Recurring Themes in NGM Article Reprints (Part I)

[George Thomas Wilson]

Over the years National Geographic printed articles about certain topics again and again.  These article would be reprinted as individual articles because of their popularity.  One of my favorite recurring theme is the articles about space exploration (currently I have six of these reprints).  I will save them for another day but for now I like to give you a three issue presentation of Alexander Graham Bell's other great contribution to mankind (beside the work he did for the National Geographic Society).

The "Miracle" of the Telephone

As per Roger Nathan, there were three articles between 1937 and 1954 that were reissued as Article Reprints.  The first of these, from the October 1937 issue and written by F. Barrows Colton, is entitled "The Miracle of Talking by Telephone".  This 39 page article contains 41 black & white photographs.  Its range of topics include the long distances of calls, telephone operators and linemen at work, and the equipment itself.  One interesting thing I learned upon reading this article is that in 1937 there were more telephones in New York City than in all of France.

The second Article Reprint in this series is from the March 1947 issue.  Entitled "Miracle Men of the Telephone" it is also written by F Barrows Colton and 24 black & white illustrations including "15 Historic Photographs" of Alexander Graham Bell by Gilbert Grosvenor.  It also includes 20 color photographs by Willard R Culver entitled "Birthplace of Telephone Magic".  This 44 page article deals more with the life of Bell including his work with the deaf as well as other contributions to manking from the Bell Labs including the war effort and the purification of Thiamin (Vitamin B1).

The last of these three Article Reprints is from the July 1954 issue and is entitled "New Miracles of the Telephone Age".  It is written by Robert Leslie Conly.  This 34 page article contains 12 black & white and 23 color photographs.  Topics include "modern" developments from Bell Labs like color television and the "brains" of the Nike anti-aircraft missile.

Tom Wilson