Incorporated in New York in 1885 as subsidiary of American Bell Telephone Company to handle long-distance telephone operations; in 1899, acquired assets of its parent, American Bell, and became parent company of Bell Telephone System network that, until its settlement with Justice Department in 1974, had near monopoly on long-distance service and included Bell Labs and 22 local Bell telephone companies around nation. The Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEPC) negotiated with AT&T to facilitate efforts to increase black employment at various Bell companies, particularly hiring of black women as operators and in clerical positions.
