Manuscript Group 454
L.H. KINNARD CHAPTER #7 OF THE TELEPHONE PIONEERS OF AMERICA COLLECTION
1920-1987
16 cubic feet
The Telephone Pioneers of America is an Association that was created thirty-six
years after Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone. The Pioneers first
convened in Boston, November 2, 1911. Two-hundred and forty-four persons were
in attendance. The Telephone Pioneers of America was formed to create a common
bond of fellowship among those who had ushered in this new era of communication.
The members established a purpose which gave meaning to their association: "The
purpose of the Telephone Pioneers of America shall be to provide a means of friendly
association for the longer-service employees in the telephone industry, both active
and retired, and to promote among them a continuing fellowship and a spirit of
mutual helpfulness; to exemplify and perpetuate those principles which have come
to be regarded as the ideals and traditions of the industry; and to participate
in such undertakings as may be deemed to make for the happiness, well-being and
usefulness of the membership and for the progress of the Association."
As the Association grew in size, Pioneers desired to establish local groups to organize activities within their own communities. The first charters were granted in 1921 with programs that contained fellowship, social, hobby, historical, and community service activities.
The L.H. Kinnard Chapter #7 was established on June 7, 1922 as the Central Pennsylvania Chapter #7. The name was changed to the L.H. Kinnard Chapter #7 in 1935 in honor of Leonard Kinnard. Kinnard was born in Harrisburg, September 5, 1869. He rose to the position of president of the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania in 1919 and continued in this position until he resigned in 1934.
The Pioneers are involved in a number of social activities and are committed to a wide range of activities within their communities, including: volunteering in walkathons, bowlathons, telethons, safe-driving transports, programs and services for the handicapped, holiday activities, and numerous other service projects.
L. H. KINNARD CHAPTER RECORDS
- Administrative Files, ca. 1922-1988. (4 cartons, 2 folders) {#454m.1}
- Financial and Accounting Records, 1924-1939. (3 folders) {#454m.2}
- Speeches and Related Material from the Files of Edward Browne, ca. 1970-1972.
(1 folder) {#454m.3}
- History Records, 1982, 1983. (3 folders) {#454m.4}
- Newsletters, 1948-1957, 1958-1981, 1985-1987. (16 folders) {#454m.5}
- Charitable Project Files, 1967, 1979, 1982-1987. (2 boxes, 8 folders) {#454m.6}
- Personnel and Social Activity Files, 1935-1984. (9 folders) {#454m.7}
- Histories and Historical Information Compiled by the Chapter, 1922-1955.
(1 carton) {#454m.8}
- Photographs, 1896-1992. (9 boxes, 1 envelope) {#454m.9}
- Miscellaneous Material of Donald Dietrich, ca. 1971-1985. (1 box) {#454m.10}
- Miscellaneous, 1934, 1986. (1 folder) {#454m.11}
RECORDS OF THE NATIONAL TELEPHONE PIONEERS OF AMERICA
- Administrative Files, 1950-1952, 1980, 1985. (4 folders) {#454m.12}
- Charitable Project Files, 1944, 1973-1979, 1994. (5 folders) {#454m.13}
- Other Telephone Pioneer Chapters' Records, 1924, 1961. (3 folders) {#454m.14}
- The Telephone Pioneers of America, 1911-1961, Published History.
(1 folder) {#454m.15}
- Miscellaneous Records, ca. 1941-1987. (1 folder) {#454m.16}
RECORDS OF THE BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY
- Charitable Project File, undated. (1 folder) {#454m.17}
- Publications, ca. 1886-1984. (15 folders) {#454m.18}
- Correspondence Course Records, 1938, 1952. (3 folders) {#454m.19}
- War and Disaster Files, ca. 1919-1979. (8 folders) {#454m.20}
- Engineering and Technical Records, ca. 1904-1980. (12 folders) {#454m.21}
- Records of Previous Telephone Societies, 1874-1916. (1 folder) {#454m.22}
- Photographs, ca. 1907-1987. (10 folders, 4 envelopes) {#454m.23}
- Miscellaneous, ca. 1941-1987. (2 folders) {#454m.24}
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