Delivering for America: How the United States Postal Service Built a Nation moves chronologically, decade by decade, to tell the story of the pivotal role the USPS has played—and continues to play—as an essential public resource for our country. As the nation grew, the mail system grew with it, evolving from horseback riders to rail, air, and even space mail. Readers learn how early colonists created their own postal system to challenge British censorship, how post roads helped unify a diverse country, and how postal workers braved dangers—like flying mail across treacherous skies in the early days of aviation. The book also delves into how the postal service was a lifeline during the Great Depression and continues to shape our lives today, through cutting-edge advancements like electric vehicles, automation, and email.
Delivering for America: How the United States Postal Service Built a Nation
The United States Postal Service (USPS), founded on July 26, 1775, has been a vital thread in the fabric of American history since before the nation even existed. As the country expanded—from the early colonial days to the frontiers of the West—the postal service made it possible for citizens to stay connected, exchanging letters and ideas that helped define the nation. Today, the USPS boasts a remarkable 77% approval rating, making it the most admired federal agency in the country, even outpacing NASA. So we were excited when the USPS approached us with the monumental task of creating the first official book to tell the complete 250-year history of the postal service, timed to release during its anniversary year in 2025.
From Colonial Origins to Modern Innovations
A Rich Visual Resource
Delivering for America is filled with rare photographs, documents, and artifacts—many never before seen in print. Captions, sidebars, and visual breakouts offer deeper insights into everything from postal uniforms and hand stamps to pneumatic mail systems and even post office–themed music. Through these captivating stories and stunning visuals, the book imparts a deeper understanding of not just the history of the mail, but of America itself.
An Expert Guide
Guiding readers through two-and-a-half astonishing centuries of mail history is the foremost expert on America’s mail system, James H. Bruns. Bruns was the inaugural, longtime director of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum and also served as both the curator and the director of the National Philatelic Collection. His encyclopedic knowledge of the mail reaches from the massive to the minute, from the development of a continent-spanning network of postal routes to the extremely rare, highly collectible, and nearly priceless Blue Boy stamp.
