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A History of Holiday Mail Services

Dec 16, 2019
3 min

A History of Holiday Mail Services

What a Rush “Peak Season” is what the folks who work at the Postal Service call it — that surge of holiday mail during December. It is so much a part of American culture that you might assume it’s always been this way. A brief look at the history of holiday mail shows that this has not always been the case. Before the Civil War, the sending of Christmas cards was practically unheard of. Paper, printing, and postage were all fairly expensive. It wasn’t until 1855 that senders

#PostalProud at USPS

Nov 4, 2019
2 min

#PostalProud at USPS

A Peek into Our Peak Season Every day postal pride cascades through the thousands of Postal Service employees serving you — our customer — especially during our busiest season as we transport gifts from Santa’s workshop to your home. #PostalProud was created to promote a sense of pride in what our employees do every day. It offers a window into the work lives of postal elves everywhere. They are hard at work, just like Santa’s elves. As postal employees, we share what makes u

This is Our Season!

Sep 30, 2019
5 min

This is Our Season!

Adulting for the Holidays The holidays are coming fast! We’ve been working hard and we’re ready. And once again we are “holiday-fying” this blog. For the next 14 weeks, this space will provide you with information that can help make this season happier and less stressful. The Holiday Newsroom is also ready for the season. News releases, fact sheets, videos and other content will be posted regularly on this easy-to-access site. The Postal Service delivers the holidays — whethe

Small Business Solutions: Growing a Small Business

Aug 12, 2019
2 min

Small Business Solutions: Growing a Small Business

Make a Connection with your Local Postmaster For more than two centuries, Postmasters have played a central role in every community across the nation. And today, as business evolves, they continue to be a trusted part of the business landscape in small towns and big cities nationwide. The Postal Service is an organization with a culture that prides itself on providing outstanding service to the American public and its more than 13,000 Postmasters are the ones on the frontline

Presidents on Postage Stamps

Jun 17, 2019
3 min

Presidents on Postage Stamps

The postage stamps of a nation are a picture gallery of its glories. — Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield, 1957 Presidential Postage Stamps On June 12, 2019, the U.S. Postal Service issued a Forever stamp honoring George H.W. Bush, our nation’s 41st president, who died on Nov. 30, 2018. Bush enlisted in the Navy when he turned 18 and became one of the youngest U.S. combat pilots to serve in World War II. Later, he made a career of public service. As president, he guided

Mail by Rail: History of the Transcontinental Railroad and US Mail

May 3, 2019
4 min

Mail by Rail: History of the Transcontinental Railroad and US Mail

History of the Transcontinental Railroad and US Mail On May 10, 2019, the U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad with a set of Forever stamps. Construction of this railroad during the 1860s was the wonder of the age. Its completion was marked by the “Golden Spike Ceremony,” held when rail lines built by the Central Pacific Railroad Company from the west and the Union Pacific Railroad Company from the east

How to Install a Mailbox

Mar 15, 2019
2 min

How to Install a Mailbox

How to Install a Mailbox: Postal Service Guidelines and Regulations You Should Know “Tough luck for China residents with plow-damaged mailboxes,” read the CentralMaine.com headlines in December. The “China” referred to is China, Maine, a town that’s part of snow country — the North Country — in the Northeast. Snow can come in feet, not inches, in this part of the country — and may not always have a positive effect on postal customers. A town or public works department may rei

Black History is 365

Mar 8, 2019
2 min

Black History is 365

Black History is 365 The month of February is typically designated Black History Month. On Feb. 1, 1978, the U.S. Postal Service® joined in the celebration with the introduction of the Black Heritage® stamp series. The series began with the issuance of a 13 cent commemorative stamp honoring abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who was the first African American woman to be honored on a U.S. postage stamp. Unlike the denominated Tubman stamp, the Black Heritage stamp is now issued as

Small Business Marketing Solutions

Mar 4, 2019
2 min

Small Business Marketing Solutions

Small Business Marketing Solutions Small businesses are popping up online and in local neighborhoods across the nation at a remarkable pace. According to the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, 30.2 million small businesses accounted for 99.9% of all businesses in 2018, and the numbers are growing. Small business is big business for those who follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Unlike corporate-giant competitors, we know small business face a unique set of chal

Celebration in the Cards

Jan 15, 2019
1 min

Celebration in the Cards

Mailing a Celebration Who doesn’t like to get a birthday card in the mail? Everyone loves to see his or her name on the front of any card, and now there is the added Informed Delivery® notification. It is like opening your mailbox and seeing that card – but in your email instead. How about this for an idea and birthday card excitement? A few years back, my mother-in-law was celebrating her 80th birthday. Being the youngest of 13, and with four children of her own, 16 grandchi

