POST OFFICE HISTORY "IN OUR PARENTS TIME"

BY: ROBERT F. CHEESEMAN
40 SOMERVILLE STREET
MARSHFIELD, MA 02050-4557

SOURCE: U.S.POSTAL PUBLICATION 100

COLONIAL TIMES

ON JULY 26,1775, MEMBERS OF THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS MEETING AT PHILADELPHIA, AGREED " THAT A POSTMASTER GENERAL BE APPOINTED FOR THE UNITED STATES, WHO SHALL HOLD HIS OFFICE AT PHILADELPHIA, AND SHALL BE ALLOWED A SALARY OF 1,000 DOLLARS PER ANNUM".

THIS SIMPLE, UN-DRAMATIC STATEMENT SIGNALED THE BIRTH OF THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, THE PREDECESSOR OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE AND THE SECOND OLDEST DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY OF THE PRESENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IT WAS MORE THEN A HUNDRED YEARS EARLIER, HOWEVER, THAT THE FIRST OFFICIAL NOTICE OF A POSTAL SERVICE HAD APPEARED IN COLONIAL AMERICA.

IN 1639, THE GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS HAD DESIGNATED RICHARD FAIRBANKS' TAVERN IN BOSTON AS THE OFFICIAL REPOSITORY FOR MAIL BROUGHT FROM OR SENT OVERSEAS, IN LINE WITH A PRACTICE LONG USED IN ENGLAND AND OTHER CIVILIZED NATIONS TO USE COFFEE HOUSES AND TAVERNS AS MAIL DROPS.

FOR A FULL HALF-CENTURY AFTER THE FIRST REGULATION APPROVED IN MASSACHUSETTS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES OPERATED POST ROUTES SERVING THE COLONIES. IN 1673, GOVERNOR LOVELACE OF NEW YORK SET UP A MONTHLY POST BETWEEN NEW YORK AND BOSTON. THE SERVICE WAS OF SHORT DURATION, BUT THE POSTMAN'S TRAIL BECAME THE BOSTON POST ROAD, TODAY'S U.S. ROUTE 1.
WILLIAM PENN SET UP PENNSYLVANIA'S FIRST POST OFFICE IN 1683. IN THE SOUTH, A PRIVATE MESSENGER SERVICE USUALLY SLAVES, CONNECTED AND UNIFIED THE HUGE PLANTATIONS: A HOGSHEAD OF TOBACCO WAS THE PENALTY FOR FAILING TO DELIVER MAIL TO THE NEXT PLANTATION.

CENTRAL POSTAL ORGANIZATION CAME TO THE COLONIES ONLY AFTER 1691, WHEN THOMAS NEALE RECEIVED A 21-YEAR GRANT FROM THE BRITISH CROWN FOR A NORTH AMERICAN POSTAL SERVICE AND APPOINTED ANDREW HAMILTON, GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY, AS HIS DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL.
NEALE NEVER CAME TO AMERICA, ALTHOUGH HIS FRANCHISE COST HIM ONLY 80 CENTS A YEAR, IT WAS APPARENTLY NO BARGAIN; HE DIED HEAVILY IN DEBT, IN 1699, AFTER ASSIGNING HIS INTEREST IN AMERICA TO ANDREW HAMILTON AND ANOTHER ENGLISHMAN, NAMED WEST.

IN 1707, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT BOUGHT THE RIGHTS OF WEST AND THE WIDOW OF ANDREW HAMILTON AND APPOINTED JOHN HAMILTON, ANDREW'S SON, AS DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL OF AMERICA.
HE SERVED UNTIL 1721, WHEN HE WAS SUCCEEDED BY JOHN LLOYD OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINE. IN 1930, ALEXANDER SPOTSWOOD, A FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, BECAME DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL FOR AMERICA.

HIS MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT PROBABLY WAS THE APPOINTMENT OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AS POSTMASTER OF PHILADELPHIA IN 1737.

WHEN BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BECAME POSTMASTER OF PHILADELPHIA, HE WAS ONLY 31 YEARS OLD AND AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS CAREER. LATER HE WAS TO BECOME THE MOST POPULAR MAN OF HIS AGE BUT HE WAS THEN A SOMEWHAT UNSUCCESSFUL PRINTER / PUBLISHER OF " THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE. "

HEAD LYNCH SUCCEEDED SPOTSWOOD IN 1739, AND IN 1743 ELLIOT BENGER FOLLOWED LYNCH, WHEN BENGER DIED IN 1753, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND WILLIAM HUNTER, POSTMASTER AT WILLIAMBURG, VIRGINIA, WERE APPOINTED BY THE CROWN AS JOINT POSTMASTERS GENERAL FOR THE COLONIES.

