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Texas African American Museum - East Texas Postmaster Day.Save the Date!
Join us on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Veretta and Jesse E. Rider Fine and Performing Arts Centre (309 MLK Blvd, Tyler, TX) as the Texas African American Museum hosts the first-ever East Texas Postmaster Day.
We will honor past and present African American Postmasters who have served in East Texas, with some awards given posthumously.
Tickets:
Presale: $10 / At the door: $20
This will be a graduation-style induction ceremony with honorees, their families, and friends.
For sponsorship and more info: Email us at - [email protected]
A Look at the History
James W. Mason – The earliest known African American postmaster, appointed in Arkansas in 1867.
Minnie M. Cox – Possibly the first African American female postmaster, appointed in Mississippi in 1891.
A path to the middle class – In the early 1900s, postal jobs provided African Americans with stable employment and a way to build a Black middle class.
Trailblazers of the 1960s – African Americans began to be appointed as postmasters in major cities like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Mary Fields (“Stagecoach Mary”) – The first African American woman to serve as a U.S. Post Office Star Route Carrier in Montana in the late 1800s. Known for her strength and determination, she delivered mail through dangerous conditions.
6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – An all-Black unit of the Women's Army Corps that cleared months of backlogged mail during World War II, boosting troop morale despite facing discrimination.
Madora Walker – Became the first African American female Postmaster of St. Louis in 2024.
Don’t miss this historic celebration!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
309 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tyler, TX, United States, Texas 75702
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
