In 1880, a group called the Association of Old Time Telegraphers (OTT) was formed as a means to have a reunion of retired telegraphers. The OTT hosted annual conventions, along with the US Military Telegraph Corps (USMTC), which was formed in 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War, at which the attendees received an ornate ribbon to wear during the event. At the most famous OTT convention in 1905, attendees were given a miniature fully-functional telegraph key in a cardboard box made by JH Bunnell.
Telegraph ribbons were also given out to active telegraphers who provided communication services at the Democratic & Republican National Conventions.
Below are some pictures of different telegraph ribbons and other pins that were given out during various conventions. Click on each thumbnail to view the full size image:
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| 1872 Democratic National Convention, Baltimore |
A Very Early Pre-OTT Telegrapher's Reunion Ribbon. Keuka Lake, NY. 1875 |
1886 Postal Telegraph Convention, St. Louis |
Close-up of the Emblem on the Center of the 1886 Postal Telegraph Ribbon |
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| 1894 OTT Reunion, Baltimore |
Reverse Side of the 1894 OTT Ribbon |
1882 Association of Railway Telegraph Superintendents |
1891 OTT Reunion, Washington DC |
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| 1895 OTT Reunion, New York |
1896 Republican National Convention, St. Louis |
1899 OTT Reunion, Boston |
Close-Up of the Emblem at the Bottom of the Ribbon |
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| 1900 Republican National Convention, Philadelphia |
Reverse Side of the 1900 Rep. Nat. Conv. Ribbon |
1903 OTT Reunion, Milwaukee |
1904 OTT Reunion, Atlanta |
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| Back Side of the 1904 OTT Emblem |
Close-Up of the Front Side of the Emblem |
Ribbon From 1904 World's Fair, St. Louis, for the 14th Annual O.R.T. Reunion (Organization of Railroad Telegraphers) |
Close-Up of the Emblem on the 1904 World's Fair Ribbon |
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| 1905 OTT Reunion, New York |
1906 OTT Reunion, Washington DC |
1908 Republican National Convention, Chicago |
1909 OTT Reunion, Pittsburgh |
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| 1909 Meeting of The Association of Telegraph Superintendents, Detroil |
Close-Up of the Emblem on the 1909Telegraph Superintendents Ribbon |
1908 OTT Reunion, Niagara Falls |
Back Side of the 1908 OTT Ribbon |
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| 1910 OTT Reunion, Chicago |
1911 OTT Reunion, Atlantic City |
1912 OTT Reunion, Jacksonville |
1912 Democratic National Convention, Baltimore |
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| 1912 Republican National Convention, Chicago |
Another Ribbon From the 1912 Republican National Convention, Chicago |
1913 OTT Reunion, Detroit |
1913 Order of Railroad Telegraphers Convention, Baltimore |
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| 1917 Order of Railroad Telegraphers Convention, Seattle |
1920 OTT Reunion, Toronto |
Back Side of the 1920 OTT Ribbon |
1920 Democratic National Convention, San Francisco |
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| 1920 Republican National Convention, Chicago |
Reverse Side of the 1920 Republican National Convention Ribbon |
1924 Democratic National Convention, New York |
1924 Republican National Convention, Cleveland |
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| 1924 OTT Reunion, New Orleans |
Close-Up of the Emblem on the 1924 OTT Ribbon |
1925 OTT Convention, New York |
Close-Up of the Emblem on the 1925 OTT Ribbons |
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| The Reverse Side of the 1925 Emblem |
1926 OTT Reunion, Montreal |
1928 OTT Reunion, Omaha |
1928 Republican National Convention, Kansas City |
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| 1932 Republican National Convention, Chicago |
1932 Democratic National Convention, Chicago |
1933 OTT Reunion, Chicago |
1936 Democratic National Convention, Philadelphia |
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| Close-Up of the Emblem on the 1936 Democratic National Convention Ribbon |
1936 Republican National Convention, Cleveland |
1940 Democratic National Convention, Chicago |
1940 Republican National Convention, Philadelphia |
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| 1944 Republican National Convention, Chicago |
1947 Commercial Telegraphers Union, Los Angeles |
The Reverse Side of the CTU Emblem |
1948 Democratic National Convention, Philadelphia |
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| Close-Up of the Upper Emblem on the 1948 Democratic National Convention Ribbon |
Close-Up of the Lower Emblem on the 1948 Democratic National Convention Ribbon |
A Different Color Version of the 1948 Democratic National Convention Ribbon |
1948 Republican National Convention, Philadelphia |
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| 1951 Commercial Telegraphers Union, Miami |
1952 Republican National Convention, Chicago |
1957 Commercial Telegraphers Union, Buffalo |
Close-Up of the CTU Emblem |
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1965 Commercial Telegraphers Union Convention, Chicago |
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