HUNTER DIED IN 1761 AND JOHN FOXCROFT OF NEW YORK SUCCEEDED HIM, SERVING UNTIL THE OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION. AS A JOINT POSTMASTER GENERAL FOR THE CROWN, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN EFFECTED MANY IMPORTANT LASTING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COLONIAL POSTS.

HE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO REORGANIZE THE SERVICE, SETTING OUT ON A LONG TOUR OF INSPECTION OF ALL POST OFFICES IN THE NORTH AND AS FAR SOUTH AS VIRGINIA.

NEW SURVEYS WERE MADE, MILESTONES WERE SET UPON PRINCIPAL ROADS, AND NEW AND SHORTER ROUST LAID OUT, MAIL WAS CARRIED BY NIGHT BETWEEN PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK, AND TRIPS WERE INAUGURATED WEEKLY BETWEEN PHILADELPHIA AND BOSTON, SHORTENING THE TRAVEL BY AT LEAST ONE HALF.

BY 1760, FRANKLIN WAS ABLE TO REPORT HIS FIRST SURPLUS TO THE BRITISH POSTMASTER GENERAL. WHEN HE LEFT OFFICE, POST ROADS WERE IN OPERATION FROM MAINE TO FLORIDA AND FROM NEW YORK TO CANADA, AND MAIL BETWEEN THE COLONIES AND THE MOTHER COUNTRY OPERATED ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE.

BY 1774, HOWEVER THE COLONIST WERE VIEWING THE ROYAL POST OFFICE WITH SOME SUSPICION, AND IN THAT YEAR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WAS DISMISSED BY THE CROWN FOR ACTIONS SYMPATHETIC TO THE CAUSE OF THE COLONIST.

SHORTLY AFTER THAT, WILLIAM GODDARD, A PRINTER AND NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER (WHOSE FATHER HAD BEEN POSTMASTER OF NEW LONDON UNDER (FRANKLIN), SET UP A CONSTITUTIONAL POST FOR INTER-COLONIAL MAIL SERVICE.

BY 1775, WHEN THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS MET AT PHILADELPHIA, GODDARD'S INDEPENDENT POST WAS FLOURISHING AND THIRTY OFFICES WERE IN OPERATION BETWEEN PORTSMOUTH AND WILLIAMSBURG.

CONTINENTAL TIMES -  AFTER THE BOSTON RIOTS IN SEPTEMBER 1774, IT HAD BECOME INEVITABLE THAT THE COLONIES WOULD SEPARATE FROM THE MOTHER COUNTRY.

A CONTINENTAL CONGRESS WAS ORGANIZED AT PHILADELPHIA IN MAY 1775, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A SEPARATE GOVERNMENT, AND ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS BEFORE THE DELEGATES WAS HOW TO CONVEY AND DELIVER THE MAIL.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, NEWLY RETURNED FROM ENGLAND, WAS APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF A COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION TO ESTABLISH A POSTAL SYSTEM.

THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A POSTMASTER GENERAL FOR THE 13 AMERICAN COLONIES, WAS CONSIDERED BY THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ON JULY 25 AND 26, AND ON JULY 26, 1775, FRANKLIN WAS APPOINTED POSTMASTER GENERAL, THE FIRST POSTMASTER GENERAL APPOINTED UNDER THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

RICHARD BACHE, HIS SON-IN-LAW, WAS NAMED COMPTROLLER AND WILLIAM GODDARD WAS APPOINTED SURVEYOR.

FRANKLIN SERVED AS POSTMASTER GENERAL UNTIL NOVEMBER 7, 1776. AMERICA'S PRESENT POSTAL SERVICE DESCENDS IN AN UNBROKEN LINE FROM THE SYSTEM HE PLANNED AND PLACED IN OPERATION, AND HISTORY RIGHTFULLY ACCORDS HIM MAJOR CREDIT FOR ESTABLISHING THE BASIS OF A POSTAL SERVICE THAT HAS PERFORMED MAGNIFICENTLY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

