Downtown in Sacramento in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
1936 Telephone Operators
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 9, 2025
1. 1936 Telephone Operators Marker
Circa 1936
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1936.
Location. 38° 34.725′ N, 121° 29.227′ W. Marker is in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. It is in Downtown. It is on J Street near 14th Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1401 J Street, Sacramento CA 95814, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Sacramento Valley and specifically in the Central Valley. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1911 Telephone Man (here, next to this marker); The Invention of the Transistor (here, next to this marker); 1940s Splicer (a few steps from this marker); 1958 Directory Operators (a few steps from this marker); 1937 Telephone Lineman (a few steps from this marker); Bell Solar Battery (a few steps from this marker); 1927 Splicer (within shouting distance of this marker); First Commercial Modem (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sacramento.
More about this marker. The marker and photo is one of a set of 29 found around two A&T-owned buildings along 14th, J and 15th Streets.
Also see . . . Hold the Line. A 2023 JSTOR Daily article looks at the critical
this page online
Excerpt: "South of the border, in the United States, women similarly came to dominate the profession. In the early 1900s, they accounted for eighty percent of all telephone operators in the US. By the time World War I began, bilingual American women served in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) as telephone operatorshelping army personnel follow the evolving situation and interacting with Allied units across France. Known as the 'Hello Girls,' these women waited until 1979 to be recognized finally as veterans. The Hello Girls were the subject of Elizabeth Cobbs book of the same name and, suggests Jill Frahm in her review of the book, paved the way for American suffragists."(Submitted on February 13, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 9, 2025
2. 1936 Telephone Operators photo and marker
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 7, 2025
3. AT&T Building markers along J Street
Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 134 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 13, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on February 12, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
