Telephone employees resting, Dey Street, NYC, 1917

glass negative

PHOTOGRAPHS - GLASS NEGATIVES
Rosenfeld and Sons
USA, NY, New York
1917-10-23
overall: 8 x 10 in.; 20.32 x 25.4 cm

8 x 10 glass plate negative taken by Rosenfeld and Sons. 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 three women Telephone Company employees in the rest area in the 15 Dey Street building, New York City, October 23, 1917. Women are pictured on break, two in conversation, while the third reads in the background. Woman reading has a black band around her right wrist and wears a long black skirt and white blouse common to the switchboard operators. Other two women wear dresses with white collars, all three have long hair tied loosely back. A mans shoulder, possibly the photographer or assistant, can be seen in the mirror hanging on the wall behind the desk. Handwritten on original negative sleeve: "6633 / 10/23/17 / 534--4 / Rector / NY Tel Co. / M. Johnson / Rest period at 15 Dey St / Rest Room / Box 534".

1984.187.6633

Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection