What Mr. Morse Hath Wrought - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Architects and Surveyors

What Mr. Morse Hath Wrought

J.M. Syken

Course Outline

Through the viewing of several archival/documentary films produced in the 1940s/50s/60s, we will examine the history of the development of the telegraph in the U.S. starting with its first use in 1844. As well, we will examine the operations/services of the main provider of telegraphy service in the United States at mid-20th Century: The Western Union Company.

Also, we will examine the methods used to successfully operate a telegraph key apparatus and we will examine the organization/application of the thirty-six character International Morse Code via telegraphy.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Understand/appreciate the origins of the telegraph and its impact on communication development and national expansion;
Understand/appreciate the advancements in telegraph technology by the middle of the 20th Century that made the Western Union Company a major American Corporation and provider of telegraphy services;
Understand/appreciate the use of the telegraph key apparatus; and
Understand/appreciate the use/organization/application etc. of International Morse Code.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for architects, engineers and other design professionals.

Benefit to Attendees

The attendee/s will gain an intimate knowledge and insight into the background, history, development, uses etc. of Telegraphy.

Course Introduction

The course incorporates the viewing of several archival/documentary films broken down as follows;

Part 1 – The Western Union Company
Part 2 – International Morse Code

Part 1 examines in depth the operations, organization, technology, services etc. of the Western Union Company – the main provider of telegraph services in the United States during the 20th Century. Part 2 examines the operation of a telegraph key-set and the fundamentals of the International Morse Code.

Course Content

Part 1 – The Western Union Company;
TITLE: Telegram for America (1956)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/Telegram1956
DURATION: 19:30
Part 2 – International Morse Code;
TITLE: Technique of Hand Sending (1944)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.dod.dimoc.23735
DURATION: (+/-)09:10
TITLE: Hand Sending International Morse Code (1966)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.36813
DURATION: 19:47

Course Summary

One of the greatest inventions of all-time – the telegraph, was the result of despair. While painting a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette in New York, Samuel Morse received word by horse messenger that his wife was ill. By the time he arrived back home in New Haven, CT., she was dead. Had he known earlier of her condition, he would have left immediately, thus was he motivated to invent a far faster means of communication than was available in his day. Preceding the telephone and electricity by more than a generation, the telegraph was the first step in the long journey that has made the world a much smaller place via instantaneous communication.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Morse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Union

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enMEFurvS2A (Inventions That Changed the World: The Telephone - 58:24)

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.