Wrapping Up the Holiday Season

Dec 24, 2018
1 min

Wrapping Up the Holiday Season

2018 USPS Holiday Team Thank you! #holiday #USPostalService #USPS #USPSholiday

Executive Expressions™ Holiday 2018

Nov 22, 2018
2 min

Executive Expressions™ Holiday 2018

Holiday Greetings From the U.S. Postal Inspection Service It’s hard to believe the holidays are upon us, and another year is drawing to a close. Wasn’t it just yesterday we were basking in the summer sun’s warm rays? Nevertheless, I’ve always thought the holidays are a good way to help us celebrate the arrival of winter. I have plenty of special memories of holidays past — of warm embraces from loved ones, the smells and tastes of all those holiday goodies, and yes, those pre

USPS Holiday Shipping Options Expanded

Oct 30, 2018
3 min

USPS Holiday Shipping Options Expanded

Expanded USPS® Holiday Shipping Options – and other helpful holiday hints! Did you know that you can find postal-approved locations alternate to local Post Office™ facilities, many of which are accessible after 5 pm weekdays and on weekends? These resources can be found simply by going to www.usps.com/holiday on your computer and, in most cases, your mobile device. The website will provide you information about options at various hours of the day to make it easier for you to

Know Your 2018 Holiday Mailing and Shipping Deadlines!

Oct 29, 2018
2 min

Know Your 2018 Holiday Mailing and Shipping Deadlines!

Know Your Holiday Shipping Deadlines! Summer is officially over and, for better or worse, everything autumn is starting to take over (pumpkin spice anyone?) While you may be thinking more about Halloween than the holidays, the Postal Service™ has your back and we’ve been planning for the holidays since July. That planning includes making sure you know how and when to send items to friends and loved ones for the holidays. It’s important to make sure your well thought out gifts

10 Things to Know About Shipping Food and Fragile Items

Oct 22, 2018
3 min

10 Things to Know About Shipping Food and Fragile Items

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SHIPPING FOOD AND SHIPPING FRAGILE ITEMS The holiday season is upon us, which means many of us may be considering mailing gifts, foods or potentially fragile items to friends and loved ones across the country. What are the recommended ways to do this? The following are all ways approved by the Postal Service™ to get your package to its destination without fear of damage or altering of contents. SELECT THE RIGHT SIZE BOX OR SHIPPING CONTAINER: It should

Announcing the Premiere of the USPS 2018 Holiday Blog

Oct 1, 2018
1 min

Announcing the Premiere of the USPS 2018 Holiday Blog

Announcing the Premiere of the USPS® 2018 Holiday Blog The Holidays Are Coming! The Holidays Are Coming! The most magical time of the year is quickly approaching! We’ve been planning for it all year long and we’re ready to kick off the holiday season a little earlier than usual this year. With that spirit in mind, we are “holiday-ifying” this blog. For the next 13 weeks this space will feature posts covering things you need to know about the U.S. Postal Service® this holiday

Art of Magic Stamps Cast Spell of Wonder and Illusion

Sep 21, 2018
3 min

Art of Magic Stamps Cast Spell of Wonder and Illusion

USPS Writer/Editor Michael Hotovy Art of Magic Stamps Cast Spell of Wonder and Illusion I never knew stamps could be so magical. I am not speaking about how one little piece of paper, affixed to the upper right corner of an envelope, allows my letter to interface with the collective technology and manpower that is the Postal Service™ — moving my letter to its destination within a matter of days or hours. No, I am speaking of how the Art of Magic Forever® stamps affected me in

Postal Pioneers – USPS Celebrates Women’s History Month

Mar 27, 2018
3 min

Postal Pioneers – USPS Celebrates Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month, and the U.S. Postal Service® proudly celebrates the accomplishments of women who have helped shape the organization. USPS® employs about 289,500 women, which is more than 45 percent of the postal workforce. Throughout our 242-year existence, women have contributed to our success across all areas including mail delivery and processing, transportation and leadership. The contributions women have made to the Postal Service™ are too vast for one po

Black Heritage Stamps Series: Remembering Shirley Chisholm’s and Lena Horne

Feb 26, 2018
3 min

Black Heritage Stamps Series: Remembering Shirley Chisholm’s and Lena Horne

Shirley Chisholm Post Office, Brooklyn, New York Civil Rights Icons Share Postal Connection Standing in nearly the center of Brooklyn is a non-descript building with a rich history. The building, which houses the post office servicing the Bedford-Stuyvesant area, honors the late Shirley Chisholm—a pioneer in civil rights and a political trailblazer. On January 30, the Postal Service® issued the 41st stamp of the Black Heritage® series honoring the legendary American singer an

Organizational Cultures that Promote and Reinforce Safe Cyber Practices

Sep 15, 2017
4 min

Organizational Cultures that Promote and Reinforce Safe Cyber Practices

As a United States Postal Inspector for over 20 years, I’ve seen the impact distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks can have on the private sector. Hackers attempt to flood compromised systems with repeated requests, overpowering networks and disabling the systems they support—crippling organizations’ abilities to carry out mission-critical operations. The risks caused by DDoS attacks have grown as the parties behind the attacks continue to evolve. Cyberattacks are no lo

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