Fascinating Postal Facts
November 28, 2018
Famous Postal Workers
Most people know that Benjamin Franklin was the first Postmaster General, but there is a whole list of famous people who once worked for the Postal Service. The names marked with an asterisk have been commemorated on U.S. postage stamps.
- John Brown Abolitionist Postmaster, Randolph, PA; 1828–1835
- Charles Bukowski Poet, novelist, screenwriter Clerk, Los Angeles, CA; 1950s–60s
- Steve Carell Actor, comedian Rural letter carrier, Littleton, MA; 1985
- Anthony Comstock Anti-vice crusader Special Agent/Postal Inspector; 1873–1915
- Bing Crosby* Singer, actor Substitute and regular clerk, Spokane, WA; 1921
- Walt Disney* Film producer, theme park creator Substitute carrier, Chicago, IL, and Christmas temporary, Kansas City, MO; 1918, 1919
- William Faulkner* Novelist Acting Postmaster and Postmaster, University, MS; 1921–1924
- Benjamin Franklin* Statesman, inventor, printer Postmaster General, 1775–1776 (served under the British as Postmaster of Philadelphia from 1737 to 1753, and as joint Postmaster General from 1753 to 1774)
- Sherman Hemsley Actor Clerk, Philadelphia, PA, and New York, NY; 1960s
- Conrad Hilton Hotel magnate Postmaster, San Antonio, NM; 1910–1911
- Harry Hooper Baseball Hall-of-Famer Acting Postmaster and Postmaster, Capitola, CA; 1933–1957
- Brittany Howard Singer, Alabama Shakes Rural carrier assistant, Athens, AL; 2011
- Rock Hudson Actor Substitute letter carrier, Winnetka, IL; ca. 1947
- Sidney Lanier* Poet Clerk, Macon, GA; ca. 1858
- Abraham Lincoln* U.S. President Postmaster, New Salem, IL; 1833–1836
- Charles Lindbergh* Aviator Airmail pilot; 1926–1927
- Fred C. Lindstrom Baseball Hall-of-Famer Acting Postmaster, Postmaster, and Officer-In-Charge, Evanston, IL; 1961–1972
- Samuel F. B. Morse Inventor Superintendent, Telegraph Unit; 1845–1846
- John Prine Singer, songwriter Letter carrier, Maywood, IL; 1964–1969
- Knute Rockne* Football coach Substitute and regular clerk, Chicago, IL; 1907–1910
- Adlai E. Stevenson U.S. Vice President First Assistant Postmaster General; 1885–1889
- Harry S. Truman* U.S. President Postmaster, Grandview, MO; 1914–1915
- John Wanamaker Department store magnate Postmaster General; 1889–1893
- Noah Webster* Lexicographer Special agent; 1793
- Hal Williams Actor Clerk, Los Angeles, CA; 1968–70s
- Richard Wright* Author Substitute clerk, Chicago, IL; 1929–1932
- N.C. Wyeth* Painter Mail carrier, Fort Defiance, AZ, to Crozier, NM; 1904