Featuring Research Volunteer Contributions

Artwork

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Early US Mail Carrier, by Lloyd Branson

On post office walls throughout the United States, painted scenes reflect America's history and way of life. Artwork commissioned by post offices often depicts historical events and courageous acts that celebrate a heroic ideal. Postal artwork provides local communities with a colorful record of their heritage and gives us all a glimpse of the American public's changing taste.

Outside of officially commissioned public art, artists frequently use postal imagery to set a scene as part of the American landscape. Mailboxes, letter carriers, and post offices provide the common context of a typical American community.

Allison Marsh and Patricia Raynor