IN 1778, ARTICLE IX OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION GAVE CONGRESS " THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE RIGHT AND POWER - ESTABLISHING AND REGULATING POST OFFICES FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER - AND EXACTING SUCH POSTAGE ON PAPER PASSING THROUGH THE SAME AS MAY BE REQUISITE TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE SAID OFFICE " POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS WERE REVISED AND CODIFIED IN THE ORDINANCE OF OCTOBER 18,1782.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING THE FINAL ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION IN MARCH 1789, AN ACT OF SEPTEMBER 22, 1789, (1 STAT. 70), TEMPORARILY ESTABLISHED A POST OFFICE AND CREATED THE OFFICE OF POSTMASTER GENERAL UNDER THE TREASURY, AND ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1789, GEORGE WASHINGTON APPOINTED SAMUEL OSGOOD OF MASSACHUSETTS AS THE FIRST POSTMASTER GENERAL UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.
AT THAT TIME THERE WERE 75 POST OFFICES AND ABOUT 2,000 MILES OF POST ROADS BUT, AS LATE AS 1780, THE POSTAL STAFF STILL ONLY CONSISTED OF A POSTMASTER GENERAL, A SECRETARY / COMPTROLLER, THREE SURVEYORS, ONE INSPECTOR OF DEAD LETTERS, AND 26 POST RIDERS.

THE POSTAL SERVICE WAS TEMPORARILY CONTINUED BY THE ACT OF AUGUST 4, 1790 (1 STAT 178), AND THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1791 (1 STAT 218).

AN ACT OF FEBRUARY 20, 1792, MADE DETAILED PROVISIONS FOR THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, AND SUBSEQUENT LEGISLATION ENLARGED THE DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT, STRENGTHENED AND UNIFIED ITS ORGANIZATION, AND PROVIDED RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT.

PHILADELPHIA WAS THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AND POSTAL HEADQUARTERS UNTIL 1800. WHEN THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT MOVED TO WASHINGTON IN THE YEAR, OFFICIALS WERE ABLE TO CARRY ALL POSTAL RECORDS, FURNITURE, AND SUPPLIES IN TWO WAGONS.

IN 1829, UPON THE INVITATION OF PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON, WILLIAM T. BARRY BECAME THE FIRST POSTMASTER GENERAL TO SIT AS A MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET.

ON JUNE 8, 1872 (17 STAT. 284-4), THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT WAS SPECIFICALLY ESTABLISHED BY THE CONGRESS AS AN EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

POSTAL ROLE IN THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE US BETWEEN THE REVOLUTION PERIOD AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR, U.S. POSTAL OFFICIAL APPLIED THEMSELVES TO IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION OF THE MAILS, AND FROM THE FIRST DAYS OF INDEPENDENCE TO THE PRESENT, THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING AND SUBSIDIZING EVERY NEW MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE UNITED STATES. THE POSTAL ROLE WAS A NATURAL ONE, APART FROM POSTAL PEOPLE THEMSELVES, TRANSPORTATION WAS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN MAIL DELIVERY, LITERALLY, THE LEGS OF COMMUNICATION.

EVEN THROUGH THE GENERAL PUBLIC WAS SKEPTICAL OR FEARFUL OF EACH NEW MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION THAT INCREASED SPEED, POSTAL OFFICIALS EXPERIMENTED WITH EVERY INVENTION THAT OFFERED POTENTIAL FOR MOVING THE MAIL FASTER, OFTEN SUFFERING EMBARRASSMENT, RIDICULE, OR EVEN ABUSE, IN THE PROCESS.

AS MAIL DELIVERY EVOLVED FROM FOOT TO HORSEBACK, TO STAGE, STEAMBOAT, RAILROAD, AUTOMOBILE, AND AIR-PLANE, WITH INTERMEDIATE AND OVERLAPPING USE OF BALLOONS, HELICOPTERS, AND PNEUMATIC TUBES, THE LARGEST SINGLE INSURANCE AVAILABLE TO DEVELOPING TRANSPORTS FOR THE INCOME NECESSARY TO BUILD THE GREAT HIGHWAYS, RAIL LANES, AND AIRWAYS THAT EVENTUALLY SPANNED THE CONTINENT WAS MAIL CONTRACTS.

BY THE TURN OF THE 18TH CENTURY, THE POST OFFICE HAD BOUGHT A NUMBER OF STAGE COACHES FOR OPERATION ON THE NATION'S BETTER POST ROAD WHILE CONTINUING TO ENCOURAGE NEW DESIGNS FOR IMPROVING PASSENGER COMFORT AND SAFER CARRIAGE OF THE MAIL.

TEN YEARS BEFORE WATERWAYS WAS DECLARED POST ROADS IN 1823; THE POST OFFICE WAS USING STEAMBOATS TO CARRY MAIL BETWEEN POST TOWNS WHERE NO ROADS EXISTED.

