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Western Union Telegram

Specifications

Western Union Telegram

Category

World's Fairs

Classification

CHENHALL - Communication Objects - Documentary Objects - Other Documents - Correspondence - Telegram

Object Origin
Producer:

Western Union Telegraph Co.

Date Created:

Jun 18, 1933

Physical Characteristics

Object Description: Rectangular piece of paper of a message (telegram) sent by Silas Fung to wife Edith. Paper is brown with tape residue, stains and tears. Logo and pre-printed text in black text at top and along bottom edge. Date and time stamped in maroon ink in the upper right corner of message area, message in black ink.

Materials:

paper

Marks: Logo: "WESTERN / UNION" Date/time stamp: "1933 JUN 18 PM 4 08" Message: "Received at / C1 DH SOUVENIR CABLE / CENTURY OF PROGRESS CHICAGO ILL 18 / MRS SILAS FUNG / 2344 WENTWORTH AVE CHICAGO ILL / THIS IS MY FOURTH TRIP TO THE FAIR AM VISITING THE WESTERNUNION / SECTION OF THE ELECTRIC GROUP MOST INTERESTING YOU SHOULD HAVE / JOINED ME SEE YOU AT 5 / SILAS"

Measurements: Object:
    Length: 8 in, Width: 6.5 in

Credit

Gift of Silas Fung, 1992.21.198

Display Status

Not On View

Western Union Telegram

About: Western Union Telegram

About: Western Union Telegram

This Western Union telegram was sent from the 1933 Century of Progress International Exposition fairgrounds by Silas Fung to his wife Edythe. Silas Fung, a Chinese American commercial artist in Chicago, enjoyed going to the exposition and visited the fairgrounds two to three times a week. He also attended the closing ceremonies on Halloween night in 1934. After the exposition closed, Fung spent the next 58 years building a collection in his home in Chicago (and later Florida) dedicated to the exposition he loved.


Fung adored the exposition and hosted events to commemorate the exposition. In 1944, Fung hosted a ten-year anniversary for the exposition and invited former executives and employees. Major Lenox Lohr (1891 – 1968), the exposition’s general manager and current president of the Museum of Science and Industry at the time, attended the event. In 1961, Lohr certified Fung’s entire collection of 2,000 items as authentic. Fung also hosted a Fair Night nearly every year on October 31st, to commemorate the closing of the exposition. The event featured special guests, music of the period, an official film of the exposition, and a tour of the Fung’s exhibit "Worldsfairama".

Additional information

Copyright information

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