February 19, 1881 – The Iowa City Daily Republican publishes the city’s first telephone directory – a listing card with fifty-four names and a promise of more persons ready to join.

In 1881, editors of The Iowa City Daily Republican were busy compiling a directory of phone owners, advising all who desired phones to notify the company at once. This directory became a card listing the names and numbers of subscribers.  As additional telephone were installed, the Republican promised to give notice to its readers to add the new names and numbers to their directories.

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