The Postal Workwear oral history project seeks to document the experiences of current and past postal workers in order to learn about what they wear on the job and how they feel about it; how workwear is selected, designed, and produced for postal jobs; and how workers choose and adapt clothing to fit their daily needs. As we launched this project during the Covid-19 pandemic, the necessity of safety protocols and protective equipment is one of the topical areas considered for some interviews. The project began in 2021 and collecting is ongoing.
The project emerged through a collaboration between the National Postal Museum and New York University’s master’s program in Costume Studies, wherein dress is interpreted as central to the creation of professional, community, and personal identities.
Museum staff and New York University participants are currently contacting narrators and the first of these interviews will be posted in late 2023.