IN 1831, WHEN STEAM-DRIVEN ENGINES " TRAVELING AT THE UNCONSCIONABLE SPEED OF 15 MILES AN HOUR " WERE STILL DENOUNCED AS A " DEVICE OF SATAN TO LEAD IMMORTAL SOULS TO HELL ", THE POST OFFICE BEGAN TO USE THE RAILROAD TO CARRY MAIL CARGO FOR SHORT DISTANCES, AND BY 1836, TWO YEARS BEFORE RAILROADS WERE CONSTITUTED POST ROADS, IT HAD AWARDED ITS FIRST MAIL CONTRACT TO THE RAILROADS.

PONY EXPRESS IN THE MEANTIME, EARLY IN THE 19TH CENTURY, THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES HAD BEGUN FLOWING STEADILY WESTWARD INTO THE NEWLY ACQUIRED TERRITORIES OF LOUISIANA, OREGON, AND CALIFORNIA.

WAGON TRAINS INCHED ALONE THE OLD SANTA FE, MORMON, AND OREGON TRAILS, THEIR PASSENGERS MORE OFTEN THEN NOT DECIMATED BY INDIAN ATTACKS, HUNGER, DISEASE, AND PESTILENCE.

AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN 1848, THE PIONEER MOVEMENT QUICKENED, AND IN THAT YEAR THE POST OFFICE AWARDED A CONTRACT TO THE PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY TO CARRY MAIL TO CALIFORNIA.

UNDER THIS CONTRACT, THE MAIL TRAVELED BY SHIP FROM NEW YORK TO PANAMA, MOVED ACROSS PANAMA BY RAIL, AND WENT ON TO SAN FRANCISCO BY SHIP.

UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE THREE OR FOUR WEEKS TO RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE EAST, BUT THIS NORM WAS SELDOM ACHIEVED.

SOME OVERLAND MAIL HAD BEEN REACHING CALIFORNIA AS EARLY AS 1848, IF ERRATICALLY, VIA THE MILITARY THROUGH FORT LEAVENWORTH AND SANTA FE.

SCHEDULED OVERLAND SERVICE FOR SEMI-WEEKLY TRIPS, HOWEVER, DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15, 1858, AFTER THE POST OFFICE HAD ISSUED A MAIL CONTRACT TO THE OVERLAND MAIL COMPANY STAGE LINE OF JOHN BUTTERFIELD, WHOSE STAGES USED THE 2800-MILE SOUTHERN ROUTE BETWEEN TIPTON, MISSOURI, AND SAN FRANCISCO.

ALTHOUGH THE SPECIFIED RUNNING TIME WAS 24 DAYS, AS A PRACTICAL MATTER CROSS-COUNTRY MAIL WAS OFTEN DELAYED FOR MONTHS.

CALIFORNIANS FELT THEIR ISOLATION KEENLY. LOS ANGELES, FOR EXAMPLE, LEARNED THAT CALIFORNIA HAD BEEN ADMITTED TO THE UNION FULLY SIX WEEKS AFTER THE FACT.

FIVE YEARS LATER, IN 1853, THE LOS ANGELES STAR SOMEWHAT PLAINTIVELY ASKED ITS READERS: " CAN SOMEBODY TELL US WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE U.S. MAIL FOR THIS SECTION OF THE WORLD?

SOME FOUR WEEKS SINCE IT HAS ARRIVED HERE. THE RIDER COMES AND GOES REGULARLY ENOUGH BUT THE MAIL BAGS DO NOT.

ONE TIME HE SAYS THE MAIL IS NOT LANDED IN SAN DIEGO; ANOTHER TIME THERE WAS SO MUCH OF IT THE DONKEY COULD NOT BRING IT, AND HE SENT IT TO SAN PEDRO ON THE STEAMER, WHICH CARRIED IT UP TO SAN FRANCISCO.

THUS IT GOES WANDERING UP AND DOWN THE OCEAN ". IT WAS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT FASTER TRANSPORTATION WAS NEEDED TO THE PACIFIC.

IN MARCH 1860, WILLIAM H. RUSSELL, AN AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION PIONEER, ADVERTISED IN NEWSPAPERS AS FOLLOWS:

" WANTED: YOUNG, SKINNY, WIRY FELLOWS NOT OVER 18. MUST BE EXPERT RIDERS WILLING TO RISK DEATH DAILY? ORPHANS PREFERRED."

RUSSELL HAD FAILED REPEATEDLY TO GET BACKING FROM THE SENATE POST OFFICE AND POST ROADS COMMITTEE FOR AN EXPRESS ROUTE TO CARRY MAIL BETWEEN ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI, AND THE WESTERN MOST POINT REACHED BY THE RAILROAD AND TELEGRAPH, AND CALIFORNIA.

ST. JOSEPH WAS THE STRATEGIC STARTING POINT FOR THE DIRECT 2000-MILE CENTRAL ROUTE TO THE WEST.

