Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 19, 2026

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.

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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.12

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.1

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.1

Name Tenure President appointed by Notes Citation(s)
Johnathan N. Baily March 31, 1831–Nov. 2, 1832 Andrew Jackson
(Democrat)		 First postmaster 23
John S.C. Hogan Nov. 2, 1832–1837 2
Sidney Abell Mar. 3, 1837–1841 Martin Van Buren
(Democrat)		 34
William Stuart Jul. 10 1841–1845 John Tyler
(Whig)		 34
Hart L. Stuart Apr. 25, 1845–1849 James K. Polk
(Democrat)		 34
Richard L. Wilson Apr. 23, 1849–1850 Zachary Taylor
(Whig)		 34
George W. Dole Sep. 25, 1850–1853 Millard Fillmore
(Whig)		 34
Isaac Cook Mar. 22, 1853–1857 Franklin Pierce
(Democrat)		 34
William Price Mar. 18, 1857–1858 James Buchanan
(Democratic)		 34
Isaac Cook Mar. 9, 1858–1861 34
John Locke Scripps March 28, 1861–Mar. 9, 1865 Abraham Lincoln
(Republican)		 34
Samuel Hoard Mar. 9, 1865–1866 Abraham Lincoln
(Republican)		 34
Robert A. Gilmore Nov. 16, 1866–1867 Andrew Johnson
(Democrat)		 34
Francis Trowbridge Sherman Aug. 27, 1867–1869 34
Francis A. Eastman Apr. 5, 1869–1873 Ulysses S. Grant
(Republican)		 34
John McArthur Dec. 20, 1873–1877 34
Francis Wayland Palmer Feb. 26, 1877–1885 Rutherford B. Hayes
(Republican)		 34
S. Corning Judd May 5, 1885–1888 Grover Cleveland
(Democrat)		 34
Walter C. Newberry Nov. 19, 1888–1889 34
James A. Sexton Apr. 16, 1889–1893 Benjamin Harrison
(Republican)		 34
Washington Hesing Nov. 25, 1893–1897 Grover Cleveland
(Democrat)		 34
Charles Ulysses Gordon Mar. 19, 1897–1901 William McKinley
(Republican)		 34
Frederick E. Coyne Mar. 19, 1901–1905 34
Fred A. Busse Dec. 16, 1905–1907 Theodore Roosevelt
(Republican)		 34
Daniel A. Campbell Apr. 6, 1907–1917 34
William B. Carlile Mar. 16, 1917–1921 Woodrow Wilson
(Democrat)		 34
Arthur C. Lueder Aug. 24, 1921–1923 Warren G. Harding
(Republican)		 Resigned in 1923 to unsuccessfully run for mayor of Chicago in that year's election as a Republican. 34
Grant B. Miller 1923 Warren G. Harding
(Republican)5
Arthur C. Lueder 1923–1933 Warren G. Harding
(Republican)		 Reappointed postmaster after losing mayoral election. 34
Ernest J. Kruetgen Aug. 31, 1933–1948 (acting postmaster Aug. 31, 1933–Jan. 31, 1934) Franklin D. Roosevelt
(Democrat)		 34
John Haderlein Aug. 31, 1949–1952 (acting postmaster Aug. 31, 1948–Sep. 23, 1949) Harry S. Truman
(Democrat)		 34
Vincent F. Werner (acting postmaster) Aug. 31, 1952–Jul. 6, 1953 34
Carl A. Shroeder Jul. 6, 1953–1961 (acting postmaster Jul. 6, 1953–Aug. 12, 1954) Dwight D. Eisenhower
(Republican)		 34
Ralph G. Donegan
(unofficial acting postmaster)		 Sep. 15, 1961–Nov. 2, 1961 N/a 346
Harry H. Semrow November 2, 1861–Mar. 1966 (acting postmaster Nov 2, 1961–Oct. 5, 1962) John F. Kennedy
(Democrat)		 3478
William Boschelli (acting postmaster) Mar. 18, 1966–Sep. 1966 Lyndon B. Johnson
(Democrat)		 34
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 314

Postmasters appointed after 1971

Name Tenure Notes Citation(s)
Emmett E. Cooper Jr. June 2, 1973–April 28, 1977 Left post after being assigned regional postmaster general for the Eastern Region 391011
Frank C. Goldie Jul 16, 1977–1987 31112
Janet Norfleet April 4, 1987–December 1990 First female postmaster of Chicago 313
Norman L. Miller Jan. 26, 1991–Jan. 1992 3
Ormer Rogers Jr. Apr. 18, 1992–Jan. 1993 3
Jimmie Mason Jan. 9, 1993–Jul. 1994 3
Rufus Porter Jul. 16, 1994–Apr. 2001 3
Earl D. Flowers Apr. 7, 2001–Aug. 2002 3
Eric D. Chavez Aug. 10, 2002–Aug. 2004 3
Kelvin Mack Aug. 7, 2004–Sep. 2006 3
Gloria E. Tyson May 26, 2009–Mar. 3, 2011 314
Anthony B. Vaughan Nov. 16, 2013–2016 3
Tangela L. Bush Oct. 29, 2016–Jan. 2018 3
Wanda Prater Sep. 1, 2018–June 12, 2021 Was "officer in charge" prior to becoming postmaster 31516
Jewel Morrow 3

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. Booras 1972–1973 179
William G. Booras Apr. 18, 1972–Jun. 2, 1973 3
Charles K. Kernan Apr. 27 1977–Jul. 16, 1977 3
Forest D. Anderson Jan. 30, 1987–Apr. 4, 1987 3
Ormer Rogers Jr. Nov. 30, 1990–Jan. 26, 1991 3
Dean Buchanan Jan. 3, 1992–Apr. 18, 1992 3
Kelvin Mack May. 1, 2004–Aug. 7, 2006 3
Gloria E. Tyson Sep. 30, 2006–May 26, 2009 314
Nancy Rettinhouse Feb. 26, 2011–May 31, 2011 314
Wanda Prater Jan. 20, 2018–Sep. 1, 2018 Became postmaster 3
Eddie Morgan June 2021–Jan. 2022 1819
Loretta Wilkins appointed May 9, 2023 3
Shoca Moore 3
Holly Burrell appointed Feb. 1, 2025 3
See also

See also

References

References

  1. John, Richard R. (2005). "Mail Delivery". www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  2. 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. "Postmasters by City - Postmaster Finder - Who we are - About.usps.com". about.usps.com. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  4. "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. "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. "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. "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.