“Mail is sacred. In handling mail one is handling the personal joys and sorrows of others.” – The History of the Nazareth Post Office by Sister Jovita Smith

The first post office was opened in colonial North America in 1639; however, what we now know as the United States Postal Service was officially opened in 1775 with the appointment of Benjamin Franklin as the first American Postmaster.[1] A little over one hundred years later, the post office at Nazareth was opened on May 8, 1888. The establishment of the post office at Nazareth is attributed to Senator Ben Johnson, a United States Senator from Kentucky who was close friends with Sister Etienne Pargny. The commission to open the post office was sent to Sister Etienne on April 18, 1888 from Don M. Dickinson, Postmaster General for the United States. This commission established the new office and appointed Sister Etienne as the postmaster.

This Motherhouse blueprint shows the original location of the Nazareth Post Office nestled between the Treasurer’s Office and Mother’s Parlor

The original post office at Nazareth was located in Colonial Hall in what is the present-day office for the Nazareth Campus Services Administrative Assistant. The Nazareth Post Office was originally established as a fourth-class office, which was a classification to denote the lowest tier for post offices from around 1864 to 1970. These types of post offices were usually spaces rented by the United States government, but co-located in established buildings and businesses, such as a general store; this classification also meant that the post-masters received the lowest commission rates for any postage sold.[2] At the time, fourth-class post offices were the most common with more than 70,000 of the 76,945 post offices in the US under this classification. However, in 1926, an increase in sales at the Nazareth Post Office led to its re-classification as a third-class post office.

Interiors of original post office, 1920s

In the early days of the U.S. Post Office, women postmasters were not particularly common. Despite their official title of “Postmaster,” many of these women were frequently referred to as “postmistresses.” By 1892, around 6,300, or 10% of all postmasters were women.[3] For nearly the first 100 years of operation of the Nazareth Post Office, the SCNs continued with this uncommon tradition with a Sister having always served as the postmaster until the late 1970s. From 1836 to 1971, postmasters were presidential appointment that required approval of the Senate. However, smaller post office postmasters, such as at Nazareth, making less than $1000 a year were appointed by the Postmaster General with the approval of local government officials. [4] The first postmaster at Nazareth was Sister Etienne Pargny who served from 1888 to 1923. Due to the increased demands of the office, Sister Mary Joseph Ryan was appointed as Sister Etienne’s assistant. After serving as assistant, Sister Mary Joseph Ryan received the appointment of postmaster, serving from 1923 to 1925. This pattern continued as Sister Marie Michelle LeBray served as assistant to Sister Mary Joseph before her own appointment from 1935 to 1940. Due to the U.S. Post Office’s regulations surrounding retirement, Sister Marie Michelle served until her mandatory retirement at age 70. From there, Sister James Haldeman served from 1940 to 1955, succeeded by Sister Mary Kevin Egan who served from 1955 to 1966. The final SCN to hold this position was Sister Rose Kathleen Durbin, who served from 1966 to 1977.

Sister Etienne Pargny, first postmaster at Nazareth

As far as post office operations were concerned, mail was sent via the Louisville & Nashville Railroad and received through the Nazareth Depot on campus. Typically, truckloads of mail were picked up from the depot and brought to the post office to be sorted and distributed. Depending on the season, the amount of mail received could be overwhelming. Motherhouse Annals record that on Christmas of 1930, the post office received thirty-seven bags of mail, only to increase as time went on with the annals detailing forty-seven bags during Christmas of 1936. In addition to mail services, the post office also issued money orders as well as selling stamps and post cards.

Sister Mary Kevin Egan with bags of mail for the Nazareth Post Office

One of the most amusing stories of this mail overload comes from Sister Jovita Smith’s The History of the Nazareth Post Office. She recalls a time when an official inspector arrived unexpectedly during a retreat, with the post office cluttered with parcels and first-class mail for the retreating Sisters.

“At one time when this inspector visited, Sister Marie Michelle’s quick action saved the office from receiving a low rating. The inspector decided to come for the annual visit during one of the retreats. In the office were stacked the parcel post packages and the first class mail belonging to the Sisters in retreat. It would have been difficult to explain to the inspector why this mail had not been delivered. In a short time Sister Marie Michelle and Sister James had it all moved into the Treasurer’s office. Thus the inspector found the office, as usual, in excellent condition.”

Sister Mary Kevin Egan attending to her postmaster duties, 1957

As the services and needs of the Nazareth Post Office grew, a new, separate building was to be constructed to house the post office. Groundbreaking for a new post office took place on May 7, 1967. The building was erected next to Gardiner Auditorium and David Hall. It officially opened for business on August 22, 1967, and on September 1, 1967, the new post office was officially dedicated via correspondence from the Postmaster General Lawrence F. O’Brien. The dedication ceremony took place at Nazareth on October 8, 1967.

Father Bancroft and Mother Lucille Russell at the groundbreaking for the new post office, May 7, 1967

Nazareth’s unique name has brought additional attention to its post office, particularly around the holiday season. In November 1997, the first Christmas cancellation stamp was issued by the Nazareth Post Office. Over 23,000 letters and parcels were sent through the office with this special stamp, and it become a cherished tradition with international requests to receive holiday mail from a small town sharing its name with Christ’s home.

Correspondence detailing the first holiday cancellation stamp for Nazareth

The Nazareth Post Office is still in operation today and remains a testament to the enduring importance of mail, connecting people not only with their personal joys and sorrows but also with the rich history that has shaped the United States Postal Service over the years.

The current Nazareth Post Office, erected in 1967

References:

[1] United States Postal Service Historian. “Oldest U.S. Post Offices.” United States Postal Service. 2022. https://about.usps.com/who/profile/history/pdf/oldest-us-post-offices.pdf

[2] Office of Inspector General. “Rural and Urban Origins of U.S. Postal Service.” United States Postal Service. August 26, 2019. https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2023-01/RISC-WP-19-007.pdf

[3] United States Postal Service Historian. “Women Postmasters.” United States Postal Service. 2021. https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/women-postmasters.pdf

[4] Prechtel-Kluskens, Claire. “The nineteenth-century postmaster and his duties.” NGS NewsMagazine. January/February/March 2007. https://twelvekey.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ngsmagazine2007-01.pdf

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