Eastern Illinois University :: Teaching with Primary Sources

EIU Teaching with Primary Sources

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Teaching Constant Motion: The Job of Railway Post Office Clerks with Primary Sources

A look at some events that took place during the run of the Railway Post Office. Images and links take you to information and resources on EIU TPS, Library of Congress, National Postal Museum Railway Mail Service and other sites.

1832	1838	1862	1864	1868	1869	1875	1889
Stage coach contractors awarded $400 per year to carry mail on railroads.	Act of Congress declares all railroads postal routes.	Postmaster General Blair establishes the first Railway Post Office cars. First mail sorted in converted baggage cars on Hannibal to St. Joseph, Missouri line.	First permanent U.S. Railway Post Office route established between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa.	First recorded schemes show maps of states to help clerks learn mail distribution routes.	The Ward mail bag catcher is first used creating mail on the fly.	The first five car train is introduced and carries more than 33 tons of mail.	The Railway Post Office becomes part of classified civil service requiring a competitive entrance exam.

1912	1920	1941	1948	1956	1967	1974	1977
Steel RPO cars begin replacing dangerous wooden cars.	20.407 Railway Postal Clerks earn an average salary of $2,067 per year. Newton bros. steal 3 million in cash and goods from Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul train.	U.S. Post Office introduces the first Highway Post Office bus.	Railway Mail Service is renamed the Postal Transportation Service.	President Eisenhower signs the Federal Highway Act creating the interstate road system.	U.S. Post Office terminates or reduces many railroad mail carrying contracts.	Final run of Highway Post Office bus.	The Railway Post Office makes its final run. The last RPO delivers the mail between Washington DC and New York.

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