PI 168 Description:
12. RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC TELEGRAPH. 1837-46. 2 in.
Under an act of March 3, 1843, an experimental telegraph line from Washington to Baltimore was built and operated under the general direction of the Postmaster General, with Samuel F. B. Morse as superintendent. The line was constructed during 1843; was officially opened on May 24, 1844; and was turned over to private operation in December 1846.
The records include correspondence of Samuel F. B. Morse and his assistants relating to the telegraphic system and the operation of the experimental line; drafts for money received; and copies of orders of the Postmaster General relating to the money allotted for the telegraph and to the setting of rates for it. Arranged chronologically.
National Archives Identifier (NAID): 2642006
This Series is partially available online.
Nara Catalog: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/2642006
This Series has not been microfilmed.
Sample Pages from 1837:
It appears that some of this series was digitized by Citizen Archivists (likely at the Innovation Hub before it closed). There is an index of of the correspondence within the collection.
Then in January 1837, there is a page from the US Congressional Serial Set about the petition of Samuel C. Reid “Praying the establishment of a Line of Telegraphs from New York to New Orleans.”
And then scans of the original letter from Samuel C. Reid to the (soon to be President) Martin Van Buren.
Jeanette’s Sample Citation:
U.S. National Archives, National Archives Catalog, database with images (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/54967248 : 29 July 2025) > NA Identifier (NAID) 54967248: “1837 – Jan.,” images 3 to 6 of 36, letter from Sam. C. Reid to Martin Van Buren, 6 January 1837; citing Records of the Office of the Electromagnetic Telegraph, Record Group 28: Records of the Post Office Department; National Archives, Washington, D.C.