More information on “Murray Hill: Birthplace of Modern Technology”.

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Murray Hill Drafting Assistants, 1947

Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey, 1949

Murray Hill Library, 1960

Murray Hill Chorus, Arnold Auditorium, 1946

Christmas At Murray Hill, 1946 Chorus Program

Murray Hill Cafeteria Staff, 1947

Murray Hill Employee Lounge, 1950

Murray Hill Medical Department, 1946

Bell Telephone Laboratory Employee Notebook

Cafeteria Lunch Tray from Murray Hill

Knife from Murray Hill

Rollin McCarthy Western Electric Pass

Murray Hill Drafting Assistants, 1947

Image Courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center.

Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey, 1949

Murray Hill’s location was chosen because the research required a quieter and more expansive area than the Manhattan lab. Additionally, it would allow for the large employee base to find homes near their workplace. By 1943, there were about 800 employees working at Murray Hill in approximately 215,000 sq. ft. of laboratory area. Today, Nokia operates out of the Murray Hill facility.

Image Courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center.

Murray Hill Library, 1960

Staff could learn not only by reading in the library, but also by talking to colleagues there. The exchange of ideas was crucial at Murray Hill. Many employee accounts recall the 700 foot long hallway as an information highway, with plenty of opportunities to step through a colleague’s open door.

Image Courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center.

Murray Hill Chorus, Arnold Auditorium, 1946

Staff at the labs participated in any number of social activities: sports, crafts, and music. They put on Christmas concerts and lunchtime performances. Capitola Dickerson, at the piano, served as accompanist and vocalist for many musical programs. She sang with perfect pitch, performing classical, folk, and African American spiritual music for her colleagues.

Image Courtesy of Chatham Historical Society.

Christmas At Murray Hill, 1946 Chorus Program

Staff at the labs participated in any number of social activities: sports, crafts, and music. They put on Christmas concerts and lunchtime performances. Capitola Dickerson (at the piano in a nearby photo) served as accompanist and vocalist for many musical programs. She sang with perfect pitch, performing classical, folk, and African American spiritual music for her colleagues.

Image Courtesy of Summit Historical Society.

Murray Hill Cafeteria Staff, 1947

Image Courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center.

Murray Hill Employee Lounge, 1950

Image Courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center.

Murray Hill Medical Department, 1946

Image Courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center.

Bell Telephone Laboratory Employee Notebook

Buildings 1 and 2 had “stock rooms,” storage areas in the attics, complete with supplies marked “Bell System Property,” that they could take for work. They kept records of supplies which were then billed to the appropriate department. Lab notebooks are on display in a case in this gallery.

Collection of AT&T Archives and History Center.

Cafeteria Lunch Tray from Murray Hill

Hungry staff enjoyed the mix of all levels of employees in the self-serve cafeteria. Every product that was needed by lab staff, including lunch accoutrements, were made by the company.

Collection of Jim Reeds.

Knife from Murray Hill

Hungry staff enjoyed the mix of all levels of employees in the self-serve cafeteria. Every product that was needed by lab staff, including lunch accoutrements, were made by the company. Note even the knife is monogrammed “BTL” for Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Collection of Jim Reeds.

Rollin McCarthy Western Electric Pass

Rollin McCarthy was in charge of construction of Building 3 of Murray Hill, completed in 1958.

Collection of Louise Conley.