Publication 100, The United States - An American History

508-9/6/23-mh

From the Postmaster General

On July 26, 1775, a year before declaring independence from Great Britain, the Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin the frst American postmaster general. Our founding fathers knew that a robust, reliable, and secure means of exchanging information was critical to unify the distant parts of our nation -- and to maintain unity, once we achieved independence.

Since that time, our universal mail system has strengthened the bonds of friendship, family, and community. It has encouraged civic discourse, advanced the spread of information, and enabled the expansion of industry and commerce. And it has continued to help bind our diverse, far-fung communities into a single nation.

Te United States Postal Service: An American History tells the story of our ever-changing and improving institution -- from its expanding delivery network, to its growing suite of services and technological innovations, to its proud legacy of workforce diversity and service to the American people. I hope you enjoy reading this history of the United States Postal Service and its contributions to our nation.

Although many things have changed since 1775, the Postal Service's historic mission remains the same -- to provide all Americans, in all areas and communities, with access to prompt, reliable, and efcient services. Tat mission is so essential that it's written into federal law and was recently reafrmed by the Postal Service's Board of Governors.

I am proud and humbled to follow in Benjamin Franklin's footsteps, to lead this great organization towards a sustainable future, so it can continue to connect all Americans and help power the American economy for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Louis DeJoy Postmaster General

United States Postal Service Washington, D.C.

Te United States Postal Service: An American History

Publication 100 ? 2022 by the United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.

Acknowledgments

Louis DeJoy Postmaster General and Chief Executive Ofcer

Judy de Torok Vice President, Corporate Afairs

Jennifer M. Lynch Historian and Corporate Information Services Manager

Stephen A. Kochersperger Senior Research Analyst, Postal History

Junemarie J. Brandt Research Analyst, Postal History

John Sporgitas Senior Designer, Brand and Policy

Tis book was prepared by the Ofce of the Historian, Corporate Afairs, United States Postal Service.

Te Postal Service thanks all who contributed to this publication, especially Daniel Afzal, Ana D. Cikowski, Hannah C. Close, Polly J. Gibbs, Brian M. Jarvis, Karen J. Mark, Sara A. Martin, Veronica E. Poe, Francis J. Schultz-Depalo, and the late Megaera Ausman and Rita Lloyd Moroney.

Image Credits LOC: Courtesy of the Library of Congress NPM: Courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum

Front Cover: LOC; 3: NPM; 5: Courtesy Te New York Public Library; 10: Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library/Rare Books, Anti-Slavery collection; 11: NPM; 12: LOC; 14: NPM; 18: LOC; 19, mail wagon: LOC; 20, photo: NPM; 24: LOC, Printed Ephemera collection; 25: LOC; 26: LOC; 29: LOC; 33: LOC; 34, Van Lew: Virginia Museum of History & Culture; 40: LOC; 62: NPM; 66: LOC; 86, clockwise from top lef: Diane M. Kinkopf, Tracy A. Seymour, Lee A. Fullar, Hannah C. Close, and Vickie Grimes; 92: Courtesy Kelly M. Seckar; 95, from lef to right: Jennifer M. Lynch, Melissa A. Medeiros; 97: Courtesy of Bro. Joseph W. Schmitz Special Collections, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas; 98: LOC; 99: Courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society; 100: Recruitment poster courtesy National Archives and Records Administration, other images courtesy LOC; 102: from lef to right: Mark Wahl, Mirtha Uriarte; 103: Courtesy of Curtis Jewell; 106, registry receipt: NPM; 106?107, reward circular: Railway Mail Service Library; 112, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Tomas Jeferson stamps: NPM; 118?119: NPM; 120 (top): LOC; 122, pneumatic tube: LOC; 123, Autopeds: LOC; 125, hovercraf: Courtesy of Tony Kirk; 139: NPM; Outside back gate: LOC.

All other images are from the collection of the United States Postal Service.

The following are among the registered trademarks of the United States Postal Service: Air Mail, APC, Approved by the Postmaster General, Automated Postal Center, Certifed Mail, City Carrier Uniform (design), Click-NShip, Confrm, Critical Mail, Customized MarketMail, Eagle Logo, Every Door Direct Mail, Express Mail, First-Class Mail, First-Class Mail International, Forever, Global Forever, gopost, IMb, IMb Tracing, Informed Delivery, Informed Visibility, Intelligent Mail, Mail Truck (design), Mailbox (design), MERLIN, Metro Post, My , Parcel Post, Parcel Select, PC Postage, PCC, PLANET Code, Pony Express, Postal Customer Council, Postal Police, PostalOne!, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail Flat Rate, Priority Mail Regional Rate, Registered Mail, Reply Rides Free, Seal of the Postal Service, Self-Service Ship and Mail Center & Design, Sonic Eagle (design), Stamps by Mail, Standard Mail, Te Last Mile, Te Postal Service, United States Post Ofce, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Postal Service, United States Postal Service Ofce of Inspector General, U.S. Mail, U.S. Postal, U.S. Postal Service, USPS, USPS BlueEarth, USPS Change of Address, USPS Delivery Confrmation, USPS Marketing Mail, USPS Mobile, USPS Retail Ground, USPS Tracking, , ZIP, ZIP+4.

The following are among the trademarks of the United States Postal Service: Carrier Pickup, First-Class, Mail Truck (design), Mr. ZIP (and design), Next Generation Mailbox, PO Box, Post Ofce, Post Ofce Box, Postal Service, POSTNET, Signature Confrmation, Stamps by Phone, Stamps Online, Standard Post, US Mail, USPS Connect, USPS Premium Tracking, Village Post Ofce, ZIP Code.

ISBN 978-0-9630952-5-1

Messenger of Sympathy and Love Servant of Parted Friends Consoler of the Lonely Bond of the Scattered Family Enlarger of the Common Life

Carrier of News and Knowledge Instrument of Trade and Industry Promoter of Mutual Acquaintance Of Peace and of Goodwill Among Men and Nations

Inscription on the former Washington, D.C., Post Ofce, now home of the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum

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