Emma M. Nutt Day

Emma M. Nutt Day is a celebration of the first woman telephone operator in America. It was on September 1, 1878, that Emma became an employee of a telephone exchange company. Moreover, she worked in this position for more than 33 years. Until 1878, only men worked as operators, but Emma changed history. Her soft, soothing manner of speaking was very popular with people, and since then the telephone companies began to hire other women. Emma’s sister, Stella, also became an operator.

History

The Boston telephone company hired young men as operators, but people did not like their manner of speaking and behavior, making them unsuitable for this job. Most of the men were laconic, engaging in pranks and even rudeness. Of course, this was unacceptable, so the company’s management decided to hire women. The first was Emma M. Nutt, who began work on September 1, 1878, with a salary of $10 and a work week of 54 hours.

Interesting Facts

• Emma Nutt will forever remain a symbol of the fact that bots will not replace human communication.
• World War II began on Emma Nutt’s 61st birthday.
• The famous American actress Lily Tomlin, who played a telephone operator in the TV series Laughter, was also born on September 1st.
• The callers loved Emma very much for her special soothing voice.
• Emma did an excellent job of hitting the right keys and connecting the cables correctly.
• Before getting a job as a telephone operator, Emma passed tests for measurements of height, body weight, and arm length. This is due to the fact that the operators sat in special rooms.
• 33 years – that’s how long Emma worked as an operator at a telephone exchange.

How to take part

Learn more about this amazing woman, because her biography represents a whole historical era. With her career, Emma changed history and opened up a new profession for women. Write about it on social networks. Let Emma’s story motivate others to move towards success.

When is Emma M. Nutt Day celebrated in 2023?

Emma M. Nutt Day is observed on September 1 each year.

Observations