (1)
1886-1935, 1956-1958
Scope and Contents
Most pages labelled "Electrical Machines"
Box 3
Binder: Machines & Batteries, etc.; Telephones; Incandescent Lamps (2)
1886-1938, 1965
Scope and Contents
Batteries, Lightning Rods
Box 3
Binder: Machines & Batteries, etc.; Telephones; Incandescent Lamps (3)
1886-1918, 1929-1944
Scope and Contents
Incandescent Lamps
Box 3
Binder: Machines & Batteries, etc.; Telephones; Incandescent Lamps (4)
1878-1943
Scope and Contents
Telephones
Box 4
Binder: Telegraph Equipment, Telegraph Schools & other items
1848-1930
Box 4
Binder: Cable Rates and Corporate Correspondence
1921-1937
Scope and Contents
WU, Postal Telegraph, RCA Communications, C. Bensinger Co., French Telegraph Cable Company, correspondence with various companies regarding telegraph services
Periodicals and Journals
Box 2 Folder 28
Telegraph & Telephone Stamp Society and Journal of the Telegraph Study Circle: Bulletin and Across the Wire Issues
1987-1990
Box 2 Folder 29
Harper's New Monthly Magazine: "The Telegraph"
n.d.
Box 2 Folder 30
Scribner's Monthly: "Telegraphing in Battle"
May 1886
Scope and Contents
by J. Emmett O'Brien
Box 2 Folder 31
McClure's Magazine: "Marconi's Wireless Telegraph"
June 1899
Scope and Contents
by Cleveland Moffett
Box 2 Folder 32
Issues of Journal Telegraph
1910-1912
Box 2 Folder 33
"Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik"
1912
Box 2 Folder 34
Proceedings of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers
March 1906, May 1911
Box 2 Folder 35
Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers
February 1924
Box 3 Folder 1
Antique Wireless Association: The Federal Telegraph Company 1909-1920
1979
Box 3 Folder 2
Telegraph World
May 1930
Box 3 Folder 3
WU Publications
1939-1967
Scope and Contents
Telegraph News, Telegraph World, The Monitor
Box 3 Folder 4
Scientific American Articles
July 1962, August 1975
Scope and Contents
"Telephone Switching" (July 1962), "How there came to be only one telephone company in town" (August 1975)
Box 3 Folder 5
Postal History Journal
June 2012
Scope and Contents
Includes article by Stephen Prigozy
Box 3 Folder 6
WU Technical Review
1947
Box 3 Folder 7
WU Technical Reviews
1949-1951
Box 4 Folder 1
WU Technical Reviews
1951-1954
Box 4 Folder 2
WU Technical Reviews
1955-1957
Box 4 Folder 3
WU Technical Reviews
1958-1961
Box 17
Issues of "The Operator"
1874-1876, 1883
Box 18 Folder 1
Issues of Scientific American
1877, 1884, 1893-1896, 1902-1903, 1909
Scope and Contents
Includes 50th Anniversary issue
Box 18 Folder 2
Issues of Journal of the Telegraph
1868
Box 18 Folder 3
Issues of Electric Age
January 1891
Box 20 Folder 12
"The Federal Telegraph Company"
1979
Scope and Contents
by Thorn L. Mayes
Box 20 Folder 13
Proceedings of the IEEE
September 1976
Box 20 Folder 14
Tele
1953
Scope and Contents
English edition, No. 1
Box 20 Folder 15
Dots and Dashes
2016
Series III. Telegrams
Pre-Civil War
Box 5
Pre-Civil War Binder: New York Hinterland Lines
1848-1864
Box 5
Pre-Civil War Binder: Old West Lines
1847-1866, 1882
Box 5
Pre-Civil War Binder: American Telegraph Co. & U.S. Telegraph Co.
