What:

Brad Hilgart, the newly appointed Postmaster of Miami, will receive the oath of office in a special ceremony at the Miami Post Office on Friday, September 22, 2023.  

The brief installation program will feature the administration of the Postmaster’s Oath of Office.   

Who:

Postmaster Brad Hilgart
Jorge Lopez, USPS Manager, Post Office Operations

When:

Friday, September 22, 2023, 10:00 a.m.

Where:

Miami Post Office
161 W Live Oak St
Miami, AZ 85539

Background:

The title, “Postmaster” carries with it both a noble heritage and a vital responsibility. 

Originally, the word Postmaster was referred as the one who provided post horses.  According to the Oxford Dictionary, postmaster means “master of the posts, the officer who has charge or direction of the posts.” 

William Penn established Pennsylvania’s first post office in 1683.   

In 1737, Benjamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster at Philadelphia.  He laid out new post roads, helped expand mail service from Canada to New York and instituted overnight delivery between Philadelphia and New York City, a distance of 90 miles. In 1774, Franklin was dismissed from office in 1774 because of his efforts on behalf of the patriots. 

When the Continental Congress met in May 1775, they named Franklin as postmaster general for the 13 American colonies.   

From 1775 until the early 1800s, Postmasters were appointed by the postmaster general.  In 1836, postmasters were appointed by the president, but this of course changed whenever a new party was elected.  It was not until August 1970, with the signing of the Postal Reorganization Act, which took effect in July 1971, that the patronage system was finally removed from the postal service once and for all.  Postmasters began being appointed on merit alone.   

Along the way, there have been several famous individuals, who have served as postmasters.  In 1833, Abraham Lincoln was appointed postmaster of New Salem, IL.   

Other notable individuals who served as postmaster included abolitionist John Brown, businessman Conrad Hilton, novelist William Faulkner, and humorist Bill Nye.   

Postmaster Brad Hilgart continues this proud heritage. 

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