Communications

WANN Microphone

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.

Date: 1920s

Picture postcard, "Santa Barbara Mission, Founded 1786, Santa Barbara, California"

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

Telegraph Sounder

Telegraph sounders convert electrical pulses into audible sounds and are used to receive Morse code messages. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. Short pulses make a dot, slightly longer pulses make a dash.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph sounders convert electrical pulses into audible sounds and are used to receive Morse code messages. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. Short pulses make a dot, slightly longer pulses make a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. The pulses energize the sounder’s electromagnets which move a lever-arm. The arm makes a loud “click” when it strikes a crossbar and the operator translates the pattern of sounds into the original language. The type 1-B sounder was a very common model for main line use. This unit was rated at 400 ohms resistance. This particular sounder is mounted on a display plate from the Western Union Museum and gives a manufacturing date of 1928.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1928
maker
J. H. Bunnell & Co.
ID Number
EM.331937
accession number
294351
catalog number
331937
collector/donor number
06-22

road ruts under bridge

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
ca 1928
ca 1931
ca 1927
ca 1933
ca 1932
ca 1936
ca 1929
graphic artist
Totten, Ralph J.
ID Number
2013.0196.36
accession number
2013.0196
catalog number
2013.0196.36

Picture postcard, "La Soledad Mission, Founded 1791, near Monterey, California"

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

seated nude woman with stockings

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
ca 1928
ca 1931
ca 1927
ca 1933
ca 1932
ca 1936
graphic artist
Totten, Ralph J.
ID Number
2013.0196.32
accession number
2013.0196
catalog number
2013.0196.32

Poster, You Bet I'm Going Back to Sea

During World War II, the United States government recognized that full public support and dedication to the war effort was essential to victory.
Description
During World War II, the United States government recognized that full public support and dedication to the war effort was essential to victory. To bolster support, the government hired artists to create propaganda posters, designed to promote patriotism with simple, catchy slogans and colorful images. Toiling factory workers, thrifty home front mothers, and fearless soldiers were among the most popular images used by artists to communicate the message.
This 1942 poster commissioned by the War Shipping Administration encouraged a specific mission, designed to attract former seamen back into the Merchant Marine. At the time, American shipyards were producing cargo ships faster than crews could be assembled, forcing recruiters to rely not only on new volunteers, but also to persuade experienced mariners to leave retirement and go back to sea.
The creation of incentive posters mainly fell under the watch of the Office of War Information, a government agency created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in June 1942 to consolidate public information services and coordinate the sanctioned release of war news. The OWI reviewed and approved the content of newsreels, radio broadcasts, and billboards, in addition to producing hundreds of posters. Initially, the most pressing message to be communicated through posters was a warning to Americans about the dangers of discussing sensitive information like production schedules and troop movements that could be overheard by enemy spies. Over the course of the war, posters covered a variety of topics, such as encouraging the purchase of war bonds and galvanizing the work force at shipyards to keep production going on the assembly line.
date made
1942
commissioned poster
War Shipping Administration
directed poster program
United States. Office of War Information
Associated Name
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
ID Number
1991.0856.07
catalog number
1991.0856.07
accession number
1991.0856

Telegraph Sounder

Telegraph sounders convert electrical pulses into audible sounds and are used to receive Morse code messages. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. Short pulses make a dot, slightly longer pulses make a dash.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph sounders convert electrical pulses into audible sounds and are used to receive Morse code messages. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. Short pulses make a dot, slightly longer pulses make a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. The pulses energize the sounder’s electromagnets which move a lever-arm. The arm makes a loud “click” when it strikes a crossbar and the operator translates the pattern of sounds into the original language. This is the only example of a sounder in the collection made by Hardwick-Hindle Company, an electrical manufacturer founded by John C. Hindle Sr. and Ambie Hardwick in 1924.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1928
maker
Hardwick-Hindle Company
ID Number
EM.332376
accession number
294351
catalog number
332376

Campaign speeches are useful, at that

This pen-and-ink comic art drawing by Rube Goldberg from 1924 features the concept of using “windy” political speeches as free energy.Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) was an engineer before he was a comic artist.
Description (Brief)
This pen-and-ink comic art drawing by Rube Goldberg from 1924 features the concept of using “windy” political speeches as free energy.
Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) was an engineer before he was a comic artist. After receiving an engineering degree, he started his career designing sewers for the City of San Francisco, but then followed his other interest and took a job as a sports cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle. After moving to New York in 1907 Goldberg worked for several newspapers, producing a number of short-lived strips and panels—many of which were inspired by his engineering background, including his renowned invention cartoons. In the late 1930s and 1940s he switched his focus to editorial and political cartoons and in 1945 founded the National Cartoonists Society. The Reuben, comic art’s most prestigious award, is named after him.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1924-10-31
original artist
Goldberg, Rube
ID Number
GA.23492
catalog number
23492
accession number
299186

Picture postcard, "Pala Mission Chapel, Founded 1816, near Oceanside, California"

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

Picture postcard, "Ruins of San Juan Capistrano Mission, Founded 1776, Capistrano, California"

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

The Bridge

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
ca 1928
graphic artist
Totten, Ralph J.
ID Number
2013.0196.16
accession number
2013.0196
catalog number
2013.0196.16

Studies for San Salvador, 1492

Unsigned sheet of pencil drawings listing names of men who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his first expedition to the New World and shows some armor they might have worn.
Description
Unsigned sheet of pencil drawings listing names of men who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his first expedition to the New World and shows some armor they might have worn. About 1930 Gerome Ferris painted San Salvador, 1492 in which Columbus claims the island of present-day San Salvador for Spain.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920s
maker
Ferris, Jean Leon Gerome
ID Number
1985.0650.004
accession number
1985.0650
catalog number
85.0650.004

type 4-B single current relay

Telegraph relays amplify an electrical signal in a telegraph line. Telegraph messages travel as a series of electrical pulses through a wire from a transmitter to a receiver.
Description
Telegraph relays amplify an electrical signal in a telegraph line. Telegraph messages travel as a series of electrical pulses through a wire from a transmitter to a receiver. The pulses fade in strength as they travel through the wire, limiting the distance a message can be sent. Relays remedy that problem by detecting a weak signal and automatically re-transmitting that signal down the line using a local power source.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1925
Maker
Western Union Corporation
ID Number
EM.333523
accession number
294351
catalog number
333523

Buffalo Wax Engravers, Inc., Buffalo, NY

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
Buffalo Wax Engravers, Inc.
ID Number
2013.0122.01
catalog number
2013.0122.01
accession number
2013.0122

Picture postcard, "Mission Play Theatre Garden San Gabriel, California"

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

Picture postcard, "Interior San Fernando Mission, Founded 1797, San Fernando, California"

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

Picture postcard, "San Fernando Mission, Founded 1797, San Fernando, California"

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

CD 154 Lynchburg Glass Insulator

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1924
maker
Lynchburg Glass Corporation
ID Number
EM.330866
catalog number
330866
accession number
299122

Table Mountain

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
ca 1928
ca 1931
ca 1927
ca 1933
ca 1932
ca 1936
ca 1929
graphic artist
Totten, Ralph J.
ID Number
2013.0196.39
accession number
2013.0196
catalog number
2013.0196.39

Picture postcard, "San Juan Capistrano Mission, Founded 1776, Capistrano, California"

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

Picture postcard, "San Fernando Mission, Founded 1797, San Fernando, California"

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

Picture postcard, "San Miguel Mission, Founded 1797, near Paso Robles, California"

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

Farm House

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
ca 1928
ca 1931
ca 1927
graphic artist
Totten, Ralph J.
ID Number
2013.0196.25
accession number
2013.0196
catalog number
2013.0196.25

Picture postcard, "San Buena Ventura Mission, Founded 1782, Ventura, California"

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

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