1856-1866, 1916
Box 5
Pre-Civil War Binder: New Orleans Hinterland Lines & New West Lines
1848-1868
Box 5
Pre-Civil War Binder: New York to Boston Lines
1847-1862
Box 6
Pre-Civil War Binder: Mid Atlantic Hinterland Lines & Boston Hinterland Lines
1847-1919
Box 6
Pre-Civil War Binder: Washington to New York Lines, Boston to Canada Lines, Washington to New Orleans Lines
1847-1862, 1888
Small Companies Alpha
Box 6
Binder: Telegrams from small companies, A & B
1856-1891
Box 6
Binder: Telegrams from small companies, C to L
1862-1906, 1923-1948
Box 7
Binder: Telegrams from small companies, M to Ne
1855-1907, 1917, 1937-1938
Box 7
Binder: Telegrams from small companies, New to O
1868-1911, 1936
Box 7
Binder: Telegrams from small companies, P to R
1855-1875, 1888-1915
Box 7
Binder: Telegrams from small companies, S to Z
1852-1905, 1925
Western Union
Box 8
Binder: WU Telegrams & Envelopes -- Green
1878-1898
Box 8
Binder: WU Telegrams & Envelopes -- Eckert
1893-1904
Box 8
Binder: WU Telegrams & Envelopes -- Sibley & Wade
1851-1869
Box 8
Binder: WU Telegrams & Envelopes -- Orton
1867-1879, 1914
Box 9
Binder: WU Telegrams & Envelopes -- Clowry & Vail
1903-1922
Box 9
Binder: WU Telegrams & Envelopes -- Carlton
1916-1941
Box 9
Binder: WU Telegrams & Envelopes -- Williams et al.
1943-1975, 1983-1985
Box 9
Binder: WU Telegrams & Envelopes -- Business
1867-1923, 1937-1952
Box 10
Binder: WU Illustrated Telegrams -- Holiday, Santagram, New Years, Thanksgiving
1909-1936, 1947-1966
Scope and Contents
Many blanks
Box 10
Binder: WU Illustrated Telegrams -- Easter, Valentine, Birthday
1925-1962
Scope and Contents
Many blanks
Box 10
Binder: WU Illustrated Telegrams -- Mother's Day, Father's Day, Anniversary, Bon Voyage, Social Message
1923-1936, 1949-1955
Scope and Contents
Many blanks
Box 10
Binder: WU Illustrated Telegrams -- World's Fair, Congrats, Wedding, Gift Order, etc.
1930-1940, 1949-1960
Scope and Contents
Many blanks
Box 10 Folder 1
WU Telegrams
1920-1941, 1953-1954
Box 6 Folder 1
WU Melody-Grams
1966
Box 6 Folder 2
WU Melody-Grams
1966
Box 6 Folder 3
Telegrams and Telegraph Blanks
1860s-1870s, 1930s
Scope and Contents
Blanks and telegrams from 1860s-1870s, illustrated telegrams, WU Money Order blanks, telegrams on authenticity research by film studios
Box 6 Folder 4
Duplicate Illustrated Telegrams
n.d.
Box 11
Binder: Western Union Telegrams
1867-1954
Box 7 Folder 1
Western Union Telegrams to C.E. Hartung & Co.
1867-1875
Foreign
Box 13
Binder: Telegrams -- Europe
1852-1953
Box 13
Binder: Telegrams -- Foreign
1891-1966
Box 13
Binder: Telegrams -- Canada
1853-1955
Scope and Contents
Some international, many American District Telegraph Co. at end of binder
Box 13 Folder 1
German Telegrams
1920s
Box 13 Folder 2
German Booklets
1899, 1909
Scope and Contents
"Der Derband mittlerer Reichs=Post=und Telegraphen=Beamten", "Telegraphenwegegefek"
Box 13 Folder 3
English Telegrams
n.d.
Box 13 Folder 4
French Telegrams
n.d.