EXCEPT FOR A FEW FORTS AND SETTLEMENTS, HOWEVER, THE ROUTE BEYOND ST. JOSEPH WAS A VAST, SILENT WILDERNESS, INHABITED PRIMARILY BY INDIANS.

TRANSPORTATION ACROSS THIS AREA ON A YEAR ROUND BASIS WAS GENERALLY BELIEVED IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE OF EXTREME WEATHER CONDITION.

RUSSELL, HOWEVER, BELIEVED IT WAS FEASIBLE YEAR ROUND AND WAS READY TO ORGANIZED HIS OWN EXPRESS, WITH OR WITHOUT A MAIL CONTRACT, TO PROVE IT.

AS A FIRST STEP, RUSSELL AND HIS TWO PARTNERS, MAJORS AND WADDELL, FORMED THE CENTRAL OVERLAND CALIFORNIA AND PIKES PEAK EXPRESS COMPANY. THEY WENT ON TO BUILD NEW RELAY STATIONS AND TO READY EXISTED ONES FOR USE.

THE COUNTRY WAS COMBED FOR GOOD HORSEFLESH, ANIMALS HARDY ENOUGH TO CHALLENGE DESERT AND MOUNTAINS AND TO WITH STAND THIRST IN SUMMER AND ICE IN WINTER.

RIDERS WERE RECRUITED HASTILY, BUT BEFORE BEING HIRED HAD TO SWEAR ON A BIBLE NOT TO " CUSS, " FIGHT, OR ABUSE THEIR ANIMALS AND TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES HONESTLY.

STARTING ON APRIL 3, 1860, THE PONY EXPRESS RAN THROUGH PART OF MISSOURI, KANSAS, NEBRASKA, COLORADO, WYOMING, UTAH, NEVADA, AND CALIFORNIA. ON AN AVERAGE DAY, A RIDER MADE 75 TO 100 MILES. HE CHANGED HORSES AT RELAY STATIONS, SET ABOUT 10 TO 15 MILES APART, TRANSFERRING HIMSELF AND HIS " MOCHILA, " (A SADDLE COVER WITH FOUR POCKETS OR CANTINAS FOR MAIL),

TO THE NEW MOUNT, ALL IN ONE LEAP.

THE FIRST MAIL BY PONY EXPRESS VIA THE CENTRAL ROUTE FROM ST. JOSEPH TO SACRAMENTO TOOK TEN AN HALF DAYS, CUTTING THE OVERLAND STAGE TIME VIA THE SOUTHERN ROUTE BY MORE THEN HALF.

THE FASTEST DELIVERY TIME WAS IN MARCH 1861, WHEN THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN WAS CARRIED IN SEVEN DAYS AND 17 HOURS.

FROM APRIL 1860 TO JULY 1861, THE PONY EXPRESS OPERATED AS A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. AFTER JULY 1, 1861, IT WAS OPERATED UNDER CONTRACT AS A MAIL ROUTE UNTIL OCTOBER 24 THAT SAME YEAR WHEN THE TRANSCONTINENTAL TELEGRAPH LINE WAS COMPLETED AND THE PONY EXPRESS BECAME A LEGEND.

ALTHOUGH THE PONY EXPRESS OPERATED LESS THEN 19 MONTHS, THEY WERE HEROIC AND DRAMATIC MONTHS THAT COMPRESSED INTO A FEW PAGES THE ROMANCE AND ESSENCE OF AMERICA'S PIONEER HISTORY, AN ACTUAL VENTURE THAT ECLIPSES ANY WESTERN FICTION PUBLISHED SINCE.

POSTMASTERS GENERAL

A LIST OF POSTMASTERS GENERAL, UNDER THE NAMES OF WHO APPOINTED THEM, AND THE DATES THE POSTMASTER GENERAL TOOK OFFICE. ALL APPOINTMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT WERE MADE WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE.

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN JULY26, 1775
RICHARD BACHE NOV.7, 1776
EBENEZER HAZARD JAN.28, 1782

GEORGE WASHINGTON

SAMUEL OSGOOD SEPT.26, 1789
TIMOTHY PICKERING AUG.12, 1791
JOSEPH HABERSHAM FEB.25, 1795

JOHN ADAMS

JOSEPH HABERSHAM (ABOVE)

THOMAS JEFFERSON

JOSEPH HASERSHAM (ABOVE)
GIDEON GRANGER NOV. 28,1801

JAMES MADISON

GIDEON GRANGER (ABOVE)
RETURN J. MEIGS JR. MARCH 17,1814

JAMES MONROE

RETURN J. MEIGS JR. (ABOVE)
JOHN McLean JUNE 26, 1823

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

JOHN McLean (ABOVE)

