Communications

Tools of communication have transformed American society time and again over the past two centuries. The Museum has preserved many instruments of these changes, from printing presses to personal digital assistants.

The collections include hundreds of artifacts from the printing trade and related fields, including papermaking equipment, wood and metal type collections, bookbinding tools, and typesetting machines. Benjamin Franklin is said to have used one of the printing presses in the collection in 1726.

More than 7,000 objects chart the evolution of electronic communications, including the original telegraph of Samuel Morse and Alexander Graham Bell's early telephones. Radios, televisions, tape recorders, and the tools of the computer age are part of the collections, along with wireless phones and a satellite tracking system.

This postcard view of San Francisco Solano Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Francisco Solano Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies specializing in California landscapes and historic sites.
Mission San Francisco Solano was founded in 1823, the last of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823. All were founded for the purpose of coverting American Indians of the region to Catholicism.
Today the mission site is operated by the Sonoma State Historic Park system.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0479
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0479
This postcard view of La Purísima Concepcíon Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of La Purísima Concepcíon Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
The Van Ornum firm (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing California landmark scenes.
Mission La Purísima Concepcíon is located northwest of Santa Barbara in Lompoc, California. It was the eleventh of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions founded in California between 1769 and 1823, and was established to convert American Indians of the Chumash tribe to Catholicism.
Today the mission, along with the Mission San Francisco de Solano in Sonoma, is managed by the California State Park system.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0496
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.0639.0496
This postcard view of San Luís Rey Mission was printed using photomechanical processes by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies featuring sites of interest in Calif
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Luís Rey Mission was printed using photomechanical processes by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.
The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies featuring sites of interest in California.
Mission San Luís Rey de Francia was the eighteenth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions to be founded in California between 1769 and 1823. Its dedication ceremonies took place in 1798 near the town of Oceanside. This mission was established to convert American Indians of the Kumeyaay and Luiseno tribes.
Today the mission serves as a parish church, a museum, and a retreat site.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0467
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0467
This postcard view of Santa Barbara Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) and the M. Kashower Company (1914-1934) in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of Santa Barbara Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) and the M. Kashower Company (1914-1934) in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes. The companies are examples of the many picture postcard publishing firms producing scenic views of California landmarks during this period.
Mission Santa Barbara was founded on December 4th, 1786. The tenth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions founded in California between 1769 and 1823, it was built to convert American Indians of the Chumash tribe to Catholicism.
Today the mission serves as a parish church and includes a museum, a Franciscan friary, or monastery, and a retreat center.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
M. Kashower Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0498
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0498
This postcard view of La Soledad Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of La Soledad Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
The Van Ornum firm (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing California landmark scenes.
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad was founded in 1791. It was the thirteenth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823, and was founded to convert American Indians of the Costanoan, Esselin, and Yokuts tribes to Catholicism.
The mission now serves as a parish church and a museum.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0497
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0497
This postcard view of Pala Mission Chapel was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of Pala Mission Chapel was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing scenes of California landscape and history.
Pala Mission or San Antonio de Pala Asistencia, founded in 1816, is situated about 25 miles northeast of Oceanside. It was an ancillary mission to the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, the eighteenth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions built in California between 1769 and 1823.
Today the mission is the only of the twenty-one original Spanish Franciscan missions which continues to minister to an American Indian community.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0480
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0480
This postcard image of the ruins of San Juan Capistrano Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard image of the ruins of San Juan Capistrano Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing California landmark scenes.
San Juan Capistrano Mission, founded in 1776, is located southeast of Los Angeles. It was the seventh of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions built in California between 1769 and 1823. The mission was founded to convert American Indians of the Juaneño and Luiseño tribe to Catholicism.
Today the mission serves as a chapel and a museum.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0488
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0488
This postcard view of the Mission Play and Theatre Garden was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) and the M. Kashower Company (1914-1934) in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of the Mission Play and Theatre Garden was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) and the M. Kashower Company (1914-1934) in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes. The companies are examples of the many picture postcard publishing companies producing California landmark scenes during this period.
Dedicated on March 5th, 1927, the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse was originally established as the venue for the Mission Play by John Steven McGroarty. It tells the story of the founding of the California missions by Franciscan priests led by Fr. Junípero Serra.
Today the facility in San Gabriel continues to serve as a setting for a variety of cultural activities.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
M. Kashower Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0504
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0504
This postcard view of Mission San Fernando was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif. in about 1910, using photomechanical processes.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of Mission San Fernando was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif. in about 1910, using photomechanical processes. The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing California landmark scenes.
Mission San Fernando was founded in 1797, in the San Fernando Valley. It was the seventeenth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions to be established in California between 1769 and 1823, and was built to convert American Indians of the Tataviam and Tongva tribes to Catholicism.
Today it serves as a working parish chapel and a museum.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.491
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.0639.491
This postcard view of San Fernando Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) and the M. Kashower Company (1914-1934) in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Fernando Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) and the M. Kashower Company (1914-1934) in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes. The companies are examples of the many picture postcard publishing companies producing California landmark scenes during this period.
The San Fernando Rey de España mission was founded on September 8, 1797, near the site of the first gold discovery in Alta, or Upper, California. It was the seventeenth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions built in California between 1769 and 1823, and was established to convert American Indians of the Tataviam and Tongva tribes to Catholicism.
Today it serves as a working parish church and a museum.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
M. Kashower Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0508
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0508
