Telephone operator at switchboard, 1912

glass negative

PHOTOGRAPHS - GLASS NEGATIVES
Rosenfeld, Morris
1912-1913
emulsion on glass
overall: 8 x 10 in.; 20.32 x 25.4 cm

8 x 10 glass plate negative taken by Rosenfeld and Sons in 1915. Image taken as part of long term commissioned work and documentation for the American Telephone & Telegraph Company, ranging from 1910 through the 1940s. View of a woman switchboard operator seen at her station, and an unidentified exchange, circa 1912. Woman seen seated upright connecting a call. She is wearing a headset and has her long hair pulled back loosely in a bun. She also wears a white blouse with a long dark skirt and black leather button up boots. The small sign above her switchboard reads: "FLAT CALLS / PLAZA -640 / POLICE CALLS / SPRING-3100 / TELEGRAM CALLS / WESTERN UNION RECT 5000 / POSTAL....". (Remainder illegible). Handwritten on original negative sleeve: "Operator at switchboard / 31".

ANN.1984.187.931

Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection