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Category Archives: This day in information
The First Telephone Directory
Today in 1878, George Willard Coy and a group of investors from the District Telephone Company of New Haven published the world’s first telephone directory, a single sheet with only 50 names. Yes, another thing we don’t have because of technology. Here’s … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Quotes, Telephone, This day in information
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United States Postal Service Created
Today in 1792, George Washington signed the Post Office Act, creating the United States Postal Service. Under the act, newspapers would be allowed in the mails at low rates to promote the spread of information across the states. To ensure the … Continue reading
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First Feature-Length 3-D Film in Color
60 years ago today, Bwana Devil opened in New York. The film was advertised as the “the world’s first feature length motion picture in natural vision 3 dimension: The Miracle of the Age!!! A LION in your lap! A LOVER in your arms!”
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The Telegraph Request for Proposal
Today in 1837, The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution requesting the Treasury Secretary, Levi Woodbury, to report to the House at its next session, “upon the propriety of establishing a system of telegraphs for the United States.” Richard John in Network … Continue reading
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IBM and The First Social Security Check
Today in 1940, Ida M. Fuller became the first person to receive an old-age monthly benefit check under the new Social Security law. Her first check, dated January 31, was for $22.54. The Social Security Act was signed into law by Franklin … Continue reading
“I’m the Oldest Criminal in History”: Why the Cash Register Was Invented
Today in 1883, James Ritty, a saloonkeeper in Dayton, Ohio, and John Birch received a patent (No. 271,363) for the first cash register, nicknamed the “Incorruptible Cashier.” There was a bell to ring up sales, referred to in advertising as “The Bell Heard … Continue reading
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The Public Switched Telephone Network Born
Today in 1878, the first commercial switchboard began operating in New Haven, Connecticut. It served 21 telephones on 8 lines consequently with many people on a party line. On February 17, Western Union opened the first large city exchange in San Francisco. … Continue reading
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George Orwell Day, January 21
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear” “Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness” “Political language – … Continue reading
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SAGE Revealed
Today in 1956, the development of the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE), is disclosed to the public. From MITRE’s website: “Looking back at the development of the computers supporting the SAGE, the origins of many key computer innovations are readily apparent. SAGE’s use of telephone … Continue reading
Al Gore Gives Birth to the Internet
Today in 1994, The Superhighway Summit was held at UCLA’s Royce Hall. It was the “first public conference bringing together all of the major industry, government and academic leaders in the field [and] also began the national dialogue about the Information … Continue reading
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