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- Telephone Switchboard Operators at Work, 1896 - This photograph shows 21 telephone operators working at a wall switchboard. The chief operator and supervisor, Amanda Hitchcock, is seated at a desk, speaking into a phone; telephone exchanges were predominantly run by female employees. Before direct-dialing was possible, callers would dial the operator, who would then assist by using cords or switches to manually patch their destination connection.
- 1896
- Collections - Artifact
Telephone Switchboard Operators at Work, 1896
This photograph shows 21 telephone operators working at a wall switchboard. The chief operator and supervisor, Amanda Hitchcock, is seated at a desk, speaking into a phone; telephone exchanges were predominantly run by female employees. Before direct-dialing was possible, callers would dial the operator, who would then assist by using cords or switches to manually patch their destination connection.