Finding aid for the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 40 Records

History of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 40

The National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 40, was established in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 6, 1889 as the Cleveland Letter Carriers' Association. Although no national association of letter carriers existed at this time, representatives of the Cleveland association met with representatives of other independent associations in 1890 to form the National Association of Letter Carriers; Cleveland received its official charter from the national organization on August 28, 1890. At this time the branch was known simply by its branch number, 40; in 1898, the name of Branch 40 was changed to the Forest City Branch, and in 1965, the name changed again, to the William C. Doherty Branch.

Branch 40 has been in the forefront of many developments in union activity and benefits, both nationwide and locally. the first Mutual Benefit Association to insure letter carriers and their families was formed in Cleveland in 1891. On December 15, 1899 Branch 40 carried out its first mail collection completely by automobile. In 1905 delivery service was changed from personal to box delivery only. Another innovation came in 1913 when the first parcel post service in Cleveland went into effect. In 1920 and again in 1935 Branch 40 was in the vanguard of the lobbying which obtained passage of the Postal Retirement Act (1920), and the act reducing the postal work week to 40 hours (1935).

Branch 40 has also participated in activities to promote the formation of stronger unions of all types. In 1937 it was active in a mail delivery boycott of the Chicago firm of Donnelly and Sons on the grounds that it was a non-union shop. In 1940, Branch 40 and the national organization were active in urging other unions to support United States neutrality in the European war.

the branch as also prepared publications and sponsored social events for its members. In 1928, Branch 40 published its first magazine, The Postman; it lasted only one year under this title, remaining dormant until 1953, when it was revived under the name Mailbag 40; it still exists under this title. The Branch also sponsors an annual picnic and dance. the Branch 40 band was established as the Letter Carriers Band in 1890, and is one of the oldest union bands in the nation.

The union's first strike took place in 1970 over a wage dispute with the federal government. The strike was carried out by postal workers across the country, including Branch 40, in defiance of National Association leaders. The strike lasted for two weeks in March of 1970, and resulted in a massive mail back-up and a fourteen percent pay raise for letter carriers and other post office employees.

Branch 40 of the National Association of Letter Carriers is still an active and viable participant in Cleveland's trade union movement and plays a significant role at the national level.

Scope and Content

The National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 40 Records, 1889-1971, consist of reports of the treasurer, the trustees, and the financial secretary, dues books, financial journals, minutes of monthly meetings, attendance books, material on a contested election, materials relating to the 1970 strike, union publications, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and a miscellaneous file.

This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of organized labor in Cleveland, Ohio, in the late nineteenth century and the twentieth century, particularly efforts to organize and represent civil servants and letter carriers. The collection provides valuable insight into the internal development of union activity in the United States in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The records detail the role of Branch 40 in such events as bringing the automobile into full use as a tool in the Post Office, promoting retirement legislation, urging United States neutrality before entry into World War II, participating in charitable activities, supporting passage of the 40 hour work week, and encouraging formation of stronger unions by boycotting delivery of publications of the non-union publishing house of Donnelly and Sons (Chicago) in 1937.

The minutes of the monthly meetings include plans for charitable activities, local reaction to the activities of the National Association of Letter Carriers and the nation in general, a small number of treasurers' reports, and resolutions and information related to the disciplinary actions taken by the branch.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

The researcher should also consult MS 4152 National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 40 Records, Series II; and PG 166 Cleveland Mail Service Photographs.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 3701 National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 40 Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 40, in 1977.

Processing Information

Processed by Roberta L. Hudson in 1978.

Detailed Description of The Collection