Tips for Researching Postmaster's in Federal Records

Source:  Mural "Ben Franklin, colonial postmaster," by George Harding at the Ariel Rios Federal Building in Washington, D.C

 from Wikimedia Commons, in the public domain.

The United States Postal Service was established in 1775 under the Second Continental Congress, with Benjamin Franklin appointed as the first Postmaster General.

Postmaster records can be found at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. (Archives I) and College Park, Maryland (Archives II). The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C. holds some relevant materials. Personnel Records are available through National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Most publicly available postal records are part of Record Group 28 (RG 28) at the National Archives catalog.

Records of the United States Postal Service 

• Civilian Personnel Files: For individuals no longer employed by the Postal Service, personnel records prior to 1951 are considered archival or open to the public. These records, covering the years 1919–1951, are housed offsite at the National Archives Annex in Valmeyer, Illinois. Records after 1952 are not available to the public. Contact the National Archives-St. Louis for requests. In person access requires an appointment.
• Appointments of Postmasters: Records include names, places, and dates of appointment of postmasters. Postmaster appointments for 1789-1832 are found in seven volumes and have been digitized and are available online. Postmaster appointments for 1832-1971 have been reproduced as Microfilm Publication M841, Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832–Sept. 30, 1971 (145 rolls). These records are arranged alphabetically by state, then by county, and by the name of the post office. . A limited index is available at Family Search.
• Reports of Site Locations: Reports covering nearest post office to current site, location of the current site, nearest railroad and station for deliveries, railroad name, and maps. The National Archives Identifier Number is 608210 The records are organized by state, county, parish or district. This series if digitized and available online.
• Substitute Mail Carriers: Registers of substitute mail carriers from 1885-1903 and divided into two volumes. Volume I and Volume II are digitized and available online.
• Rural Main Records: A number of records are available in RG28. They pertain to correspondence, inspection reports, and route information. They can be found in 28.3.5 and 28.7. Maps can be found in 28.6.2.
• Railway Postal Clerks: One roll of microfilm, M2077, holds three indexes to rosters of railway clerks, ca. 1883-ca. 1902. These records are part of Record Group (RG 28), Records of the Post Office Department, and are designated as Entry 118 in Preliminary Inventory (PI) No. 168, Records of the Post Office Department. The indexes show postal routes arranged by cities and names of clerks arranged alphabetically by the first couple of letters of the surname.
• Official Register of the United States, 1816-1959: includes postal records listing the names of postmasters, mail carriers, and other postal employees. A two-volume set covering 1879–1911 specifically compiles these records. An excellent resource on the register, written by Don Heller, is available on the Pennsylvania State University website and provides links to post office records.
• Star Routes: Contract Route Registers or "Star Routes" have registers for the years 1814-1817,1824,1828-1870, and 1917-1960. Included are the names of the stops along the routes and names of bidders for the contracts. These records can be found in Record Group 28.4.3

A comprehensive list of what is included in Record Group 28 (RG28) at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) can be found here. Click on "Search this record group in the National Archives Online Catalog" to access the catalog, which contains over 17,000 records. More than 6,000 of these records are digitized and available online.

Family Search: Additional postal resources can be found in the FamilySearch catalog by searching the keyword United States Post Office. A recent search returned over 500 items, covering topics such as postmaster appointments, record cards, lists, Benjamin Franklin’s ledgers, and more. Not all records are digitized.

US Postal Bulletin: Digitized copies of the U.S. Postal Bulletin (1880–2016) are available online at USPostalBulletins.com. Published daily except Sundays, the Bulletin focused on USPS business operations. The archives are fully indexed and searchable by full text. The website also includes a list of post offices.

Credit: The Library of Congress from Detroit Publishing Company photograph collection in the public domain. A circa 1900 photograph of Saginaw Michigan Post Office.

Library of Congress: The nation's main library in Washington, D.C., holds a vast collection of postal references, including original records, photographs, manuscripts, and other historical materials. A search of its catalog recently returned over two million resources, many of which are available online. Users can narrow their search by state to refine results; for example, a search for Michigan yielded over 18,000 records. These records include newspapers, photographs, prints, drawings, manuscripts, narratives, films, books, and more.

