Berlin, Connecticut Girl to Go as Phone Operator - 1918

Miss Elizabeth Rockwell Roby (1892-1975), Graduate of Smith College and Instructor in Traffic Department, American Telephone and Telegraph Company, Who Is Serving As an Operator “Over There." Miss Roby’s Brother Is in France With the Twenty-Ninth Engineers. Miss Elizabeth Roby, US Signal Corp Telephone Operator. The Hartford Courant, 20 March 1918. | GGA Image ID # 19bbe8be74

📖 Review & Summary

Published in The Hartford Courant on 20 March 1918, this article chronicles the enlistment of Miss Elizabeth Rockwell Roby of Berlin, Connecticut, into the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a telephone operator bound for France. A graduate of Smith College and a seasoned instructor in the American Telephone & Telegraph Company’s Traffic Department, Miss Roby embodied the professionalism and education that defined the elite corps of “Hello Girls.”

Her story illustrates the patriotic enthusiasm sweeping through early 20th-century America, when women began breaking gender barriers in communications and military service. The article blends hometown pride with a sense of global purpose—showing how women from small towns like Berlin, Connecticut, stepped forward to serve alongside the men overseas. Roby’s enlistment typified the courage, intellect, and resolve that marked this pioneering generation of female soldiers.

For educators and historians, the piece is both biographical and cultural—highlighting how the Signal Corps Telephone Operators bridged the civilian world of telecommunications with the rapidly evolving demands of modern warfare.

Foreword

Miss Elizabeth Roby of Berlin, Connecticut, exemplifies American women's patriotic spirit and determination during World War I. A graduate of Smith College and an accomplished instructor in the Traffic Department of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, Miss Roby has enlisted in the U.S. Signal Corps to serve as a telephone operator in France. Her decision reflects her resolve to contribute meaningfully to the war effort, breaking barriers and embracing a vital role in facilitating communication on the front lines. As she prepares for her deployment, her story is a testament to the courage and commitment of women stepping into critical roles traditionally reserved for men.

Miss Elizabeth Roby Enlists in the U. S. Signal Corps and Expects to be Sent to France shortly.

New Britain, 18 March 1918

When General Pershing, at the head of the American troops flanked on both sides by leaders of the English and French troops, with the Italians and other allies bringing up the rear, marched “Unter den Linden” (under the linden trees ) in Berlin, there is a possibility that a Berlin, Connecticut girl will seat herself in the royal telephone office, shift a few plugs and notify King Edward over the wire at Buckingham palace that the big job is over, and that a certain Wilhelm, whose name and picture have appeared quite frequently since 1914 in the newspapers, is about to get his deserve.

If such is the case, the girl will likely be Miss Elizabeth Roby, a proud daughter of Berlin, Connecticut, and the esteemed Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Roby. Roby, a graduate of New Britain High School and Smith College, is currently making her home in Chicago, having moved there about three years ago after completing her college studies.

After completing her college course, she accepted a position with the American Telephone & Telegraph Company. She has since been engaged with that concern at the Chicago office, handling long-distance work and acting as an instructor.

A short time ago, realizing that even though she was only a “mere woman,” there was room for her to do “her bit.” Miss Roby enlisted in the United States Signal Corps as a telephone operator. Her role as a telephone operator is crucial, as it will facilitate communication in the war zone, a vital aspect of wartime operations. She is currently studying hard in preparation for a trip across to France.

She hopes to see immediate service and expects to have her wish granted, so she is undergoing a thorough study of French. Her friends, eagerly anticipating news of her work, have received word of Miss Roby’s enlistment in Berlin and this city, and they expect to hear favorable reports of her work in the field soon.

Miss Roby’s parents are spending the winter months in Meriden. Still, they are expected to return to Berlin shortly for the summer.

Conclusion

Miss Elizabeth Roby's enlistment in the U.S. Signal Corps highlights the indispensable contributions of women to the success of military operations during World War I. With her extensive training and determination, she is poised to significantly impact the war effort, ensuring seamless communication in the most challenging conditions. Her journey from Berlin, Connecticut, to the battlefields of France underscores the growing role of women in shaping history. It demonstrates the power of individual dedication in the collective pursuit of victory.

✨ Most Engaging Content

The most engaging element of this article lies in its juxtaposition of humor and heroism. The author imagines a whimsical postwar scene in which General Pershing marches triumphantly into Berlin—with “a Berlin girl” from Connecticut at the telephone switchboard, notifying King Edward at Buckingham Palace that the war is over. Beneath the humor lies a deep cultural truth: women like Elizabeth Roby were finally being recognized as indispensable to national defense.

Her ambition to “do her bit,” despite being “only a mere woman,” encapsulates the shift in public sentiment toward women’s capabilities. The piece celebrates both local pride and national progress, offering readers in 1918 a vision of female empowerment within patriotic duty.

🖼️ Noteworthy Image(s)

Miss Elizabeth Rockwell Roby (1892–1975), graduate of Smith College and instructor in the Traffic Department of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company, who enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a telephone operator during World War I. The Hartford Courant, 20 March 1918. | GGA Image ID # 19bbe8be74.

📘 Mini Dictionary for Civilians

• Signal Corps: A branch of the U.S. Army responsible for communications, including telephone, telegraph, and later, radio operations.
• Traffic Department: A division of telephone companies managing call routing, operator training, and long-distance service efficiency.
• “Over There”: A common WWI term referring to the American Expeditionary Forces deployed to Europe, popularized by George M. Cohan’s 1917 song.
• AT&T (American Telephone & Telegraph): The dominant U.S. telecommunications company, instrumental in recruiting women operators for military service.

🎓 Essay Prompts for Students

• How did Elizabeth Roby’s educational and professional background prepare her for service in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I?
• In what ways did local and national newspapers use humor or pride to promote women’s wartime contributions?
• Compare Miss Roby’s story to that of other “Hello Girls” who left civilian life to serve overseas. How did their experiences challenge social norms of the era?
• Discuss the role of telecommunications as a “front line” of warfare during WWI, and how women operators shaped the outcome of modern conflicts.

📚 Citation Block (Chicago, APA, MLA + Student Version)

Chicago: “Berlin Girl to Go as Phone Operator.” The Hartford Daily Courant, March 20, 1918, p. 7.

APA: The Hartford Daily Courant. (1918, March 20). Berlin Girl to Go as Phone Operator. p. 7.

MLA: “Berlin Girl to Go as Phone Operator.” The Hartford Daily Courant, 20 Mar. 1918, p. 7.

Student Citation (Simplified): “Berlin Girl to Go as Phone Operator,” The Hartford Courant (March 20, 1918), p. 7, reprinted at the Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives.

“Berlin Girl to Go as Phone Operator,” in The Hartford Daily Courant, Wednesday, 20 March 1918, p. 7.