The Evolution of Female Mail Carriers in the Postal Service

The Evolution of Female Mail Carriers in the Postal Service has been a long and winding road. Women were first hired as mail carriers in 1913, but they were limited to rural areas and didn't have the same rights as their male counterparts.

In the early 20th century, female mail carriers were paid lower wages than men and had limited job opportunities. They were also not allowed to work in urban areas or hold positions of authority. This changed in 1975 when the Postal Service began to hire women as mail carriers in urban areas.

The first female postal worker to deliver mail on a city route was Mary Fields, who was hired in 1896. She was a trailblazer for women in the Postal Service and paved the way for future generations of female mail carriers.

Recommended read: What Is the Difference between First Class Mail and Priority

Mary Fields, also known as "Stagecoach Mary", was the first African-American woman to work for the U.S. Postal Service.

She secured a job as a Star Route Carrier in 1895, at the age of sixty, which made her a trailblazer in her time.

Fields carried mail in Montana's unforgiving weather and rocky terrain, relying on nearby Ursuline nuns for help at their mission.

She was known for her reliability and never missed a day of work, earning her the nickname "Stagecoach Mary" due to her preferred mode of transportation.

Fields carried multiple firearms to protect herself and the mail from wolves, thieves, and bandits.

She drove the route with horses and a mule named Moses, and if the snow was too deep, she delivered the mail on snowshoes, carrying the sacks on her shoulders.

In one instance, she stayed up all night to fight off a pack of wolves who had knocked over her vehicle.

Fields was not an employee of the United States Post Office Department, but rather a contractor who had posted bonds and sureties to substantiate her ability to finance the route.

She was a true pioneer in the field of postal history, paving the way for future generations of female mail carriers.

Women like Polly Martin and Mary Fields broke ground as contract mail carriers in the mid 1800s and 1895 respectively. This was a significant step for women's independence and self-reliance.

Polly Martin, possibly the first female star route carrier, faced a troubling incident during her career carrying the mail from 1860 to 1876. She was able to fend off a group of men who tried to intimidate her.

Mary Fields, known as "Stagecoach Mary", was a six-foot-tall Black woman who carried a revolver and a rifle. She was not out of place in a western saloon, and enjoyed smoking cigars.

In 1913, women's suffrage activists organized a protest outside a post office in New York City, highlighting the need for postal reform and women's rights.

The protest was sparked by the refusal of postal officials to allow women to collect mail from the post office, a task that was seen as a symbol of independence and equality.

Women's groups argued that women should have the same rights as men to collect mail and participate in postal work.

The protest was a significant event in the fight for women's suffrage and postal reform.

It marked a turning point in the struggle for women's rights, with many women seeing the postal service as a key battleground for equality.

The protest also drew attention to the issue of women's employment in the postal service, with many women seeking jobs as postal clerks and carriers.

Suggestion: What Is Express Mail Service

Mary Fields, also known as "Stagecoach Mary", was a trailblazer in the postal service. She was the first African-American woman to work for the U.S. Postal Service.

In 1895, Fields secured a job as a Star Route Carrier in Montana, where she used a stagecoach to deliver mail in the rugged terrain. She relied on nearby Ursuline nuns for help at their mission.

Fields carried multiple firearms, including a .38 Smith & Wesson, to protect herself and the mail from wolves, thieves, and bandits. She never missed a day of work.

Her reliability earned her the nickname "Stagecoach Mary" due to her preferred mode of transportation. She drove the route with horses and a mule named Moses.

If the snow was too deep for her horses, Fields delivered the mail on snowshoes, carrying the sacks on her shoulders. She even stayed up all night to fight off a pack of wolves who had knocked over her vehicle.

Fields was not an employee of the United States Post Office Department, but rather a contractor who had secured a star route contract. This meant she had to post bonds and sureties to substantiate her ability to finance the route.

Mary Fields' remarkable life has inspired numerous representations in popular culture. Gary Cooper, a Montana native and actor, wrote an article about her in EBONY magazine in 1959, describing her as "one of the freest souls ever to draw a breath, or a .38".

Her story has also been adapted into a screenplay, "Stagecoach" Mary Fields, written by Georgianne Landy-Kordis. This is just one example of how Mary's legacy continues to captivate audiences.

Several books have been written about Mary's life, including a biography for children, Fearless Mary: The True Adventures of Mary Fields, American Stagecoach Driver by Tami Charles. Another book, Stagecoach Mary, is a collection of supernatural tales in pulp-fiction style by Jess Nevins.

Mary's life has also been documented in a biographical book, Mary Fields: The Story of Black Mary by James A. Franks. This book provides a detailed account of her life and achievements.

In addition, a comprehensive biography, The Life and Legend of Mary Fields, was written by Sunny Nash and published in True West Magazine in 1996. This article offers a rich insight into Mary's life and legacy.

The local history of female mail carriers is a fascinating topic. In the early 1900s, many women began working as mail carriers in the United States.

Suggestion: Usps Mail Carriers Tentative Contract

One notable example is Mary Fields, who became the first African American woman to work for the US Postal Service in 1895. She was hired in Missoula, Montana, and quickly proved herself to be a capable and efficient mail carrier.

Women like Mary Fields paved the way for future generations of female mail carriers. They faced many challenges, including physical demands of the job and societal attitudes towards women in the workforce.

In the early 20th century, the US Postal Service began to hire more women, and by the 1920s, women made up a significant portion of the workforce.