ANDREW JACKSON

WILLIAM T. BARRY MARCH 9, 1829
AMOS KENDALL MAY 1, 1835

MARTIN VAN BUREN

AMOS KENDALL (ABOVE)
JOHN M. NILES MAY 19,1840

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON

FRANCIS GRANGER MARCH 6, 1841

JOHN TYLER

FRANCIS GRANGER (ABOVE)
CHARLES A. WICKLIFFE SEPT. 13, 1841

JAMES K. POLK

CAVE JOHNSON MARCH 6, 1845

ZACHARY TAYLOR

JACOB COLLAMER MARCH 8, 1849

MILLARD FILLMORE

NATHAN K. HALL JULY 23, 1850
SAMUEL D. HUBBARD AUG. 31, 1852

FRANKLIN PIERCE

JAMES CAMPBELL MARCH 7, 1853

JAMES BUCHANAN

ARON V. BROWN MARCH 6, 1857
JOSEPH HOLT MARCH 14, 1859
HORATIO KING FEB. 12, 1861

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

MONTGOMERY BLAIR MARCH 5, 1861
WILLIAM DENNISON SEPT. 24, 1864

ANDREW JOHNSON

WILLIAM DENNISON (ABOVE)
ALEXANDER W. RANDALL JULY 25, 1866

ULYSSES GRANT

JOHN A. CRESWELL MARCH 5, 1869
JAMES W. MARSHALL JULY 3, 1874
MARSHALL JEWELL AUG. 24, 1874
JAMES N. TYNER JULY 12, 1876

RUTHERFORD B. HAYES

DAVID M. KEY MARCH 12, 1877
HORACE MAYNARD JUNE 2, 1880

JAMES A. GARFIELD

THOMAS L. JAMES MARCH 5, 1881

CHESTER A. ARTHUR

THOMAS L. JAMES (ABOVE)
TIMOTHY O. HOWE DEC. 20, 1881
WALTER Q. GRESHAM APRIL 3. 1883
FRANK HATTON OCT. 14, 1884

GROVER CLEVELAND

WILLIAM F. VILAS MARCH 6, 1885
DON M. DICKINSON JAN. 6, 1888

BENJAMIN HARRISON

JOHN WANAMAKER MARCH 5, 1889

GROVER CLEVELAND

WILSON S. BISSELL MARCH 6, 1893
WILLIAM L. WILSON MARCH 1, 1895

WILLIAM McKinley

JAMES A. GARY MARCH 5, 1897
CHARLES EMORY SMITH APRIL 21, 1898

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

CHARLES EMORY SMITH (ABOVE)
HENRY C. PAYNE JAN. 9, 1902
ROBERT J. WYNNE OCT. 10, 1904
GEORGE B. CORTELYOU MARCH 6, 1905
GEORGE VON L. MEYER JAN. 15, 1907

WILLIAM H. TAFT

FRANK H. HITCHCOCK MARCH 5, 1909

WOODROW WILSON

ALBERT S. BURLESON MARCH 5, 1913

WARREN G. HARDING

WILL H. HAYES MARCH 5, 1921
HUBERT WORK MARCH 4, 1922
HARRY S. NEW FEB. 27, 1923

CALVIN COOLIDGE

HARRY S. NEW (ABOVE)

HERBERT HOOVER

WALTER F. BROWN MARCH 5, 1929

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

JAMES A. FARLEY MARCH 4, 1933
FRANK C. WALKER SEPT. 10, 1940

HARRY S. TRUMAN

FRANK C. WALKER (ABOVE)
ROBERT E. HANNEGAN MAY 8, 1945
JESSE M. DONALDSON DEC. 16, 1947

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

ARTHUR E. SUMMERFIELD JAN. 21, 1953

JOHN F. KENNEDY

J. EDWARD DAY JAN. 21, 1961
JOHN A. GRONOUSKI SEPT. 30, 1963

LYNDON B. JOHNSON

JOHN A. GRONOUSKI (ABOVE)
LAWRENCE F. O'BRIEN NOV. 3, 1965
W. MARVIN WATSON APRIL 26, 1968

RICHARD M. NIXON

WINTON M. BLOUNT JAN. 22, 1969

THE FOLLOWING APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

WINTON M. BLOUNT JULY 1, 1971
E.T. KLASSEN JAN. 1, 1972
BENJAMIN F. BAILAR FEB. 16, 1975
WILLIAM F. BOLGER MARCH 15, 1978
PAUL N. CARLIN JAN. 1, 1985
ALBERT V. CASEY JAN. 7, 1986
PRESTON R. TISCH AUG. 16, 1986
ANTHONY M. FRANK MARCH 12, 1988
MARVIN T. RUNYON JULY 16, 1992
WILLIAM J.HENDERSON MAY 16, 1998

WITH BENJAMIN FRANKLIN UNDER THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, 71 MEN HAVE HELD THE OFFICE OF POSTMASTER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES.

