EIU Teaching with Primary Sources

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 Tools of the Trade

Railway Post Offices rolled over thousands of route miles every day with onboard clerks sorting, bundling and sometimes catching and delivering mail "on the fly" without ever slowing down.  Accuracy mattered!  Facing slips were attached to each bundle of letters that told the name of the sorting clerk.  An error would result in demerits and a delay in delivery.  RPO clerks took great pride in their jobs and performance. 

Each RPO clerk carried a case holding both personal and work items.  They packed a change of clothes for overnight trips and meals to be eaten on the train.  Required supplies included items like facing slips and labels stamped at home with their name and train number for accountability, stamps, finger knife, badge, revolver and more.

  

Primary Sources

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Railway Postal Clerk Project Railway Postal Clerk Project Raiwlay Postal Clerk Project
 Tags for
Mail Bags		 Slips with Line,
Date and Name		 Pouch
Diagram
     
 Raiwlay Postal Clerk Project  RAilway Postal Clerk Project  Railway Postal Clerks Project
I.D.
Card		  Locks  Postal Laws and
Regulations Book
     
Railway Postal Clerk Project Foreman Nametag & Scheme Books
 		 Railway Postal Clerks Project 
 Stamps, Finger Knives
and Tags		 Foreman Nametag
& Scheme Books		  Diagram Layout
for Mail Car
     
 Railway Postal Clerks Project  Railway Postal Clerk Project Railway Postal Clerk Project
 Mail
Bag		  Railway Post Office
Clerk Badge		  Two Rectangular Stamps
with Pads
     
 Railway Postal Clerks Project Railway Postal Clerks Project
  Railway Postal Clerk Project
 Three Finger Knives
with Case		  Mobile Unit Employee
Instruction Book		 Mobile Unit Employee
Instruction Book Open
     
 Railway Postal Clerk Project  Railway Postal Clerk Project  Railway Postal Clerks Project
 Permit  Round
Stamp		  Railway Post Office
Clerk Suitcase
     
Railway Postal Clerk Project Railway Postal Clerk Project Railway Postal Clerk Project
 Form
3852		  Bullets Diagram of
Train Set Up
     
Railway Postal Clerk Project Railway Postal Clerks Project Railway Postal Clerks Project
 Trip Report Memorandum
Closed		  Trip Report
Memorandum Open		  Request to Transfer Excess
Storage Mail Forms
     
Railway Postal Clerk Project Railway Postal Clerks Project  Mississippi practice map
Clerk Memo for
Trip Report		 Dispatch
Book		  Mississippi
Practice Map