Box 13 Folder 5
Misc. Foreign Telegrams
1895-1947
Scope and Contents
Japan, India, Australia & China, Denmark
Box 13 Folder 6
Misc. Foreign Telegrams
1864, 1883-1910s
Scope and Contents
Germany, Argentina, others (in oversized folder)
General
Box 7 Folder 2
Art-Grams
1979
Box 7 Folder 3
Duplicate Postal Telegraph Telegrams
1898-1942
Box 7 Folder 4
Duplicate Telegrams (Other)
1850s-1930s
Box 11
Binder: Railroad Telegrams
1859-1926
Box 11
Binder: Military Telegrams
1862-1875, 1904-1944
Box 12
Binder: Postal Telegraph Business Stationary
1886-1933, 1942-1947
Box 12
Binder: Postal Telegraph Illustrated Telegrams
1925-1942
Box 12
Binder: Postal Telegraph Telegrams I
1885-1914
Box 12
Binder: Postal Telegraph Telegrams II
1891-1943
Box 5 Folder 1-5
Telegraph Covers & Messages: Collection of Stephen Prigozy (1-5)
1993
Scope and Contents
Consists of Xerox copies of the telegrams & envelopes
Box 13 Folder 7
Facsimile of Letter from Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher, recommending Allcock's Porous Plasters
February 11, 1890
Box 13 Folder 8
Overseas Telegrams from Lawrence C. Hopkins to Julie Hall
1942-1943
Box 13 Folder 9
Joseph E. Greene Co. Orders
1910-1914
Box 13 Folder 10
Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America Shipment Forms
1910s
Box 13 Folder 11
Norfolk and Western Railway Co. Telegraphs
1900-1909
Box 13
Binder: Radiograms
1878-1963
Box 14
Binder: Telegraph Post Cards
1898-1914, 1929-1935
Scope and Contents
Plus some unbound pages
Box 14
Binder: Telegraph Post Cards
1906-1911
Scope and Contents
Includes certificates for S. Prigozy from 2009 Stamp Exposition in side pockets
Box 14
Binder: Telegraph Fakes, Fantasies, Similitudes & Spoofs
1860s-1945, 1955, 1961-2004
Box 14 Folder 1
Unsorted Telegrams
1870s, 1894-1942, 1951
Box 14 Folder 2
Unsorted Telegrams
1897-1898, 1909-1914
Box 14 Folder 3
Unsorted Telegrams
1859-1916, 1934-1947, 1963
Box 14 Folder 4
Unsorted Telegrams
1897, 1891
Box 14 Folder 5
Unsorted Telegrams
1867-1884, 1906
Blanks
Box 15 Folder 10
WU Half Rate Blank
1870s
Box 15 Folder 11
Radiograms (Blank)
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 12
WU Cable Grams (Blank)
1900s-1920s
Box 15 Folder 13
WU Cablegram Blanks
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 14
WU Telegrams for Air Travelers
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 15
WU Telefax Blanks
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 16
WU Blanks for Train Travel
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 17
Florist Telegram Blanks
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 18
Florist Telegram Blanks
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 19
WU Day Letter Blanks
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 20
Telegram Envelopes Blank
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 21
WU Blanks
1870s-1910s
Box 15 Folder 22
WU Blanks (General)
1910s
Box 15 Folder 23
WU Blanks (General)
1920s
Box 15 Folder 24
WU Blanks (General)
n.d., 1920s-1930s
Scope and Contents
One telegram from 1936 regarding stock
Box 15 Folder 25
WU Blanks (General)
n.d., 1910s
Scope and Contents
One booklet with some handwritten messages from JR Bryant
Box 15 Folder 26-29
WU Blanks (General)
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 30
Northern & Western Union Blank -- Used for Short Story
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 31
WU Blanks
2009
Box 15 Folder 32
Postal Telegraph Blanks
n.d., 1930s
Box 15 Folder 33
Postal Telegraph Blanks
n.d., 1920s-1930s
Box 15 Folder 34
Commercial Union Telegraph Blanks
1890s
Box 15 Folder 35
Telegraph Blank in French
n.d.
Box 15 Folder 36
Facsimile Blanks
n.d., 1868, 1900s
Box 19
Postal Telegraph and Western Union (Small Blanks)
1900s-1930s, n.d
Stamps, Collect Cards, and Passes
Box 8 Folder 1
Telegrams and telegraph stamps
1873, 1905, 1932-1945
Box 8 Folder 2
Telegraph Stamps
1881-1914, 1942-1947, 2004
Scope and Contents
Including guide with some photocopies/images
Box 8 Folder 3
Telegraph Stamps
1900-1914, 1923, 1942
Box 8 Folder 4
Telegraph Stamps
1878-1913, 1931-1932
Box 8 Folder 5
Various Companies' Stamps
1910, 1913, n.d.
