1939 + 1948 MANUSCRIPT DIARY OF A POST OFFICE WORKER IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK ATTENDING MEETINGS, COMMITTEES, AND GOING ABOUT HIS NORMAL BUSINESS OF MAKING SURE THE MAIL IS DELIVERED EVERY DAY

On offer is an interesting book from a Post Office mail carrier, first in 1939, then again in 1948. The entries take place from May 17th to October 31,1939 and then from June 30th to November 15, 1948. In 1939, the entries are usually short snippets from the author’s work as mail carrier in Syracuse, New York, delivering mail at different places around the city: The University of Syracuse, Solvay, Elmwood Park, and others. The entries also concern the meetings, surveys, inspections, committees, and other events that happened to or around the author in Pre-WW2 Syracuse. In 1948, the entries become much more general, both containing information about work in the Post Office, now as a higher up employee in the Post Office. The entries contain information about the weather, going to his lake cottage (probably at Oneida Lake or Onondaga Lake), and reports of the health and wellbeing of family members and coworkers, as well as the normal business of working at the office dealing with more and more mail every day. The book contains roughly 50 handwritten pages. The book itself contains probably close to 200 pages in total. The green covers show some discoloration but are structurally very good, as is the spine. The binding is tight and very good. The pages inside show little wear, toning, or foxing and all are in good condition. The ink is still dark and the handwriting is legible throughout. Text: “5/17/39. Request for survey of Lewiston Manor forwarded to Ass’t. Sullivan. Request that Mr. Sullivan consider asking Dept for authority to make two routes of No. 176. Unsatisfactory reports by Dora to Connely. Did the request myself.”; “10/4/39. Called at Univ. Sta. all carriers returned on time. Sup’t. Barnes requested to withhold heavy pieces of paper mail from the carriers in the P.M. and work circs to them instead....Suggested to Ass’t. P.M. that a call window be opened for use of patrons calling at ____ instead of using P.P. collector were people wishing to mail P.P. are frequently blocked away from the ____ by persons calling.”; “Aug. 24, 1948. Postmaster called Sullivan into his office and later told me he had given Sullivan a ‘real going over’ regarding his lacking and failure to take care of his job. Maintained that his estimates were usually late, extended service to Menlo Dr. without any record - doing it by ‘phone’; changed service in Westvale from Mt. to foot without notifying patrons and delaying other supervisors work by not promptly doing his own work. Sullivan said he would take the pledge.” OVERALL: G; Manuscript; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, AMERICAN POST OFFICE, SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, PRE WORLD WAR TWO, POST WORLD WAR TWO, MAIL CARRIERS, POST OFFICE WORKER, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ARCHIVE, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNAL, LOG, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D’ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL