Centennial of ARRL’s 1921 Convention

By David Bart, RCA Fellow, Director, Life Member

In September 1921, the ARRL held its first annual convention. Today, the topics still seem fresh; and, they preceded immediately the conduct of the 1921 Transatlantic Tests (see related articles). Congratulations to ARRL on both events!!

ARRL

In September 1921, the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) met in Chicago for its first national convention at the historic Edgewater Beach Hotel on the shores of Lake Michigan. Founded by Hiram Percy Maxim and Clarence D. Tuska in 1914 as a spin-off from the Radio Club of Hartford, the organization resumed operations after a hiatus during World War I. Prior to the war, in December 1915, the ARRL published the first issue of its principal magazine, QST. A year later, the ARRL attained its 1,000th member. By 1921, ARRL operated as the leading organization promoting and defending the interests of amateur radio operators nationwide. The number of amateur operators swelled from 6,000 before World War I to 10,800 in 1921. That year, from August 31 through September 3, over 1,200 amateur radio operators and more than 50 industry exhibitors met in their first convention. QST provided news about the four-day extravaganza in its August, September and October 1921 issues. Subsequent issues offered additional coverage.

THE CONVENTION

The sprawling convention spread out from the Edgewater Beach Hotel to other sites within a few blocks. A national radio show convened at the 6th Regiment Armory on Broadway, then the largest and most modern exhibition hall in Chicago, featuring more than 50 exhibitors and displays. The armory also hosted educational sessions. ARRLs meetings were held at the nearby Swiff School. The Sheraton Plaza Hotel provided additional meeting space. The exhibit hall filled the Armory, which was capable of hosting 8,000 people when used as a dance floor. Displays included new inventions, featuring Formica Insulation, new transformers and Remler products. Hammond Radio Equipment and Jewell Electrical Instrument showed their new meters, while Precision Equipment featured its new receiver. Klitzen demonstrated its new transmitters. The still young Radio Corporation of America operated a double booth. The U.S. Dept. of Commerce, the U.S. Army Signal Corps and U.S. Navy provided major displays. Liberty Radio Supply, Manhattan Electric Supply Co. and many others helped fill the hall. The range of exhibitors at the National Radio Show included the most recognized names in the business: Amrad, Association of Manufacturers of Radio Equipment, Acme, Murdock, Clapp-Eastham, Westinghouse, American Radio Sales and Service, Adams Morgan, Chicago Radio Laboratories (Zenith), Crosley, A.H. Grebe, Federal Telephone & Telegraph, Commonwealth Edison and many others. In addition to the impressive exhibits, the convention’s daily offerings included automobile and motor-bus tours of Chicago, yacht and motor-boat rides on Lake Michigan, hydro-aeroplane trips and swimming, tennis and golf facilities available at the hotel.

FOUR DAYS OF PROGRAMS

The first day brought welcome addresses by the Mayor’s office, Cook County Board plus the local ARRL hosting organization. Herbert Hoover, the spokesman for the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, sent the opening Radiogram. The U.S. Department of Commerce Chief Radio Inspector W.D. Tarrell, Lieutenant Parmenter of the U.S. Navy,

Exhibits by: (left) Chicago Radio Laboratory (Zenith) and (right) Klitzen Radio Mfg.

representatives of AT&T, Mr. Preston of the U.S. Bureau of Standards, and Dr. H.W. Hunt from the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America all provided programs. Hiram Percy Maxim explained the ARRL’s origins in 1914, noting that initial efforts to communicate with amateurs between Hartford Connecticut and Springfield Massachusetts, a distance of 26 miles, seemed like an incredible achievement. (Within just a few months of this speech, amateurs succeeded with their two-way transatlantic radio tests from Greenwich Connecticut to Ardrossan, Scotland. See related articles in this issue of the Proceedings) He concluded by discussing the ARRL’s great achievement in bringing together a convention of U.S. and Canadian amateurs for the first time. Over the next four days, a number of related meetings disseminated the latest news in radio regulatory activities and national trends in radio traffic and station expansion. • Day One — The Secretaries of Commerce and the Navy held meetings with ARRL and its members. U.S. Radio

Inspectors provided the latest news about enforcement and licensing of operators. M.B. West spoke about the position of the amateur radio man within the industry.

Charles H. Stewart reviewed the legislative environment.

A presentation was made about new police broadcasting practices. F.F. Hamilton, 9ZJ, reviewed developments on antenna design. Technical sessions were held on spark transmitting, receiving, antenna design, power factors and other topic. Speakers included Paul F. Godley,

M.B. West, J.K. Hewitt, V.M. Bitz, E.S. Rogers, E.W.

Stone, P.E. Viggin and Irving Vermilya. The activities were so extensive that the last talk of the day started at midnight. • Day 2 — Purdue University’s Professor R. V. Achatz described radio engineering as a profession. Harvey

Mitchell Anthony of Muncie and Professor C. M.

