Overview

Record Group (RG) 28 of the National Archives is the Records of the Post Office Department. Five Preliminary Inventories (PI) were written about the collection:

  • PI 36: Bureau of the First Assistant Postmaster General, 1789–1942, comp. by Frank J. Nivert and Arthur Hecht (1951), 16 pp. (RG 28) [out of print]
  • PI 82: Records of the Bureau of the Second Assistant Postmaster General, 1814–1946, comp. by Arthur Hecht (1955), 40 pp. (RG 28) [out of print]
  • PI 99: Records of the Bureau of the Second Assistant Postmaster General, 1814–1946, comp. by Arthur Hecht (1955), 40 pp. (RG 28) [out of print]
  • PI 114: Records of the Bureaus of the Third and Fourth Assistant Postmasters General, the Bureau of Accounts, and the Bureau of the Chief Inspector of the Post Office Department, comp. by Arthur Hecht, et al. (1959), 45 pp. (RG 28) [out of print]
  • PI 168: Records of the Post Office Department, comp. by Arthur Hecht et al. (rev. by Forrest R. Holdcamper, 1967), 54 pp. (RG 28)

Preliminary Inventories (meant to be a stepping stone to an eventual inventory) detail the records available within the collection which is needed for a researcher to know what is available and how to request it. They include information such as the title, entry number, span of dates, size of collection (ie. volumes or feet), and information the records contain.

PI 168: Records of the Post Office Department

Two hundred and forty items (entries) are listed in PI 168. They were organized by the different departments within the Post Office Department as a whole. For example, entry numbers 1-5 were Records of the Immediate Office of the Postmaster General while entry numbers 8-22 were Records of the Office of the Chief Clerk. To learn more about these different departments, refer to PI 168.

For more information and examples for specific entries, click on any of the hyperlinked titles:

  1. ORDERS ("JOURNALS").   July 7, 1835-Mar. 5, 1953.   1,146 vols.   325 ft.
  2. LETTERS SENT.   Oct. 3, 1789-Dec 31, 1910; May 22, 1912-Aug. 30, 1913; Jan. 1, 1915-Dec. 31, 1952.   502 vols.   90 ft.
  3. DRAFTS OF LETTERS SENT.   1836-45.   1 ft.
  4. LETTERS RECEIVED.   1837-43.   1 ft.
  5. A FILM ENTITLED "THE STORY OF THE U.S. MAIL."   n.d.   1 reel.
  6. LETTERS SENT.   Mar. 1, 1930-Nov. 5, 1935.   23 vols.   4 ft.
  7. LETTERS SENT.   July 11-Dec. 14, 1929.   1 vol.   2 in.
  8. ANNUAL REPORTS.   1836, 1840, 1846.   1 in.
  9. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE AND RESOLUTIONS.   1839-41, 1854-58.   1 ft.
  10. LETTERS SENT.   Jan. 18, 1873-Mar. 14, 1910.   117 vols.   11 ft.
  11. RECORDS RELATING TO THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING.   1827-55.   5 in.
  12. RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF ELECTO-MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.   1837-46.   2 in.
  13. AGREEMENTS ON TELEGRAPH RATES.   1866-1913.   1 ft.
  14. RECORDS RELATING TO TELEPHONIC AND TELEGRAPHIC SERVICES.   July 6, 1906-Nov. 15, 1910; Jan. 1, 1911-Mar. 3, 1922.   3 vols.   3 in.
  15. NOTICES AND PROTESTED WARRANTS OF DRAFTS.   1837.   1 in.
  16. RECORDS RELATING TO THE CLAIM OF JOHN T. SULLIVAN FOR BINDING COPIES OF LAWS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO POSTMASTERS.   1939-48.   1 in.
  17. RECORDS OF THE CENSORSHIP BOARD.   1917-1918.   40 ft.
  18. LETTERS RECOMMENDING JOHN ZUMSTEIN AS POSTMASTER FOR THE CINCINNATI, OHIO, POST OFFICE.   Mar.-Aug. 1890.   3 vols.   3 in.
  19. RECORDS RELATING TO THE KEEP COMMISSION.   1906-7.   1 VOL.   3 in.
  20. FILMS SHOWING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING IN WASHINGTON, D.C.   1931-34.   14 reels.
  21. FILMS SHOWING SERVICES FURNISHED BY THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT AND METHODS USED IN SUPPLYING THEM.   1915-38.   51 reels.
  22. FILMS SHOWING GERMAN AND ITALIAN VICTORIES IN FRANCE, POLAND, AND AT SEA.   1940-41.   32 reels.
  23. REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO PERSONNEL.   Jan. 9, 1904-May 26, 1913.   19 vols. and unbound papers.   3 ft.
  24. JOURNAL OF HUGH FINLAY, SURVEYOR OF POST ROADS AND POST OFFICES.   Sept. 13, 1773-May 24, 1774.   1 vol.   1 in.
  25. MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS.   1794-1894.   1 ft.
  26. RECORD OF LETTERS SENT FROM THE WILMINGTON, DEL., POST OFFICE TO OTHER POST OFFICES.   Mar. 10, 1786-June 11, 1792.   1 vol.   2 in.
  27. SCRAPBOOK OF CIRCULARS, NOTICES, INSTRUCTIONS, REGULATIONS, AND NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS.   1823-71.   1 vol.   2 in.
  28. RECORD OF MAILS SENT AND RECEIVED AT THE COLLINS, ERIE COUNTY, N.Y., POST OFFICE.   1827-29.   1 vol.   1 in.
  29. LETTERS SENT.   1862-87.   5 vols.   5 in.
  30. GENERAL RECORDS.   1884-99, 1911-13.   2 ft.
  31. RECORDS RELATING TO THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING.   1871-75, 1893.   2 vols.   2 in.
  32. LETTERS SENT.   Dec. 18, 1867-June 26, 1874; May 29, 1893-Dec. 31, 1895; May 1, 1897-Dec. 27, 1901.   13 vols.   2 ft.
  33. GENERAL RECORDS OF THE POSTAL EMPLOYEES' COOPERATIVE STORE ASSOCIATION.   1917-21.   3 in.
  34. GENERAL RECORDS OF THE DIVISION OF SERVICE RELATIONS.   1921-30.   3 in.
  35. CARD INDEX TO GENERAL RECORDS.   1905-21.   3 ft.
  36. GENERAL RECORDS.   1905-21.   10 ft.
  37. CARD INDEX TO RECORDS RELATING TO FEDERAL OPERATION OF TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPH, AND CABLE COMPANIES.   1919-21.   12 ft.
  38. RECORDS RELATING TO FEDERAL OPERATION OF TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPH, AND CABLE COMPANIES.   1918-21.   12 ft.
  39. CARD RECORDS RELATING TO FEDERAL OPERATION OF TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPH, AND CABLE COMPANIES.   1919-21.   13 ft.
  40. RECORDS RELATING TO THE ESPIONAGE ACT, WORLD WAR I.   1917-21.   94 ft.
  41. RECORDS RELATING TO THE ESPIONAGE ACT, WORLD WAR II.  1942-1945.   25 ft.
  42. RECORDS RELATING TO AIRMAIL AND OCEAN-MAIL CONTRACTS.   1934-40.   32 ft.
  43. CORRESPONDENCE AND MEMORANDA RELATING TO THE ADMISSIBILITY OF FOREIGN PUBLICATIONS.   1940-47.   1 ft.
  44. BRIEFS OF CONTENTS OF NONMAILABLE PUBLICATIONS.   1940-47.   1 ft.