Scope and Contents
Atlantic Telegraph Co., United Wireless, WU
Box 8 Folder 6
Stamps- US Companies
1883-1900
Box 8 Folder 7
Northern Mutual Stamps
n.d.
Box 8 Folder 8
Postal Telegraph Stamps
n.d.
Box 8 Folder 9
Information about Stamps, News Clippings and Stamp Order Lists
1989, 1993, n.d.
Box 8 Folder 10
Stamps - Canada and an uncut sheet of American Rapid Telegram Stamps
1890-1915, n.d.
Box 4
WU Paraphernalia (some Postal Telegraph Co. and Telepost)
1877-1962
Scope and Contents
In WU Candygram box: train passes for telegraphers, frank cards and stamp covers, clerk ID card of Henry C. Giles Jr., WU Money transfer preferred customer card of S. Prigozy, uniform buttons, WU token, business cards of H. C. Giles, matchbook with Postsl Telegraph advertisement
Box 19
Loose Telegraph Stamps - Various Companies
1882-1947, n.d
Series IV. Consumer and Publicity
Box 4
WU Advertisements cut from newspapers
1911-1918
Scope and Contents
Removed from non-archival binder. Name and date of publication on reverse.
Box 14 Folder 6
WU Informational/Historical Publications
n.d.
Box 14 Folder 7
WU Promotional Labels
n.d.
Box 14 Folder 8
Trading Cards
n.d.
Box 14 Folder 9
WU Rate Cards
n.d.
Box 14 Folder 10
Messenger's Working Kits
n.d.
Scope and Contents
Postal Telegraph kit of Walt Boldstridge and Western Union
Box 14 Folder 11
"Telegraphy Successfully Learned at Home"
n.d.
Scope and Contents
Catalog for The National Automatic Telegraph Transmitter by John M. Smyth Co.
Box 14 Folder 12
Sign for "Edison Light"
n.d.
Box 14 Folder 13
WU Posters/Advertisements
Box 15 Folder 1
WU Advertisements, Half Rate Cards, Receipts, Stamps
1873, 1885-1893, 1922, 1941
Box 15 Folder 2
Burglar Alarm Telegraph Ad and Telephone Ads
1882-1899
Box 15 Folder 3
Postal Telegraph Booklets and Cable Codes
1894, 1925, 1931
Box 15 Folder 4
The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Co. Advertisements
1910-1916, 1929
Scope and Contents
Cigarette Cards, "Fleish Extract" Trading Cards, L.G. Tillotson & Co. card
Box 15 Folder 5
RCA Booklets
1935-1937
Box 15 Folder 6
WU Consumer Booklets and Guides
1940s-1950s
Box 15 Folder 7
Electricity: A Modern Power
1942
Box 15 Folder 8
WU Advertisement
March 21, 1949
Box 15 Folder 9
WU Booklets
1949, 1952
Scope and Contents
Includes Budget Book
Box 18 Folder 9
Western Union Advertisements, News, Sign
1938-1960, 1974
Box 18 Folder 10
Western Union Advertising Posters
n.d.
Box 18 Folder 11
Nichols Electric Co. catalog
Scope and Contents
Copy
Box 20 Folder 1
Advertisements, Brochures, Rates (1)
1920s-1930s, 1961, 1964
Scope and Contents
Mostly WU, some from Postal Telegraph
Box 20 Folder 2
Advertisements, Brochures, Rates (2)
1920s-1940s
Scope and Contents
Mostly WU, some from Postal Telegraph
Box 20 Folder 3
Advertisements, Brochures, Rates (3)
1920s-1930s
Scope and Contents
Mostly WU, some from Postal Telegraph
Box 20 Folder 4
Advertisements, Brochures, Rates (4)
1920s-1930s
Scope and Contents
Mostly WU, some from Postal Telegraph
Box 20 Folder 5
Advertisements, Blanks, Business Cards, Brochures (1)
1920s-1940s
Scope and Contents
Western Union
Box 20 Folder 6
Advertisements, Blanks, Business Cards, Brochures (2)
1910s-1930s
Scope and Contents
Western Union
Box 20 Folder 7
Advertisements, Blanks, Business Cards, Brochures (3)
1980s
Scope and Contents
Western Union
Box 20 Folder 8
Advertisements, Blanks, Business Cards, Brochures (4)
1920s-1940s
Scope and Contents
Western Union
Box 20 Folder 9
Notebook containing business cards and miscellaneous advertising
Undated
Box 20 Folder 10
Instrumentation and Measurement Society newsletter
1995
Box 19
Illustrated Envelopes with Advertising of Telephone and Telegraph Companies (some with telegrams)
1858-1974, n.d.
