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- Travel pass for William Goddard
Travel pass for William Goddard
Object Details
- Description
- The handwritten note signed by Benjamin Franklin and dated September 4, 1776 granted permission for William Goddard to travel on business for the General Post Office.
- The Second Continental Congress named Benjamin Franklin the first Postmaster General of the Constitutional Post. William Goddard, the original creator of the post, was deeply disappointed at being passed over for the position. He reluctantly agreed to serve as Riding Surveyor for the Post, the second most important job. This pass allowed Goddard to travel between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Boston, Massachusetts, in performance of his new position.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- September 4, 1776
- Object number
- 1984.1127.5
- Issuer
- Benjamin Franklin, American, 1706 - 1790
- Issuee
- William Goddard
- Type
- Archival Material
- Medium
- paper; ink / handwritten
- Dimensions
- Height x Width (Pass): 6 1/4 × 8 in. (15.88 × 20.32 cm)
- Place
- Pennsylvania
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- Topic
- Colonial Era (1607-1776)
- Early Nation's Period (1776-1800)
- Postal Administration
- Record ID
- npm_1984.1127.5
- Usage
- CC0
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