{"id":173791,"date":"2026-04-23T12:26:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T12:26:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/173791\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T12:26:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T12:26:11","slug":"benjamin-franklin-wasnt-just-a-founding-father-he-was-also-americas-first-postmaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/173791\/","title":{"rendered":"Benjamin Franklin wasn\u2019t just a founding father, he was also America\u2019s first postmaster"},"content":{"rendered":"

Love Philly? So do we. Let\u2019s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As one of the Founding Fathers and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin wore many hats. One of these was his role as America\u2019s first postmaster.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Franklin\u2019s local postal career began<\/a> long before his national role. He started as the postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737. In this capacity,<\/a> he decided which newspapers to distribute and helped individual post offices manage their finances.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Franklin also surveyed post roads \u2013 roads specifically designated for mail routes \u2013\u00a0 and post offices to help coordinate mail delivery.<\/p>\n

He also served as joint Postmasters General for the Crown (a reference to Great Britain, which still oversaw the American colonies at the time) along with William Hunter of Virginia in 1753.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In these roles, Franklin had a lot of responsibilities \u2013 which artist Caresh Walker sought to capture in his \u2018Firstival\u2019 statue as part of the Philadelphia Historic District\u2019s \u201c52 Weeks of Firsts.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Artist Caresh Walker with his \u201cfirstival\u201d statue (Violet Comber-Wilen\/Billy Penn) <\/p>\n

Each \u201cfirst\u201d celebration is commemorated with a sculpture in the shape of a numeral 1, uniquely painted by one of 25 local artists<\/a> selected by Mural Arts Philadelphia<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI have the letters falling from the sky into his hand, because a lot of the mail had to go through him to do the sorting for him to then help distribute it out to the different couriers to take it to the different cities and towns,\u201d Walker said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Franklin became the first national Postmaster General in 1775, as it became clear a war might break out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What would soon become the new United States of America needed a communication system independent from Britain\u2019s, said Nick Guarino, a park ranger at the Independence National Historical Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe colonies needed a way to communicate, and they can\u2019t rely on the British mail system,\u201d he said. \u201cThey needed a new mail system. So, the Second Continental Congress turned to Ben Franklin, and they asked him to be the Postmaster General for what is emerging as a new nation. And he does this job, and it helps keep the colonies in communication with each other.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Guarino explained Franklin helped to lay the groundwork for the modern-day postal system.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reason that this first is so interesting is that it\u2019s so relatable. We really can\u2019t imagine our national community today without mail. We rely on the mail.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Impacting the present-day postal system<\/p>\n

While Franklin\u2019s tenure nationally was short \u2013 lasting only a year, ending in 1776 \u2013 he continued to be a prolific Philadelphian.<\/a> He helped establish a library, fire company, college, philosophical society, militia, and hospital in the city \u2013 and helped invent many scientific innovations (like bifocals and the lightning rod).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Walker, the statue creator, said he feels the modern-day postal service is iconic, and deserves recognition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up, the mailman was somebody in the neighborhood who everybody respected,\u201d he said. \u201cThey were part of the community. They knew all your business. And they were just somebody that I wanted to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, postmasters serve as <\/a>senior managers within post office branches in the United States. In these roles, they have varying responsibilities such as managing daily tasks, coordinating mail delivery, resolving complaints and handling employees.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The U.S. Postal Service itself has evolved, too.<\/a> Since its establishment, it has evolved to travel needs \u2013 adding in railroad, air travel and digital options with evolving infrastructure. As America grew, the service expanded its reach to different cities and rural areas and began to offer more options, like packages.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can celebrate this Philly firstival <\/a>on Saturday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Franklin Court, on 322 Market Street \u2013 just a few doors down from the local post office where visitors can still hear the sound of hand-cancelled mail being stamped.<\/p>\n

First American-made piano and sousaphone, Mother\u2019s Day and hospital in America coming up\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here is your full guide to all of this year\u2019s firstivals \u2013 including where you can find this upcoming Saturday\u2019s Firstival dates and location.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Completed<\/p>\n

Week 1: Successful balloon flight in America (1793)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation\u2019s first folk parade (1901)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 7: Abolitionist society in America<\/a> (1775)<\/p>\n

Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America<\/a> (1984)<\/p>\n

Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America<\/a> (1688)<\/p>\n

Week 10: Flower Show<\/a> (1829)<\/p>\n

Week 11: Women\u2019s medical college<\/a> (1850)<\/p>\n

Week 12: Matchbook<\/a> (1892)<\/p>\n

Week 13: Medical school <\/a>(1765)<\/p>\n

Week 14: Stadium <\/a>(1895)<\/p>\n

Week 15: Circus performance <\/a>(1793)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 16: Botanical garden<\/a> (1728)<\/p>\n

Upcoming<\/p>\n

\u2022 Postmaster (1737)
April 25, Franklin Court, 322 Market St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
May 2, Ensemble Arts Philly, 300 S. Broad St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Mother\u2019s Day (1908)
May 9, Historic St. George\u2019s Museum & Archives, 326 New St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Hospital in America (1751)
May 16, Pennsylvania Hospital, 800 Spruce St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 World\u2019s Fair on American soil (1876)
May 23, Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic<\/p>\n

\u2022 Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)
May 30, Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.<\/p>\n

\u2022 American flag (1777)
June 6, Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 U.S. Army (1775)
June 13, Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. 3rd St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)
June 20, Philly Pride Visitor Center, Lombard St. and S. 12th St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Paper maker in America (1690)
June 27, Rittenhouse Town, 6034 Wissahickon Ave.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Bank of the United States (1791)
July 4, First Bank of the United States, 120 S. 3rd St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Organized baseball team (1831)
July 11 (location TBD)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)
July 18, Franklin Fountain, 116 Market St.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2022 American art school (1805)
July 25, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)
Aug. 1, at Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway<\/p>\n

\u2022 Zoo in America (1874)
Aug. 8, Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.<\/p>\n

\u2022 U.S. Mint (1793)
Aug. 15 (location TBD)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Selfie (1839)
Aug. 22, Love Park, 1501 John F Kennedy Blvd.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Slinky (1943)
Aug. 29, Philadelphia Art Museum, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway<\/p>\n

\u2022 Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Sept. 5, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Continental Congress (1774)
Sept. 12 at Carpenters\u2019 Hall, 320 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Naming of the United States (1776)
Sept. 19, Independence Hall<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Benjamin Franklin Parkway<\/p>\n

\u2022 University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Children\u2019s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Love Philly? So do we. Let\u2019s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today. As one…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":173792,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[44064,4000,43235,44066,70758,94,69,71,70,38570,9880],"class_list":{"0":"post-173791","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-philadelphia","8":"tag-52-weeks-of-firsts","9":"tag-america-250","10":"tag-ben-franklin","11":"tag-firstival","12":"tag-firstivals","13":"tag-history","14":"tag-philadelphia","15":"tag-philadelphia-headlines","16":"tag-philadelphia-news","17":"tag-postal-service","18":"tag-semiquincentennial"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173791"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173791\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}