Definition of the word phone tree

The term "phone tree" refers to a communication method used to quickly disseminate important information or updates to a group of people in a hierarchical manner. It was coined in the 1960s, during the Civil Rights Movement, when groups would create a list of individuals to be contacted in case of an emergency or to spread urgent messages. Each person on the list would have the responsibility of contacting the next person on the list, who in turn would pass the information down the line. This method ensured that the message reached everyone in the group and allowed for efficient and effective communication in times of need or urgency. The term comes from the image of a tree with its branches spreading out, each person being a branch on the tree, with the message spreading out from the trunk or the root of the tree.