BEGINNING WITH SAMUEL OSGOOD, THE FIRST POSTMASTER GENERAL APPOINTED AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION, 68 MEN HAVE HELD THAT OFFICE.

SIGNIFICANT DATES IN POSTAL HISTORY

1639 
RICHARD FAIRBANKS TAVERN IN BOSTON NAMED REPOSITORY FOR OVERSEAS MAIL

1775 
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, FIRST POSTMASTER GENERAL UNDER CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

1789 
SAMUEL OSGOOD, FIRST POSTMASTER GENERAL UNDER CONSTITUTION

1823 
NAVIGABLE WATERS DESIGNATED POST ROADS BY CONGRESS

1825 
DEAD LETTER OFFICE

1829 
POSTMASTER GENERAL JOINS CABINET

1830 
OFFICE OF INSTRUCTION AND MAIL DEPREDATION ESTABLISHED, LATER OFFICE OF THE CHIEF POSTAL INSPECTOR

1838 
RAILROAD DESIGNATED POST ROUTES BY CONGRESS

1845 
STAR ROUTES

1847 
POSTAGE STAMPS

1852 
STAMPED ENVELOPES

1855 
REGISTERED MAIL

1858 
STREET MAIL BOXES

1860 
PONY EXPRESS

1862 
RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE, EXPERIMENTAL

1863 
FREE CITY DELIVERY
UNIFORM POSTAGE RATES, REGARDLESS OF DISTANCE
DOMESTIC MAIL DIVIDED INTO THREE CLASSES

1864 
POST OFFICE CATEGORIZED BY CLASS
RAILROAD POST OFFICES
DOMESTIC MONEY ORDERS

1869 
FOREIGN OR INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDERS

1872 
CONGRESS ENACTS MAIL FRAUD STATUTE

1873 
PENNY POST CARD

1874 
GENERAL POSTAL UNION (LATER UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION)

1879 
DOMESTIC MAIL DIVIDED INTO FOUR CLASSES

1880 
CONGRESS ESTABLISHES TITLE OF CHIEF POST OFFICE INSPECTOR

1885 
SPECIAL DELIVERY

1887 
INTERNATIONAL PARCEL POST

1893 
FIRST COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS

1896 
RURAL FREE DELIVERY, EXPERIMENTAL

1898 
PRIVATE POSTCARDS AUTHORIZED

1902 
RURAL FREE DELIVERY, PERMANENT

1911 
POSTAL SAVING SYSTEM

CARRIAGE OF MAIL BY AIRPLANE SANCTIONED BETWEEN GARDEN CITY AND MINEOLA, N.Y.: EARL H. OVERTON, FIRST U.S. MAIL PILOT

1912 
VILLAGE DELIVERY

1913 
PARCEL POST
INSURANCE
C.O.D. (COLLECT ON DELIVERY)

1914 
GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND OPERATED VEHICLES SERVICE

1916 
POSTAL INSPECTORS SOLVE LAST KNOWN STAGECOACH ROBBERY

1918 
AIRMAIL

1920 
METERED POSTAGE
FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL AIRMAIL SERVICE

1925 
SPECIAL HANDLING

1927 
INTERNATIONAL AIRMAIL

1935 
TRANS-PACIFIC AIRMAIL

1939 
TRANS-ATLANTIC AIRMAIL
AUTOGIRO SERVICE, EXPERIMENTAL

1941 
HIGHWAY POST OFFICE

1942 
V-MAIL

1943 
POSTAL ZONING SYSTEM IN 124 MAJOR POST OFFICES

1948 
PARCEL POST INTERNATIONAL AIR SERVICE
PARCEL POST DOMESTIC AIR SERVICE

1950 
RESIDENTIAL DELIVERERS CUT FROM TWO TO ONE A DAY

1953 
PIGGY-BACK MAIL SERVICE BY TRAILERS OR RAILROAD FLATCARS
AIRLIFT

1955 
CERTIFIED MAIL

1957 
CITIZENS STAMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1959 
MISSILE MAIL DISPATCHED FROM SUBMARINE TO MAINLAND FLORIDA

