List of postmasters of Chicago

A a post office was first established in Chicago on March 8, 1831, with Johnathan N. Baily, a fur trader, being appointed Chicago's first postmaster.

Chicago was long the hub of the Railway Mail Service of the United States. Chicago saw particularly large volumes of mail in the peak era of mail-order business by Chicago-based retailers Montgomery Ward and Sears.

Postmasters appointed before 1971

Until the establishment of the United States Postal Service in 1971, the president of the United States appointed local postmasters.

In the 19th century, many appointees of postal positions in the United States were patronage positions, with newspaper editors with close ties to the president's party often receiving postmastership positions.

Name Tenure President appointed by Notes Citation(s)
Johnathan N. BailyMarch 31, 1831–Nov. 2, 1832Andrew Jackson
(Democrat)		First postmaster
John S.C. HoganNov. 2, 1832–1837
Sidney AbellMar. 3, 1837–1841Martin Van Buren
(Democrat)
William StuartJul. 10 1841–1845John Tyler
(Whig)
Hart L. StuartApr. 25, 1845–1849James K. Polk
(Democrat)
Richard L. WilsonApr. 23, 1849–1850Zachary Taylor
(Whig)
George W. DoleSep. 25, 1850–1853Millard Fillmore
(Whig)
Isaac CookMar. 22, 1853–1857Franklin Pierce
(Democrat)
William PriceMar. 18, 1857–1858James Buchanan
(Democratic)
Isaac CookMar. 9, 1858–1861
John Locke ScrippsMarch 28, 1861–Mar. 9, 1865Abraham Lincoln
(Republican)
Samuel HoardMar. 9, 1865–1866Abraham Lincoln
(Republican)
Robert A. GilmoreNov. 16, 1866–1867Andrew Johnson
(Democrat)
Francis Trowbridge ShermanAug. 27, 1867–1869
Francis A. EastmanApr. 5, 1869–1873Ulysses S. Grant
(Republican)
John McArthurDec. 20, 1873–1877
Francis Wayland PalmerFeb. 26, 1877–1885Rutherford B. Hayes
(Republican)
S. Corning JuddMay 5, 1885–1888Grover Cleveland
(Democrat)
Walter C. NewberryNov. 19, 1888–1889
James A. SextonApr. 16, 1889–1893Benjamin Harrison
(Republican)
Washington HesingNov. 25, 1893–1897Grover Cleveland
(Democrat)
Charles Ulysses GordonMar. 19, 1897–1901William McKinley
(Republican)
Frederick E. CoyneMar. 19, 1901–1905
Fred A. BusseDec. 16, 1905–1907Theodore Roosevelt
(Republican)
Daniel A. CampbellApr. 6, 1907–1917
William B. CarlileMar. 16, 1917–1921Woodrow Wilson
(Democrat)
Arthur C. LuederAug. 24, 1921–1923Warren G. Harding
(Republican)		Resigned in 1923 to unsuccessfully run for mayor of Chicago in that year's election as a Republican.
Grant B. Miller1923Warren G. Harding
(Republican)
Arthur C. Lueder1923–1933Warren G. Harding
(Republican)		Reappointed postmaster after losing mayoral election.
Ernest J. KruetgenAug. 31, 1933–1948 (acting postmaster Aug. 31, 1933–Jan. 31, 1934)Franklin D. Roosevelt
(Democrat)
John HaderleinAug. 31, 1949–1952 (acting postmaster Aug. 31, 1948–Sep. 23, 1949)Harry S. Truman
(Democrat)
Vincent F. Werner (acting postmaster)Aug. 31, 1952–Jul. 6, 1953
Carl A. ShroederJul. 6, 1953–1961 (acting postmaster Jul. 6, 1953–Aug. 12, 1954)Dwight D. Eisenhower
(Republican)
Ralph G. Donegan
(unofficial acting postmaster)		Sep. 15, 1961–Nov. 2, 1961N/a
Harry H. SemrowNovember 2, 1861–Mar. 1966 (acting postmaster Nov 2, 1961–Oct. 5, 1962)John F. Kennedy
(Democrat)
William Boschelli (acting postmaster)Mar. 18, 1966–Sep. 1966Lyndon B. Johnson
(Democrat)
Henry W. McGee Jr.Nov. 5, 1966
and
1966–Mar. 1972 (acting postmaster Sep 23, 1966–Nov. 5, 1966)		First African American to hold the position

