Antique Switchboard Operators Photo Early 1900s Telephone Telecom Exchange

Switchboard operators, often women, played a vital role in early telecommunications, manually connecting calls by plugging cords into the appropriate jacks. Interestingly, the first switchboard operators were teenage boys, but women soon became preferred for the role due to their perceived politeness and efficiency, and the job became a significant entry point for women into the workforce. Measures about 4 x 5 inches.