American Historical Ephemera & Photography

3 in. dia. x 2 3/4 in. ht. (overall) presentation mounted section of cable from the Western Electric Company, Inc. (significant surface scratching to metal throughout, with some pock marks to bottom of base). Brass rim of lid presents the portion of cable to "W.R. McGovern" and brass plaque affixed to side of cylinder reads, "Chicago Great Lakes / Toll Cable / 1917."

W.R. McGovern was appointed chief engineer of the Central Group of Bell Telephone Companies in 1916, having served as the state engineer for Chicago Telephone Company previously. When the United States joined World War I in 1917, Bell Telephone Company was called upon to supply military telegraph battalions to serve in the war. Notably, McGovern was put in charge of forming the battalions, first called the Sixth and Eleventh Telegraph Battalions (later the 409th and 410th).