Making a long-distance phone call may not seem like a big deal today, but in 1915 a phone call between San Francisco and New York City could make it into the newspaper. And at the 82nd Psi Upsilon Convention, when one occurred on September 4th, 1915, it most certainly did!
The 82nd Psi Upsilon Convention was hosted by the Epsilon Chapter at the University of California – Berkeley from September 1st through 4th . At the same time The City of San Francisco was hosting the Panama–Pacific International Exposition, a World’s Fair to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal. Like all Worlds it was meant to showcase great achievements by nations, mainly it was celebrating the completion of the Panama Canal, but another noteworthy achievement that was being highlighted was the fact that a transcontinental phone line was established in 1915, allowing communication between the coasts for the first time, to kick off the Exposition.
The Vice-President of the Exposition was Thornwell Mullally, Beta 1892 (Yale), and with his connections hosted a special event for the members of the Psi Upsilon Convention to gather at the Hall of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company where the Honorable William H. Taft, Beta 1898 (Yale), and Albert Lee Clark, Epsilon 1907 (Berkeley), were able to speak with George S. Coleman, Xi 1876 (Wesleyan), who served as the Secretary of the Executive Council, in New York City.
You can read a full transcript of this conversation within the 1915 Convention Records in our digital archives, but a snippet:
Bro. Clark – “Hello, Brother Coleman! I have the honor of introducing Brother Taft, who will speak to the Eastern brothers that were not able to come West for the delegates assembled in the seats before us.”
Bro. Taft – “Hello, Brother Coleman! For the large and robust assemblage of loyal Psi Us in this room I want to send the best wishes to the Eastern brothers.”
Bro. Coleman – “We are highly honored to receive this message and heartily reciprocate.”
Prior to the transcontinental call Thornwell Mullally presented the President of the Psi Upsilon Executive Council, Herbert Bridgman, Gamma 1866 (Amherst), a bronze medallion with the inscription “The Pananama-Pacific International Exposition to The Psi Upsilon Fraternity, San Francisco, CAL, September 4th, 1915” and told a story that the Exposition may not have occurred without the support of Psi Upsilon, which Taft relayed to Coleman on the call.
The Telephone Company sent copies of the photo above to each chapter with a personal letter from Herbert Bridgman explaining the historic interest of the occasion.