Learning from the Source: Technology Time Travel
Become a time traveling sleuth with historical newspapers to discover how the hot new technology at the turn of the 20th century evolved. Work in groups to analyze the primary sources and, together, uncover the evolution of radio technology. Next, investigate other primary and secondary sources to compare and contrast radio’s evolution to another technology of today. What parallels do you notice? What lessons can you learn from history to help you navigate the present?
Essential question: How do technological developments affect individuals and society?
Historical newspaper articles
- Wireless Telegraphy The Wonder of the Century The San Francisco call. (San Francisco [Calif.]), 06 Oct. 1899
- Wireless Telegraph Work Evening bulletin. (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii), 04 Oct. 1900
- Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. (investment) The St. Louis Republic. (St. Louis, Mo.), 15 Nov. 1903
- Marconi Wireless Telegraph: An Open Letter to the Public, to Investors, and to Marconi Stockholders Los Angeles herald [microform]. (Los Angeles [Calif.]), 25 March 1906
- Radio Wireless Telephone: A 360-ft Tower for this City The Seattle star. (Seattle, Wash.), 16 Sept. 1909
- North American Wireless Company The Salt Lake herald-Republican. (Salt Lake City, Utah), 08 May 1910
- Radio Operators Can Take It Easy Honolulu star-bulletin. (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii), 11 Dec. 1912
- Licenses to Radio Operators Albuquerque morning journal. (Albuquerque, N.M.), 29 April 1913
- 2,346 Radio Operators in the U.S. Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 04 March 1914
- Radio Operators Must Be Neutral The Daily Missoulian. (Missoula, Mont.), 07 Aug. 1914
- War Regulations Adopted; Station at Pearl Harbor Soon to Be Built Honolulu star-bulletin. (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii), 16 Dec. 1914
- Wireless Operators of State Organize The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.), 08 April 1915
- Navy Department Plans Larger Naval Reserve Richmond times-dispatch. (Richmond, Va.), 03 Sept. 1915
- Wireless Men in Demand Farmers’ champion. (Elgin, Okla.), 01 March 1916
- Navy Wants Radio Operators to Sign Up El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.), 17 June 1916
- Young Wireless Operators Bother [Navy] Tulsa daily world. (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]), 24 Feb. 1916
- Director Todd to Ask Federal Radio Control Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 09 Dec. 1916
- Uncle Sam’s Navy Needs More Radio Operators Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 09 Sept. 1917
- Dismantle Amateur Radio Stations in Event of War The day book. (Chicago, Ill.), 12 March 1917
- U.S. Puts Watch on 500 Amateur Radio Stations The evening world. (New York, N.Y.), 13 Feb. 1917
- N.Y. Girls Shoot Dots and Dashes into the Kaiser The evening world. (New York, N.Y.), 26 July 1918
- SOS for the Amateurs The sun. (New York [N.Y.]), 07 Dec. 1918
- The Opportunity of a Lifetime Now That Radio Has Arrived! The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]), 19 May 1919
- Freedom of the Air and Uncle Sam’s Legions of Wireless Amateurs The sun. (New York [N.Y.]), 20 April 1919
- Girls and Boys with Radio Hobby Deserve Every Encouragement The Sun and the New York herald. (New York [N.Y.]), 18 April 1920
- Means to Fight Radio Monopoly in U.S. Discussed The Washington herald. (Washington, D.C.), 06 April 1921
- Twice Each Week There’s Music in the Air New-York tribune. (New York [N.Y.]), 02 Oct. 1921
- Everybody’s Listening In Richmond times-dispatch. (Richmond, Va.), 26 March 1922
- Congress Will Control Radio The Caldwell tribune. (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]), 21 April 1922
- Radio page The Seattle star. (Seattle, Wash.), 31 May 1922
- Propose Sweeping Radio Legislation Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 18 June 1922
- Radio News & Ads The Washington herald. (Washington, D.C.), 13 Aug. 1922
- [Hoover] Describes Future of Radio Progress The Washington herald. (Washington, D.C.), 20 Aug. 1922
- Herbert Hoover, Jr. Communicating by Radio The Washington herald. (Washington, D.C.), 27 Dec. 1922
- Radio Becomes Familiar Thing in Year’s Time The Washington herald. (Washington, D.C.), 02 Oct. 1922
Book
Radio for Everybody 1922
Political cartoon
Gambling by wireless 1906
Legislative sources
- Radio Act of 1927
- Recent Federal Legislation: Radio Act of 1927 Carl Zollmann Marquette Law Review Volume 11 Issue 3 April 1927 Article 3
- Anniversary of the Radio Act of 1927, The Beginning of Broadcast Regulation In Custodia Legis blog February 23, 2016
Background information