Many books and magazines are written about the United States Postal Service. Check Hathi Trust or World Cat to see what is available. They cover a variety of topics about the United States Postal Service.

Digging into postal records can reveal  insights into the history of the U.S. Postal Service and the individuals who contributed to its operation. Whether you're researching a relative who served as a postmaster, seeking historical mail route maps, or investigating the records of railway postal clerks, there are numerous resources available. Digitized records are now available online, and finding this information has become more convenient than ever. From the National Archives to FamilySearch and the Library of Congress, a treasure trove of knowledge awaits your exploration. So, if you have a passion for postal history, begin your search, you might just stumble upon some captivating details!

NOTE: I cannot end this blog post without acknowledging Michael Strauss, AG for his excellent coordination of the "Guide to Treasures Found in Federal Records" at Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburg (GRIP 2022), now the GRIP Genealogy Institute. 

Photograph taken at the conclusion of the class.

I had and still have many sticky notes to follow up on. The session, Postmasters and Letter Carriers: Records of the U.S. Postal Service was used as a reference for this blog post. Additionally, I spent many hours at the NARA website. Thank you Michael for the excellent presentation.

I used Michael's information to research one of my postmaster ancestors and wrote about it here.

A Great Combination: German Research and Allen County Public Public Library

 

Designed by Ken Howe

Michigan has a Germanic genealogical society and their March meeting will be on German Resources at the Genealogy Center of Allen County Public Library(ACPL) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. If you haven't been to ACPL you need to go. It is one of the best genealogy libraries in the United States. The meeting will be held virtually and I invite everyone to attend. There is more information in the following press release.

Michigan Germanic Genealogical Society Hosts Virtual Presentation on German Genealogy Resources

 The Michigan Germanic Genealogical Society (MiGGS)  announces its upcoming virtual meeting featuring a special presentation by John Beatty, CG, on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 7:30 PM. Beatty will present “German Resources in the Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library,” offering invaluable insights into one of the largest genealogical collections in the United States.

During this informative session, Beatty will guide attendees through the extensive German genealogy resources available at the Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He will highlight key materials, databases, and research strategies that can assist in tracing German ancestry more effectively. This presentation is designed for both beginners and experienced researchers alike.

About the Presenter:
John D. Beatty, CG, is a reference librarian in The Genealogy Center and serves as its principal bibliographer. A Board-certified genealogist, Beatty holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with high honors in History and a Master of Arts degree in History and Library Science with honors, both from the University of Michigan. He is the author of sixteen books on local and family history and has conducted original research on seventeenth- and eighteenth-century families from Ireland, Germany, and Switzerland.

How to Attend:
MiGGS members will receive the Zoom link for this meeting automatically. Non-members who wish to attend may request the link by emailing information@miggs.org.

All MiGGS meetings are free and open to the public.

For more information, visit www.miggs.org or contact information@miggs.org.

 

Navigating the Cognitive Landscape: How AI Enhances Mind Mapping

I wrote a blog post about the spiritual community of Harmonia, Michigan in January of 2020. Before writing the Harmonia post, I used mind mapping to map out the topics I wanted to cover. 

The Mind Map-Harmonia was created using 

Mind Map Template 1 from templatelab.com

Mind mapping starts with a central theme, my blue circle. It radiates out from the center with ideas relevant to the topic, my lighter blue circles, and then my white circles. Ron Arons, the author of Mind Mapping for Genealogy, demonstrated Mind Mapping in a Legacy Family Tree Webinar. I was intrigued by its potential use in blogging. I don't use it for every blog post, but for blog posts that have a number of sections to it. 

This is a nice example using a template at templatelab.com. Mind mapping helped me organize my thoughts and categorize them in a way when I started writing I could go from one topic to the next. Mind mapping worked for me in 2020.

Now in 2024 there is artificial intelligence. Could artificial intelligence and an artificial intelligence generator provide me with a mind map to use in my writing? I tried it using Harmonia as an example. Using the AI generator application, ChatGPT 3.5, I wrote, "Create a mind map for writing about Harmonia, Michigan." This is what I got back.

