Emma Nutt

Emma Nutt (July 1860 – 1915) became the world's first female telephone operator on September 1, 1878, when she started working for the Edwin Holmes Telephone Despatch Company (or the Boston Telephone Dispatch Company ) in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

Life and career In January 1878, the Boston Telephone Dispatch Company had started hiring boys as telephone operators, starting with George Willard Croy. Boys (reportedly including Nutt's husband The company began hiring women operators instead, starting with Nutt on September 1, 1878. Her career lasted between 33 and 37 years, ending with her retirement sometime between 1911 Unlike her sister, Stella only remained on the job for a few years.

The customer response to Nutt's soothing, cultured voice and patience was overwhelmingly positive, and male telegraphy operators were soon replaced by women. In 1879 these included Bessie Snow Balance, Emma Landon, Carrie Boldt, and Minnie Schumann, the first female operators in Michigan.

"EMMA", a synthesized speech attendant system created by Preferred Voice and Philips Electronics is named in her honor.

1 September is unofficially commemorated as Emma M. Nutt Day.