Education

Educating the public was always a key activity for the Post Office and British Telecom.

Booklet: Pioneers in Telecommunications © British Telecommunications plc 1985 ES38 (5/85).

Overview

As a public service, Post Office Telephones played a role in educating everyone about the use of the telephone, the emerging technology, and developments behind it all. It liked to 'showcase' what was happening and to display key features of both new and old technology.

User Guides

	User guides. GPO Leaflet: Using the Telephone.

Special Exhibitions

	Special exhibitions, such as those at 'Earls Court', were useful in promoting the work of the Post Office. Photo: G P O at Earls Court 1960 © BT Heritage TCB 417 E24783.

Museums

A Post Office telecommunications museum was established in Taunton in 1957. And there were other official museums dotted about the UK as Telephone Areas set up their own collections.

Telephone engineers who were part of the IPOEE (Institute of Post Office Electrical Engineers) built up unofficial local collections of telecom history.

Fleet Building
	In London, one of the first official collections was formed in Fleet Building in early 1960. "Museum of Telecommunications Equipment and Techniques: The Museum is best reached by the Shoe Lane entrance to Fleet Building." Photo: 40 Shoe Lane © LSA April 2006
Showcase
	In 1982 the 'Telecom Technology Showcase' opened in Baynard House Annex, in Blackfriars, London... Photo: Exterior, BT Museum © LSA 1993

School Projects

	The Post Office produced many educational books, posters and learning material for schools. Booklet: Radio and the Post Office - a booklet for students. Issued by THQ Publicity Division Education Service. Tele Ed.19

Much earlier, the Post Office Tower had been open to the public from 1966 to 1980, selling souvenirs and promoting the 'white heat of technology' during a period of massive demand for the basic telephone service.

Post Office Tower

	The Post Office Tower was the ideal place to learn about the latest developments in telecommunications... Photo: The Tower & the Public © BT Heritage 1969 TCB 417 E50936.

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