First Black Mail Carrier in Scranton

GEORGE A. JONES (1870-1951)

In 1894, George A. Jones (1870-1951) became the first African American mail carrier in the city of Scranton.  Jones was appointed carrier September 1, 1894. For most of his 10-year career, he worked “Route 14 in the Keyser Valley section.” He left service in January of 1904. This may sound like a trivial occupation to some folks, but this was just three decades after the slavery was abolished. To put it in perspective, 56.8% of the African American populations in the 1890s were illiterate (unable to read or write). This was a highly respected occupation for any race, that required skill and reading proficiency that many Americans did not have. For that we honor his legacy.

The 19th century was a time of enormous change in the postal workforce — from 1802, when Congress banned African Americans from carrying U.S. Mail, to the late 1860s, when newly-enfranchised African Americans began serving as Postmasters, clerks, and city letter carriers. Many black Union Army veterans joined the postal service after the Civil War ended. At a time when most workplaces were closed to African Americans, postal jobs provided an avenue of advancement into the middle class. The United States Postal Service compiled a “List of known African American Letter Carriers, 1800s” there were 323 known African American mail carriers in the U.S. during this century and George A. Jones was among the ranks. The history of black postal workers demonstrates the critical importance of government employment and a robust public sector for the advancement of black people in this country.

It would take another two decades before the city hired another Black mail carrier. Mr. Charles Dorsey was appointed February 1, 1913. Postal records show two other Black men who were hired to the postal service in the 1920s— Rudolph Ridenour was appointed February 9, 1923 and retired in the 1950s. Charles F. Debruhl was appointed March 1, 1920 but later transferred to New York City in 1934.

More research needs to be done to track down our city’s legacy of Black Postal Service workers. It would be a worthy project as we fight to defend the United States Postal Service. For now, these are the first of Scranton’s legacy that deserve their flowers.

Illustration of George A. Jones created by Jorge Ariza, 2018