IEEE BOSTON SECTION TELEPHONE MILESTONE

March 10, 2006

MEETING INFORMATION

IEEE Milestone Celebration – 8:30AM, Friday, 10 March

Mark your palm pilot and come to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the first transmission of intelligible speech over electrical wire, which took place in Boston, March 10, 1876. Inventor Alexander Graham Bell called out to his assistant Thomas Watson, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you."  This transmission took place in their attic laboratory located at 5 Exeter Place, close to where Lafayette Corporate Center is today.

On March 10, 2006, the President of the IEEE-USA will award the IEEE Milestone Plaque for the Telephone during a program commemorating the telephone and honoring communications innovation.  The award ceremony will take place at the Verizon building, 185 Franklin Street. After welcoming remarks, there will be presentations by historians and representatives from industry. Over 250 people are expected to attend representing the personal communications industry, city officials, historic communities, and others. The Milestone Committee and sponsors would like a big turnout at this historically important event. IEEE members, non-members, guests, families and friends are encouraged to attend and enjoy a bit of history. Attendance is free but pre-registration is required by contacting IEEE Boston headquarters at 781-245-5405 or by emailing Linda Scott at   l.scott@ieee.org .

IEEE Milestone Celebration

When - Friday, March 10 2006. 8:30 AM till 1 PM plus

Where - Verizon building, 185 Franklin Street, Boston. Pick up your nametag in the lobby then proceed to the auditorium.

Admission - Attendance is free but pre-registration is required by calling 781-245-5405 or by emailing Linda Scott at l.scott@ieee.org

Program Agenda

BARNEY FINN

Bernard S. Finn was Curator in charge of the electrical collections in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History for over forty years and is now curator emeritus.  He has a bachelor's degree from Cornell University in Engineering Physics and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin in History of Science. 

He has been responsible for numerous exhibits at the museum.  Two of special relevance are "Person to Person" (1976-1988) which covered telegraph and telephone technology, and the communications section of "Information Age" (1990-2005). In both of these Bell's telephone inventions were featured.

He published a catalog on the first of these exhibits and has written an analysis (which depended on both documents and repetition of experiments) of Bell's early telephone work.  Other recent publications include a bibliography of works on the history of electrical technology and an essay with bibliography on the development of museums of science and technology.

He has been a consultant to several museums in this country and abroad.

DIRECTIONS TO VERIZON
185 Franklin Street, Boston

See Google map.

From North:

	Take Expressway South (Route 3/93) to the High Street Exit
	Follow exit onto Oliver Street (International Place on right)
	Go two blocks and take left onto Franklin Street
	Meridien Hotel will be on right; 185 Franklin is the next block on left
	To park at Post Office Square garage directly across from 185 Franklin:
	Take right after Meridien onto Pearl Street and garage entrance will be on left

From South:

	Take Expressway North (Route 3/93) to Exit 20 (Logan/I-90/South Station)
	Stay left following signs for South Station via Frontage Road.
	Follow straight – signs for Downtown/South Station.
	At light follow signs for Atlantic Avenue. South Station will be on right.
	Go straight through two lights. Cross Summer Street, Congress Street.
	Stay left following signs for Financial District and Purchase Street.
	Follow Purchase St. past International Place and take right onto Pearl St.
	Go 2 blocks on Pearl St. to lights at Franklin St.
	Entrance to Post Office Square garage (opposite 185 Franklin St.) will be just after lights on the left.

Via Public Transportation:

Green Line:

	From Park Street Station walk down Winter Street to Washington Street
	Take left onto Washington Street;
	First right after Filene's is Franklin. Follow Franklin Street about 4 or 5 blocks
	185 Franklin Street entrance is on the right after crossing Congress Street

Red Line:

	From South Station walk past front of Federal Reserve Bank.
	Take left onto Congress Street.
	Walk 3 blocks to Franklin Street
	Take right and 185 Franklin Street entrance is on right

Please note: Big Dig activity creates regular changes in routing to and from the Central Artery

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