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Women Telegraph Operators in the Civil War

While most men were called away to fight in the Civil War, women played an important role as telegraph operators. Learn about their service to relay these crucial messages. Registration required.

Women had a pivotal role in the development of the telegraph and setting up the communication foundations for both the United States and abroad. After the idea of telegraph communication's necessity and needs that became apparent with the advent of scheduling locomotive services, many daughters of railroad engineers and train magnates/company owners, realized that they could fill an important role in this new found network of rail commerce and business. Trains could move freight and passengers efficiently without safety concerns regarding breakdowns and collisions. Women were easier to train with the Morse, and demonstrated a superiority over men in this new found discipline. Women became more important as men were called away to battle during the Civil War, and they knowingly assisted with the war effort in relaying war messages from the battle grounds to families and newspapers abroad. Thus the Victorian internet became alive and women had a vital role in the growth of communications for this period.

Presented by Art Bleicher of the Mid-State Amateur Radio Club.