Step back in time to the exhilarating era of the Roaring Twenties with our latest museum collection highlight, a historic relic from the period between 1908 and 1920. This Federal Telephone produced in Buffalo, New York, is an exquisite piece that not only showcases the technological marvels of its time but also resonates with the essence of The Community Library’s Winter Read of The Great Gatsby and the pursuit of the American Dream.
The Roaring Twenties, famously captured in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby, was a time of extravagant parties, jazz music, and an unyielding belief in the American Dream. The telephone, akin to the popular Kellogg Grabaphone of its time, becomes a symbol of connectivity—a bridge between aspirations and achievements. In the dazzling world of Gatsby, where opulence and ambition intertwined, communication devices like these marked an age where dreams seemed within arm’s reach.
As one admires the intricate design and craftsmanship of this Federal Telephone, they are transported to an era where technological advancements mirrored the societal shifts. The telephone, with its elegant yet functional form, not only facilitated communication but became a status symbol, reflecting the prosperity and progress that epitomized the Jazz Age.
In the context of The Great Gatsby, this telephone serves as a tangible link to the extravagant parties at Gatsby’s mansion, where conversations sparkled as much as the champagne. It whispers tales of clandestine calls, secret rendezvous, and the pursuit of an elusive American Dream that often felt just out of grasp.
As you explore this artifact, imagine the voices that once echoed through its receiver—the dreams, aspirations, and stories that resonated in a time of unprecedented change. The Federal Telephone stands as a testament to an era when the American Dream beckoned with promises of success, wealth, and a brighter future.
You can see this artifact, and many others, in Community Library’s current foyer exhibit of the Roaring 20s, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and The Great Gatsby. More on the Library’s foyer exhibits here.
Wood River Museum of History and Culture, 2021.01.63.