Box 19
Postcards with Images and Advertising of Telephone and Telegraph Companies
1906-1919, n.d.
Series V. Machines and Memorabilia
Box 21 MU-1423
Vibroplex #200690
n.d.
Box 21 MU-1425
Bunnell Receiver
early 1900s
Scope and Contents
Type 203, 150 ohms
Box 21 MU-1427
Vibroplex Side Swipe Ke sender
early 1900s
Scope and Contents
#99666
Box 22 MU-1422
Sender-Signal Electric Mfr. Co.
1920s
Scope and Contents
Buzzer receiver under the hood
Box 22 MU-1428
Electronic Instrument co. sender/receiver
1950s
Scope and Contents
L.I.C. 1, NY, Serial #29406, "code oscillator model 706"
Box 22 MU-1430
Ted Arnold Telegraph Key Stapler
n.d.
Box 22 MU-1434
WU Call Box 6-B
n.d.
Scope and Contents
#33393
Box 23 MU-1436
Service Buzzer
1917
Scope and Contents
Stromberg-Carlson Tel. Mfg. Co. Signal Co. Order #9640, includes general instructions for use
Box 24 MU-1421
Jester-Cooper Co. Repeater
1914
Scope and Contents
Sends and receives. Serial #2031
Box 24 MU-1424
Receiver- no name
early 1900s
Scope and Contents
Shows circled N
Box 24 MU-1426
WU Combination Relay (i.e. Receiver)
1920
Scope and Contents
2 noisemakers, 2-C, 150 ohms
Box 24 MU-1431
Telegraph Sounder (?)
n.d.
Scope and Contents
"Handmade by Lewis B. Coe Crown Point IN"
Box 25 MU-1435
WU Polar Relay
1916
Scope and Contents
"WU Tel. Co. Ex 3345", "6944 Polar Relay 17-B"
Box 26 MU-1463-1471
Box of Brown Ceramic and Plastic Insulators (8 ceramic and 1 plastic)
Box 27 MU-1472-1483
Box of Glass and Ceramic Insulators (11 glass, 1 white ceramic)
Box 28 MU-1484-1492
Box of Glass and Ceramic Insulators (5 glass, 4 brown ceramic)
Box 29 MU-1493
Rubber Insulator
Box 29 MU-1494-1496
3 Ceramic Insulators
Box 29 MU-1497
Glass Insulator (still attached to piece of the telegraph pole)
Box 29 MU-1432
WU Video Services Clock
n.d.
Box 29 MU-1433
Cable Cross-Section
Spring 1966
Scope and Contents
"Cheshire Ground Breaking Spring 1966, American Telephone & Telegraph Company West Haven District"
Box 30 MU-1438-1439
2 Western Union Dolly-Grams: "Just to Say" and "Happy Birthday"
Undated
Box 31 MU-1440
Western Union Paper Holder
Undated
Box 31 MU-1441
Western Union Coaster
Undated
Box 31 MU-1442
Western Union Ash Tray
Undated
Box 31 MU-1443
Western Union Paper Weight
Undated
Box 31 MU-1444
Western Union Ratchet Key
Undated
Box 31 MU-1445a-c
Western Union Sign and Pins
Undated
Box 31 MU-2508
Western Union Blank Holder 41-B
Undated
Box 31 MU-2509
Notice about overhead telegraph wires
Undated
Box 31 MU-1446
Commercial Union Telegraph Company Printing Block for 52 cent Stamp
Undated
Box 31 MU-1447
RCA Versawatt Paper Weight
Undated
MU-1429
WU Desk-Fax
n.d.
MU-1437
Pen Register
n.d.
Scope and Contents
J.H. Bunnell & Co. Serial #2 602