MCI International, Inc. was the cornerstone of MCI's efforts to develop International communications operations in the 1980s. The company was formed on July 1, 1982, as a subsidiary of MCI Communications Corporation, through the acquisition of Western Union International, Inc [WUI] by MCI Telecommunications Corporation. MCI acquired the company after WUI's brief ownership by the Xerox Corporation, which had been interested in using WUI resources and expertise to further the development of its XTEN digital business communications product [see also Series XIV: Satellite Business Systems, Subseries F.] After Xerox's decision to discontinue XTEN, WUI was offered for sale and was acquired by MCI, which was interested in using its new subsidiary's existing traffic agreements with other nations and its established relations with foreign PTTs [national telecommunications agencies].

The bulk of the records of MCI International come from Western Union International and RCA Global Communications, Inc. (commonly known as RCA Globcom), which MCII acquired in 1987 from General Electric. Western Union Telegraph Company's foreign operations were split off by FCC and Congressional mandate when it merged with its last domestic competitor, the Postal Telegraph Company, in 1945. As a result, Western Union International was created in 1961. WUI's influence was greatest in Europe, while RCA Globcom did the bulk of its business in the Far East, especially Japan. The roots of both companies are in telegraph service.

Subseries A. Administrative records (9 feet) comes from RCA Globcom and its predecessors and is mainly comprised of agreements and supporting documents including correspondence. Most of the agreements are for telegraph and other communications equipment licensing, and for cooperative traffic arrangements. The subseries also contains a large Public Affairs department file of press releases and other publicity, including materials from selected issues of RCA Relay, and promotions for RCA's 50th anniversary (1968) and David Sarnoff's biography “Looking Ahead: The papers of Davis Sarnoff”. (See Hagley's Imprints Department for complete issues of RCA Relay.)

Subseries B. Locality files (12 feet) mainly contains files regarding operating arrangements and planning, as well as correspondence and agreements. Most agreements are for telegraph service between countries. Records are arranged alphabetically by country.

Subseries C. Miscellaneous Records (1 foot) includes historical records from the RCA Ship-to-Shore relay station at Chathamport, Mass; records concerning the post-war activities of the Radiomarine Corporation of America; organizational records from MCI International, including internal telephone directories.