"Creating a mind map is a great way to organize your thoughts and ideas for writing about Harmonia, Michigan. Here's a basic mind map structure to help you get started:

Main Topic: Harmonia, Michigan

1. Introduction

   • Location
   • Brief history
   • Significance

2. Geography and Location

   • Map of Michigan
   • Harmonia's position within the state
   • Surrounding areas

3. Historical Background

   • Founding of Harmonia
   • Early settlers
   • Key historical events

4. Demographics and Population

   • Current population
   • Diversity
   • Trends in population over time

5. Economy

   • Major industries
   • Employment opportunities
   • Economic development projects

6. Culture and Community

   • Local traditions and festivals
   • Community organizations
   • Social life and recreational activities

7. Education

   • Schools in Harmonia
   • Educational institutions
   • Academic achievements

8. Natural Attractions

   • Parks and green spaces
   • Lakes, rivers, and outdoor activities
   • Wildlife and conservation efforts

9. Landmarks and Tourist Attractions

   • Notable landmarks
   • Places of interest for visitors
   • Historical sites

10. Local Businesses and Services

    • Shops and stores
    • Restaurants and cafes
    • Services available in Harmonia

11. Challenges and Opportunities

    • Economic challenges
    • Community development opportunities
    • Infrastructure and environmental concerns

12. Future Outlook

    • Upcoming projects and developments
    • Vision for Harmonia
    • Potential for growth and improvement

13. Personal Experiences

    • Your personal experiences or interviews with residents
    • Stories that capture the essence of Harmonia
    • Unique perspectives

14. Conclusion

    • Summarize key points
    • Highlight the essence of Harmonia, Michigan
    • Future prospects

15. References

    • List of sources, books, articles, and interviews used for research

You can expand upon each branch of the mind map to develop a comprehensive and well-structured essay or article about Harmonia, Michigan. This framework will help you cover various aspects of the town in an organized manner."

This is way more extensive than I anticipated. It doesn't have pretty colors and shapes, but it gets the job done.  It goes into more detail than I would want for one blog post. If I was writing multiple blog posts or even a book, this would be helpful. This is just one way I could see it benefiting family history writers. 

I am excited to see what artificial intelligence will bring to the genealogical community. Could it write my blog posts for me? I bet it could, but would it be reliable? accurate? How would I source it? Where does ChatGPT get its information? There are so many questions. This disclaimer, "ChatGPT can make mistakes. Consider checking important information" can be found on the ChatGPT website.

Have you used AI in your research or writing? My readers and I would enjoy hearing about it.

Disclaimer: I used ChatGPT 3.5 to generate the title of this blog post.

Death Certificates at Michiganology.org

The majority of death certificates found at Michiganology.org are from 1897-1947. Due to Michigan law the records must be seventy-five years old or older to be online. The years 1948-1952 have indexes, but no images. You have to wait until January of the new year before next year's certificates are posted. January 2024 is when the 1948 death certificates will be posted. 

Every January I would have my list of Michigan deaths I needed to find. I got behind on lookups for about four years. Recently, I took some time to catch up. One of my 1947 certificates was for Charles Zobel, my first cousin twice removed. 

Source: Michigan Department of Health, "Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1950," Index and Images, , Michiganology (www.michiganology.org : accessed 1 May 2023), Entry for Charles A Zobel, 25 June 1947; Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing

Above is what the certificates look like. This one is nice because most of it is typewritten. Some are not and those can be hard to read.

Search tips: On the search within this collection page, put the name you are looking for in the seach box, select sort by "title/last name" in the drop down menu at the top of the page, next select "table" in the display drop down menu. Using "table" is the only one that gives you last name, first name, and county information in the search results. I have found this to be successful for me. You can't refine the search. Other sort by options include type, first name, or place. If you aren't sure of the last name you can search by these other options. 

If you have ancestors who died in Michigan, check out the death certificates at Michiganology. Remember some of the genealogical relevant information is only as good as the informant.