September 1
TELEPHONE OPERATOR DAY
Originally there were no female telephone operators in the young communications industry. However, the callers complained that the operators were rude. And so, the first woman was hired to be the courteous, friendly voice on the other end of the black box and wire. The first woman telephone operator was Emma M. Nutt, who started work saying “Number pu-leeeeeze” for the Telephone Dispatch Company of Boston, Massachusetts on this day in 1878. She remained in her career choice for 33 years.
We’ve come a long way, baby. In fact, we’ve come full circle. Wasn’t that last telephone operator’s voice, male? Well, at least he was polite.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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