1960 
FACSIMILE MAIL

1963 
ZIP CODE AND SECTIONAL CENTER PLAN

1964 
SELF-SERVICE POST OFFICES
SIMPLIFIED POSTMARKS

1965 
OPTICAL SCANNER (ZIP CODE READER TESTED)

1966 
POSTAL SAVING SYSTEM TERMINATED

1967 
MANDATORY PRESORTING BY ZIP CODE FOR SECOND AND THIRD CLASS MAILERS

1968 
PRIORITY MAIL, A SUBCLASS OF FIRST CLASS MAIL

1969 
PATRONAGE NO LONGER A FACTOR IN POSTMASTER AND RURAL CARRIER APPOINTMENTS 
FIRST DIE PROOF OF A POSTAGE STAMP CANCELED ON MOON BY
APOLLO 11 MISSION

1970 
MAILGRAM
POSTAL REORGANIZATION ACT
EXPRESS MAIL, EXPERIMENTAL

1971 
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE BEGAN OPERATION: 
POSTMASTER GENERAL NO LONGER IN CABINET.
LABOR CONTRACTS ACHIEVED THROUGH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
STAR ROUTES CHANGED TO HIGHWAY CONTRACTS ROUTES. 
NATIONAL SERVICE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED: OVERNIGHT DELIVERY OF 95 % OF AIRMAIL WITHIN 600 MILES AND 95 % OF FIRST CLASS WITHIN LOCAL AREAS

1972 
STAMPS BY MAIL
PASSPORT APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED IN POST OFFICES

1973 
NATIONAL SERVICE STANDARDS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SECOND- DAY DELIVERY OF PARCEL POST TRAVELING UP TO 150 MILES, WITH ONE-DAY DELIVERY TIME ADDED FOR EACH ADDITIONAL 400 MILES

1974 
HIGHWAY POST OFFICE TERMINATED
FIRST SATELLITE TRANSMISSION ELIMINATED

1976 
POST OFFICE CLASS CATEGORIES ELIMINATED DISCOUNT FOR PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL

1977 
AIRMAIL ABOLISHED AS A SEPARATE RATE CATEGORY
EXPRESS MAIL, PERMANENT NEW CLASS OF SERVICE
FINAL RUN OF RAILROAD POST OFFICE ON JUNE 30

1978 
DISCOUNT FOR PRESORTED SECOND-CLASS MAIL
POSTAGE STAMPS AND OTHER PHILATELIC ITEMS COPYRIGHTED

1979 
DISCOUNT FOR PRESORTED BULK THIRD-CLASS MAIL
POSTAL CAREER EXECUTIVE SERVICE (PCES)

NEW STANDARDS REQUIRE ENVELOPES AND POSTCARDS TO BE AT LEAST 3 1/2" HIGH AND 5 " LONG TO BE MAILBAG

1980 
INTELPOST (HIGH-SPEED INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SERVICE)

1981 
CONTROLLED CIRCULATION CLASSIFICATION DISCONTINUED

DISCOUNT FOR FIRST-CLASS MAIL PRESORTED TO CARRIER ROUTES

1982 
AUTOMATION BEGINS WITH INSTALLATION OF OPTICAL CHARACTER READERS

E-COM (ELECTRONIC COMPUTER-ORIGINATED MAIL, ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SERVICE WITH HARD COPY DELIVERY)

1983 
ZIP + 4

ENDED PUBLIC SERVICE SUBSIDY FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

1884 
INTEGRATED RETAIL TERMINALS AUTOMATE POSTAL WINDOWS

1985 
JACKIE STRANGE, FIRST FEMALE DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL

E-COM TERMINATED

1986 INTERNATIONAL PRIORITY AIRMAIL

POSTAL SERVICE REALIGNED, FIELD DIVISIONS CREATED

1987 SMALL PARCEL AND BUNDLE SORTERS

STAMPS BY PHONE

MULTILINE OPTICAL CHARACTER READERS ORDERED

1988 
INSPECTOR GENERAL'S ACT EXTENDS DUTIES OF CHIEF POSTAL INSPECTOR

1989 
UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS REPLY MAIL

1990 
WIDE AREA BARCODE READERS

EASY STAMP, ALLOWING PURCHASE OF STAMPS THROUGH COMPUTERS

1991 
INDEPENDENT MEASUREMENT OF FIRST-CLASS MAIL SERVICE

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS REPLY SERVICE

1992 
REMOTE BARRICADING SYSTEM

REORGANIZATION, REGIONS, DIVISIONS AND MANAGEMENT SECTIONAL CENTERS REPLACED BY AREA AND DISTRICT OFFICES FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MAIL PROCESSING

STAMPS SOLD THROUGH AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINES

U.S.POSTAL INFORMATION: 

http://www.usps.gov/history

http://www.usps.com