United States Child Labor: Work Area--Messenger Boys


Figure 1.--This cabinet card a Bell Telephone messenger boy. Many people at the turn-of-the 20th century did not have telephones in their homes. People could call a local exchange and leave a message. Boys like this delivered the messages to homes. Notice the Bell insinia on his cap. The cabinet card is not dated, but looks to as if it was taken about 1900-05. The photographer is identified by blindstamp in lower margin as "Ingalls - Missoula, Mont".

Carrying messages was a common job for boys. Only boys worked as messengers, we do not see girls. We do not know anything about messenger boys in the 17th and 18th centuries. Messenger boys become quite importantin the 19th century. We do not have much information on the early-19th century, but with the invention of photography we have more information. And technological advances changed the job of being a messenger boy. Boys were involved in the famed Pony Express, because light weight allowed the horses to go faster. The Pony Express was put out of business by Western Union and the telegram. Messenger boys were needed to deliver the telegrams to offices and homes. This continued until telegrams were finally displaced by new technology. Surprisingly, the telephone created the need for even more messengers. This was because for many years, only a few families had telephones. It even took a while for the White House to get one. Thus people would call the central exchange and leave a message to be delivered by the Bell Telephone messengers.

Pony Express (1860-61)

Boys were involved in the famed Pony Express, because light weight allowed the horses to go faster. The Pony Express was a widely reported service, but it lasted a very short period of time. The Pony Express service was set up after the invention of the telegram. There was, however, a gap between the East and Midwest and the Pavific coast.

Western Union Telegram Messenger Boys

The Pony Express was put out of business by Western Union and the telegram. Messenger boys were needed to deliver the telegrams to offices and homes. The telegram ws invented by artist-inventor Samuel Morse (1844). The first message was a Biblical quotation, "What hath God wrought!" Western Union began delivering telegrams in 1861. In the era before telephones were widespread and long distance calls were inexpensive, the telegram was the way people sent important messages. They also were used when a record was needed. Telegrams were used to inform friends and families of important events like births and deaths as well as congratulations and condolences of various kinds. They were also used in business. During World War II, the military used telegrams to inform families of casualties. Telgram messages became a popular way for teenagers to earn money. Western Union hired 14,000 uniformed messengers who delivered telegrams on foot and by bicycle. Most werevboys, but there were a few girls as well. Western Union began closing down hand-delivery (1972). They continued to take messages by phone and delivering them by next-day mail. They were finally displaced by new technology. Western Union ended telegram service in 2006.

Bell Telephone Messenger Boys

Surprisingly, the telephone created the need for even more messenger boys. Only boys were hired. The need for more delivery boys was because for many years, only a few families had telephones. It even took a while for the White House to get one. Thus people would call the central exchange and leave a message to be delivered by the Bell Telephone messengers.

ADT Telegram Delivery Boys

We note various images of American District Telegram (ADT) telegram delivery boys. Western Union of course was the company most associated with telegrams in the United States. ADT was founded in Baltimore to deliver telegraph messages (1874). ADTC was created by merging 57 district telegraph agencies from different cities into a single, consolidated operation. The company also became involved in burglar alarms and other electronic security services. The ADT boys do not seem to have had uniforms, but most had they did have destibtive The boys wore their regular clothes with telegram delivery caps. Unfortunately we can often not read what was written on the cap bands. We do not know if there was a dress code. The boys normally wore suits, but suits were standard wear for boys, even at school, until after Wotld War I. This was one of the important jobs open to teenage boys. We don't think the boys got paid much, but they did get tips when they delivered the messages. The need and availability of ADT messanger boys declines after Woirld War I. It was a job boys could do part time and after school. Many of the boys look like they have left school. We believe that after World War I, leaving school was becoming less common because of child labor laws and compulsory school attendance laws, although this varied from state to state. Also as more and more families got telephones, the volume of telegram messenges declines.

Dime Messenger Boys









HBC





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Created: 3:24 AM 8/5/2010
Last updated: 9:31 PM 9/24/2011