The first United States Post Office in Seattle--and the first in King County--opened in 1853 in pioneer Arthur Armstrong Denny's (1822-1899) log cabin home on Front Street (now First Avenue) and Marion Street, with Denny named the first postmaster. Previously, all mail for Seattle and Alki was delivered once a week by canoe from Olympia. The Seattle Post Office lacked a permanent address for its first fifty years, until the Federal Building opened in 1909 at Third Avenue and Union Street. This ornate building, which had become too cramped and had also begun to deteriorate, was demolished in 1958 and replaced by the modern three-story facility still used today.
In this image, Postmaster General George J. Morry and his staff pose with post office supervisors outside of the Federal Office Building. When this image was taken, Seattle had an estimated population of 555,000, and was served by 22 local branches or stations.
Handwritten on image: United States Post Office - Seattle, WN. Geo. J. Morry, Postmaster & Supervisors - Oct. 30, 1956 Handwritten on image: "Sessions" Photo, "B" Typed on note attached to verso: Who's who: In order to assist in later identification of persons included in the Supervisor's picture taken after the Postmasters meeting on Oct. 30, 1956 - a list of those shown follows; it is suggested that if you have a copy, you cut this list and past it on the back: FRONT ROW (seated): Robt. Hendrix; Wm. Thurman; John K. Shaver; Dorothy McGough; Gertrude Metcalfe; Alice Selbie; John F. Daly; Paul Jones; Geo. J. Morry; A. J. Kuehl; Frank Dixon; Michael Klepach; G. L. Anderson; Clarence Seeliger; Lynn Vaughn; Geo. LaMotte. SECOND ROW: Harry Weimer; Simon Snyder; Van R. Peirson; Henry Romain; Paul Miller; R. S. Strong; Chester Olson; Sigvurd Hall; Bill Kreger; E. R. Anderson; James Taylor; Mel Paulson; Leo Drake; Bjarne Vick; Wm. Mason. THIRD ROW: Emil Nelson; C. A. Lane; Elmer Wrechy; Richard HEck; Ken Renner; Neil Murray; Louis Becraft; Wade McCullough; Lyle Brigham; David Howard; Everett Davis; Fred McGee; Vern Watt; R. L. Johnson; Geo. Senty; Frank Allyn; Hugh McAdams; Henry Zeckser; Leonard Kidd; Don Thompson; G. K. Chaplin. FOURTH ROW: Einar Haugen; F. V. Pearce; Gordon Tresize; Warren Mouat; A. B. Anderson; George Salisburty; R. H. Anderson; Chas. DeBoer; John Croman; Reas Metz; Hobard Ashmore; Malcom Castek; Einar Anderson; Jos. Haggerty; Homer Plants; John Hall; Hugh Craven; Clifford Marsh; Robt. Reagen; Clarence Williamson; Don Weber. BACK ROW: Leo Little; Robt. Daly; Ray LeMaster; Gerald Harrington; Gerald Little; John Trautman; Ed Harter; Phil Engle; Herb. Anderson; Harold Hobert; Geo. Broze; F. J. Fanelli; Joe Kent; Stanley Marks; Glen Bishop; J. V. McGrath; Ralph Saxton; Earl Huffaker; Ed. Bayne; T. J. Jorgensen; Roy Glancy.
Caption information source: Seattle (Washington) City Directory 1956. Seattle, WA: R. L. Polk, & Co., Inc.
Physical Description: 1 photographic print : b&w ; 20 x 8 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State. View the finding aid for this collection at https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv68076
Credit: MOHAI, Seattle Post Office Photographs, 1972.5319.72