Jansky of the University of Minnesota explained CW transmitters and how to organize radio schools. Regional clubs met. Hiram Maxim discussed the relationship of the national organization to the local clubs. Educational sessions included presentations by Commander A. Hoyt

Taylor, and Messrs. L. M. Clausing, Robert F. Gowen,

Frank Conrad, E. F. W. Alexanderson, K. B. Warner.

Frank Conrad discussed “The Effects of the Radio

Phone on Traffic Work”. A ‘CW’ night ended the day’s activities with programs on transmission, antennas, tube design and practical advice for operators. • Day 3 — Messrs. Kruse and Anthony and Professor

Terry of University of Wisconsin discussed Fading

Phenomena. ARRL hosted a baseball game where the

ARRL’s Board of Direction beat the Chicago Executive

Council by 4-1. The SS Theodore Roosevelt brought 800 participants on a cruise of Lake Michigan. A final

“Chicago Night on Town” offered more social activity.

Radio Exposition at the Armory.

• Day 4 — Mr. Anthony and by Mr. J. H. Miller, of the

Jewett Electrical Instrument Co. provided educational sessions. ARRL hosted a beach walk with gondolas on the lake. The final banquet drew 400 people who enjoyed the vaudeville skit “At The QST Foundry” with

Peg, the beautiful stenographer, and T.O.M. (the old man – Hiram Percy Maxim). Magnavox, Commander

W.F. Jacobs of the U.S. Navy Great Lakes Radio School, and prominent FISTS were introduced.

LEGACIES

Late 1921 was a particularly busy period for ARRL. The emergence of the Chicago Plan to voluntarily manage radio traffic was proving successful and provided a model for other large cities. Many variations of it were adopted around the U.S. in the early 1920s. Planning for Transatlantic Tests dominated, and the ARRL Convention included “the biggest banquet ever held in the history of Amateur Radio.” The October issue of QST filled more than fourteen pages, and its cover proclaimed that all districts were represented, featuring a group picture to prove it. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover sent a Radiogram message to the convention stating that amateur radio was “a very important movement.” And, Hiram Maxim talked about how far amateurs had progressed, and he predicted that nothing could stop relaying from going worldwide. The first convention proved a huge success. Detailed records of the convention spanned 563 pages, which were summarized in the September, 1921 issue of QST. The convention established publicly the state of the art in 1921, and firmly established the contributions of amateurs to the art and science of radio. Today, with 160,000 U.S. members plus 7,000 foreign members, the ARRL is the largest amateur radio association in the country and in the world. The ARRL National Convention continues to meet annually. The ARRL is also the largest exhibitor at the annual Hamvention in Ohio, the largest meeting place of hams in the world, hosting from 20,000 to 25,000 participants annually. Both the ARRL National Convention and the Hamvention in Ohio continue the legacy of ARRL’s 1921 gathering. Both feature a full slate of forums, presentations, training sessions, equipment manufacturers and sellers, radio club booths, and flea market. ARRL staff and volunteers run booths and tables on behalf of the League in the ARRL EXPO area. Programs continue to present the latest in transmission and reception, antennas, research, organizational and club news, and tips for amateur operators. Manufacturers and amateurs continue to offer demonstrations and educational activities and hundreds of displays can be seen.

1921 ARRL Convention Medal (Authors’ collection).

RCA AND ARRL

Of particular note for Radio Club of America members, RCA maintains its ties to ARRL that date to the very beginnings of the industry. For example, RCA’s participation in the first transatlantic amateur shortwave broadcasts in December 1921 also celebrates a centennial this year. Today, ARRL and RCA maintain a close working relationship, and many of RCA’s leadership team are active members of ARRL or participate in ARRL’s own leadership roles. RCA routinely provides presenters at ARRL’s national and regional activities and at the Hamvention in Ohio. As the legacy of ARRL’s first conference continues to be celebrated, RCA looks forward to being involved with ARRL in many more years of exciting programs and events.

REFERENCES

Bart, D. and Bart, J., ARRL’s First Annual Convention in 1921, Proceedings of the Radio Club of America, Fall 2012, p. 14. The Chicago Plan, Ham Radio History Website, w2pa.net/ HRH/the-chicago-plan/, accessed Sep. 1, 2021. Come to the Convention, QST, Aug. 1921, p. 7. Crossings I – Aquitania, Ham Radio History Website, w2pa. net/HRH/crossingsi-aquitania/, accessed Sep. 1, 2021. Greetings!, QST, Sep. 1921, p. 3. Mathews, R. H. G., An Explanation of the “Chicago Plan”, QST, July 1922, p. 27. Our Board of Direction, QST, Aug. 1921, p. 19. Our First National Convention, QST, Oct. 1921, p. 7.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David P. Bart, KB9YPD, is Vice President and Chairman of the Radio Club of America Publications Committee and Editorial Director of the Proceedings of the Radio Club of America. He is a Life Member and Director of the Antique Wireless Association, and a Life Member, Director, and Fellow of RCA. He is also the former treasurer of the IEEE History Committee and vice president of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.