This postcard view of San Juan Capistrano Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) and the M. Kashower Company (1914-1934) in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Juan Capistrano Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) and the M. Kashower Company (1914-1934) in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes. The companies are examples of the many picture postcard publishing companies producing scenes of California landmarks during this period.
Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1776 and is located southeast of Los Angeles. It was the seventh of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823 to convert American Indians of the Juañeno and Luiseño tribe to Catholicism.
Today the mission serves as a parish chapel and a museum.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
M. Kashower Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0499
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0499
This postcard view of Mission San Fernando was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif. about 1910, using photomechanical processes.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of Mission San Fernando was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif. about 1910, using photomechanical processes. Van Ornum (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing California landmark scenes.
Mission San Fernando, in the San Fernando Valley, was founded in 1797. It was the seventeenth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions to be built in California between 1769 and 1823. The mission was established to convert American Indians of the Tataviam and Tongva tribes to Catholicism.
Today it serves as a working parish chapel and a museum.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0492
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.0639.0492
This postcard view of San Miguel Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company of Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Miguel Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company of Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
The Van Ornum firm (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing California landmark scenes.
Mission San Miguel Arcángel, located in San Miguel, was the sixteenth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions founded in California between 1769 and 1823. The mission was built to support the effort to convert American Indians of the Salinan tribe to Catholicism.
Today the mission serves as a parish church.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0494
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0494
This postcard view of San Buenaventura Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Buenaventura Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing California landmark scenes.
Mission San Buenaventura, founded in 1782, is located in the coastal town of Ventura. It was the ninth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823 to convert American Indians of the Chumash tribe to Catholicism.
Today the mission serves as a parish church and a museum.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0487
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0487
This postcard view of San Luis Obispo Mission was printed by Van Ornum Colorprint Company, Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Luis Obispo Mission was printed by Van Ornum Colorprint Company, Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
The Van Ornum firm (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing scenes of California landscape and history.
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was founded in 1772 by Spanish missionaries. It is located in San Luis Obispo. The fifth of twenty one Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823, its purpose was to convert American Indians of the Chumash tribe to Catholicism.
Today the mission serves as a parish church.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0481
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0481
This postcard view of San Diego Mission was printed using photomechanical processes by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing historic landmark, and landsc
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Diego Mission was printed using photomechanical processes by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.
The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing historic landmark, and landscape scenes in California.
Mission San Diego de Alcalá, located in what is now called Mission Valley, was the first mission founded by Fr. Junípero Serra in 1769. It was the first of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823, and was built to convert American Indians of the Kumeyaay tribe to Catholicism.
Today the mission buildings include a parish church.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0476
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0476
This postcard view of San Carlos Mission (El Carmel) was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Carlos Mission (El Carmel) was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing scenes in California.
Mission San Carlos Borroméo del rio Carmelo was founded in 1770 in Carmel Valley. It was the second of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823. The mission, built to convert American Indians of the Esselen and Ohlone, or Costanoa, tribes to Catholicism, was restored to its present condition in 1882 by the parish church of Monterey.
The mission continues to serve as a parish church today.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0477
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0477
This postcard view of San Antonio Mission was printed by Van Ornum Colorprint Co. Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Antonio Mission was printed by Van Ornum Colorprint Co. Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes.
The Van Ornum firm (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies producing scenes of popular sites and landscapes in California.
Mission San Antonio de Padua, founded in 1771, is located south of King City in Monterey County. It was the third of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions founded in California between 1769 and 1823. It was built to convert American Indians of the Salinan tribe to Catholicism.
Today the mission serves as a parish church.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0485
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0485
This postcard view of Santa Ynez Mission was printed using photomechanical processes by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies offering scenic views of California an
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of Santa Ynez Mission was printed using photomechanical processes by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company in Los Angeles, Calif.
The Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) was one of many picture postcard publishing companies offering scenic views of California and its landmarks.
Mission Santa Ynez (or Inés), founded in 1804, is located northwest of Santa Barbara, in the city of Solvang. It was the nineteenth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions to be built in California between 1769 and 1823, and was founded to convert American Indians of the Chumash tribe to Catholicism.
Today the mission serves as both a parish church and a museum.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0478
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0478
This postcard view of San Buenaventura Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) and the M. Kashower Company (1914-1934) in Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Buenaventura Mission was printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) and the M. Kashower Company (1914-1934) in Los Angeles, Calif. using photomechanical processes The companies are examples of the many picture postcard publishing firms producing California landmark scenes during this period.
Mission San Buenaventura was founded in 1782. It was the ninth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions established in California between 1769 and 1823. Its purpose was to support the effort to convert American Indians of the Chumash tribe to Catholicism.
Today the mission serves as a parish church.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
M. Kashower Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0500
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0500
This postcard view of San Gabriel Mission was printed using photomechanical processes by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) in Los Angeles, Calif.
Description (Brief)
This postcard view of San Gabriel Mission was printed using photomechanical processes by the Van Ornum Colorprint Company (1908-1921) in Los Angeles, Calif. The company was one of many picture postcard publishing establishments working in California.
Mission San Gabriel Arcángel was founded in 1771, near the city of Montebello in Southern California. It was the fourth of twenty-one Spanish Franciscan missions founded in California between 1769 and 1823. The mission was established to convert American Indians of the Tongva tribe to Catholicism. It was moved in 1775 to its present location outside of downtown Los Angeles.
Today the mission continues to minister to an American Indian community with a church and a museum.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1921
graphic artist
Van Ornum Colorprint Co.
ID Number
1986.0639.0473
accession number
1986.0639
catalog number
1986.639.0473

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.