  45. LISTS OF MAILABLE AND NONMAILABLE PUBLICATIONS.   1940-47.   6 ft.
  46. CASE FILE RELATING TO ESQUIRE MAGAZINE.   1943-46.   10 ft.
  47. OFFICE FILES OF WILLIAM H. LAMAR.   1912-22.   8 in.
  48. OPINIONS.   1868-74, 1895-97.   3 in.
  49. LETTERS SENT.   Feb. 1877-Mar. 1879; July-Aug. 1906.   2 vols.   3 in.
  50. "FRAUD ORDER CASE FILES."   1834-79, 1881-96, 1912-47.   79 ft.
  51. REGISTER OF "FRAUD ORDERS."   Nov. 1879-June 30, 1951.   8 vols.   5 ft.
  52. TRANSCRIPTS OF HEARINGS ON FRAUD CASES.   1913-45.   63 ft.
  53. TRANSCRIPTS OF HEARINGS ON AIRMAIL AND OCEAN-MAIL CONTRACTS.   Oct. - Dec. 1934.   7 ft.
  54. DOCKET OF CASES REFERRED TO THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.   1886-90.   1 vol.   1 in.
  55. FRAUD DOCKETS.   1900-July 1951.   22 vols.  3 ft.
  56. DOCKETS OF STATE AND FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT CASES INVOLVING POSTAL LAWS.   July 1917-July 1951.   4 vols.   8 in.
  57. REGISTERS OF POSTMASTERS' CLAIMS.   1882-1929.   19 vols.   3 ft.
  58. SURETY BONDS ("JUSTIFICATIONS").   1901-2, 1908.   8 in.
  59. LETTERS SENT.   May-Dec. 1904, Jan. - Mar. 1910, June-Dec. 1910.   9 vols.   1 ft.
  60. LETTERS SENT.   Oct. 27, 1793-Mar. 26, 1800.   3 vols.   3 in.
  61. MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE.   1911-1928, 1929-32.   8 in.
  62. STATEMENTS RELATING TO POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION BILLS AND OTHER LEGISLATION.   1912-31.   1 ft.
  63. CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS RELATING TO CREDIT UNIONS FOR POSTAL EMPLOYEES.   1923-41.   6 ft.
  64. ORDERS ("JOURNALS").   July 1867-Feb. 1905.   71 vols.   21 ft.
  65. REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO CONVENTIONS OF POSTMASTERS.   1908-9, 1922-28.   7 in.
  66. REPORTS RELATING TO CONVENTIONS OF POSTMASTERS.   1922-27.   5 in.
  67. RECORD OF FIRST RETURNS RECEIVED FROM POSTMASTERS.   Oct. 1789-July 1818.   1 vol.   4 in.
  68. RECORD OF APPOINTMENT OF POSTMASTERS.   1815-32.   6 vol.   2 ft.
  69. RECORD OF APPOINTMENT OF POSTMASTERS.   1832-1930.   98 vols.   33 ft.
  70. RECORD OF THE COMMISSIONING AND APPOINTMENT OF POSTMASTERS.   1889-1908.   68 vols.   21 ft.
  71. DAILY RECORD OF THE APPOINTMENT OF POSTMASTERS AND OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, DISCONTINUANCE, AND NAME AND SITE CHANGES OF POST OFFICES.   Jan. 1899-Dec. 1914.   42 vols.   12 ft.
  72. INDEX TO THE RECORD OF APPOINTMENT OF POSTMASTERS.   1840-1908.   27 vols.   9 ft.
  73. ALPHABETICAL RECORD OF APPOINTMENT OF POSTMASTERS IN IOWA, LOUISIANA, ARKANSAS, AND MISSOURI ("INDEX TO POST OFFICES").   1866-74.   2 vols.   6 in.
  74. MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT AND REAPPOINTMENT OF POSTMASTERS.   1907-13.   1 ft.
  75. CORRESPONDENCE WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CONCERNING ACTING POSTERMASTERS.   1923-24.   1 in.
  76. REPORTS OF CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION INVESTIGATIONS OF APPLICATIONS FOR POSTMASTERSHIPS.   1918-21.   4 ft.
  77. EXHIBITS RELATING TO THE CASE OF POSTMASTER JOHN A. THORNTON OF PHILADELPHIA.   1915-21.   2 ft.
  78. RECORD OF SALARIES OF REGULAR CLERKS AND OTHER PERSONNEL IN FIRST- AND SECOND-CLASS POST OFFICES.   July 1, 1889-June 30, 1907.   28 vols.   6 ft.
  79. RECORD OF APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTE CLERKS IN THE FIRST- AND SECOND-CLASS POST OFFICES.   July 1, 1899-June 30, 1905.   2 vols.   3 in.
  80. RECORD CARDS OF SECOND-CLASS POST OFFICES.   1916-25.   3 in.
  81. RECORDS RELATING TO CONTRACT STATIONS AND BRANCHES.   1916-35.   53 ft.
  82. REPORTS RELATING TO SUNDAY SERVICE AND THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.   1911-12.   2 ft.
  83. CORRESPONDENCE WITH THIRD-CLASS POST OFFICES.   1925-36.   3 in.
  84. RECORD CARDS OF CARRIERS SEPARATED FROM THE POSTAL SERVICE.   1863-99.   12 ft.
  85. REGISTER OF REGULAR CARRIERS IN FIRST- AND SECOND-CLASS POST OFFICES.   1888-1902.   5 vols.   1 ft.
  86. RECORD OF SALARIES OF REGULAR CARRIERS AT FIRST- AND SECOND-CLASS POST OFFICES.   1906-7.   3 vols.   6 in.
  87. REGISTER OF SUBSTITUTE CARRIERS IN FIRST- AND SECOND-CLASS POST OFFICES.   1889-1903.   2 vols.   4 in.
  88. INDEX TO NAMES OF SUBSTITUTE CARRIERS IN FIRST- AND SECOND-CLASS POST OFFICES.   1892-96.   1 vol.   1 in.