Maria Craig

Maria Craig (1822–1905) was a Dublin born British telegraphist. She joined the Electric Telegraph Company in 1853 and rose to be a supervisor and then matron to the company's women employees. She was also an early woman employee of the Post Office after her employers were nationalised in 1870.

Life Craig was born in Dublin in 1822. She and her husband Robert Craig had at least four children. Robert seems to have died by 1853. By 1859, growth required the company to relocate its central office to Great Bell Alley, Moorgate (now 11–14 Telegraph Street). The Moorgate office had three floors and a large number of men and boys were recruited on an accelerating rate of pay. The company also employed a significant number of women from a higher social class as telegraphists operating the Wheatstone needle instruments. They were paid less and they had to leave if they married. In 1855 the company she was employed by merged with the International Telegraph Company and her new employer was the Electric and International Telegraph Company. By 1855 she was earning over £2 each week while her staff were paid between ten and fourteen shillings. His report mentions Mrs Craig as the "matron" looking after all the women employed at the central office. Most of the women employees were young and single and Craig was notably older and she had a child (and possibly more).