Postmasters appointed after 1971

Name Tenure Notes Citation(s)
Emmett E. Cooper Jr.June 2, 1973–April 28, 1977Left post after being assigned regional postmaster general for the Eastern Region
Frank C. GoldieJul 16, 1977–1987
Janet NorfleetApril 4, 1987–December 1990First female postmaster of Chicago
Norman L. MillerJan. 26, 1991–Jan. 1992
Ormer Rogers Jr.Apr. 18, 1992–Jan. 1993
Jimmie MasonJan. 9, 1993–Jul. 1994
Rufus PorterJul. 16, 1994–Apr. 2001
Earl D. FlowersApr. 7, 2001–Aug. 2002
Eric D. ChavezAug. 10, 2002–Aug. 2004
Kelvin MackAug. 7, 2004–Sep. 2006
Gloria E. TysonMay 26, 2009–Mar. 3, 2011
Anthony B. VaughanNov. 16, 2013–2016
Tangela L. BushOct. 29, 2016–Jan. 2018
Wanda PraterSep. 1, 2018–June 12, 2021Was "officer in charge" prior to becoming postmaster
Jewel Morrow

Officers in charge

The following individuals served as "officer in charge of the Chicago Post Office" during periods in which there was a vacancy in the position of postmaster of Chicago:

Name Tenure Notes Citation(s)
William G. Booras1972–1973
William G. BoorasApr. 18, 1972–Jun. 2, 1973
Charles K. KernanApr. 27 1977–Jul. 16, 1977
Forest D. AndersonJan. 30, 1987–Apr. 4, 1987
Ormer Rogers Jr.Nov. 30, 1990–Jan. 26, 1991
Dean BuchananJan. 3, 1992–Apr. 18, 1992
Kelvin MackMay. 1, 2004–Aug. 7, 2006
Gloria E. TysonSep. 30, 2006–May 26, 2009
Nancy RettinhouseFeb. 26, 2011–May 31, 2011
Wanda PraterJan. 20, 2018–Sep. 1, 2018Became postmaster
Eddie MorganJune 2021–Jan. 2022
Loretta Wilkinsappointed May 9, 2023
Shoca Moore
Holly Burrellappointed Feb. 1, 2025

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 John, Richard R. (2005). "Mail Delivery". www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Currey, J. Seymour (March 27, 2003). "Chicago's First Post Office". chicagology.com (originally published in Fort Dearborn Magazine in December 1922). Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 "Postmasters by City - Postmaster Finder - Who we are - About.usps.com". about.usps.com. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 "The Political Graveyard: Mayors and Postmasters of Chicago, Illinois". Political Graveyard. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Miller, G to I". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  6. ↑ "3 Postal Jobs in Region Go to Democrat". Chicago Tribune. July 20, 1961. Retrieved 13 March 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Take Oath". Suburbanite Economist. November 1, 1961. Retrieved 13 March 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Senate OK's Sermon for Postmaster". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. October 6, 1962. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  9. 1 2 "New Chicago postmaster assumes duties". Chicago Tribune. June 2, 1973. Retrieved 13 March 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Postal pioneers". link.usps.com. United States Postal Service News. January 30, 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Select New Postmaster". The Daily Calumet. July 25, 1977. Retrieved 13 March 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Martin, Alison (19 May 2022). "This week in history: Chicago's Latino community stages sit-in over mail issues". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  13. ↑ Thornton, Jerry (March 24, 1987). "Happiness is mail lover in top job". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 13 March 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. 1 2 3 "Chicago Postmaster Gloria Tyson Announces Retirement". about.usps.com. United States Postal Service. February 24, 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  15. ↑ Yin, Alice (June 16, 2021). "Chicago USPS postmaster replaced following mounting calls for her resignation over mail delays". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "Chicago Post Office delivers important message about dog bites". about.usps.com. United States Postal Service. April 6, 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  17. ↑ "Need Some Cuff Links? Try Local Post Office". Chicago Tribune. June 15, 1972. Retrieved 13 March 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Anthony, Katie (15 January 2022). "More turnover in Chicago USPS as postmaster leaves job after just 7 months". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  19. ↑ "Acting Chicago Postmaster Eddie Morgan Jr. Out After Only 7 Months". Postal Times. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2023.