AMF (Air Mail Field) Midway Postal Retirement Organization Archives

Historical Note

The members of the AMF (Air Mail Field) Midway Postal Retirement Organization included the first African Americans allowed to work at Midway Airport’s AMF postal facility. They later worked on trains, distributing mail throughout the Midwest. The AMF Midway Postal Retirement Organization was founded in 1991 to document the history of African Americans in the organization.

AMF Midway Organization’s first meeting was a breakfast meeting at Burger King on April 29, 1989, though there had been discussion about starting such a group for about ten years before the group met. Marion Byrd and James Knox organized the meeting. In attendance were Harold Barnett, Marion Byrd, Edgar Kinney, James Knox, Charles Livingston, Albun Long, Macklin Martin, Frank Rias, and Ernie Reynolds. After a few additional Burger King meetings, members decided to host meetings at their homes. James Knox volunteered to host the first home meeting and Marion Byrd volunteered to host the second. During these meetings Marion Byrd was the Acting President and James Knox was the Acting Secretary.

After six home meetings, Edgar Martine secured permission for the club to meet at Foster Park Field house on a permanent basis. The first meeting at the field house was held March 23, 1991. Officers were elected and the group named the club AMF Midway (PTS) Organization at this meeting. PTS refers to the United States Post Office Department officially changing what had been the Railway Mail Service a more appropriate name—the Postal Transportation Service in 1949. Club officers included Marion Byrd as President and James Knox as Secretary. The organization’s by-laws were written and stated that all former clerks who were employed at any time at AMF Midway were eligible for membership. The organization was chartered by the state of Illinois on March 29, 1991. Edward Jackson established the group’s newsletter and the first issue was published September 1991. Jackson also created the airplane logo, and the birthday and anniversary column that became a staple in the newsletters. In April 1993 the club registered as an Illinois charitable organization.

AMF Midway (PTS) Organization had an active social committee that planned fundraisers and parties. The club’s first fundraiser on May 23, 1992 was a lotto chance raffle drawing with twenty-eight members in attendance. The first party was held on November 4, 1992. It was a dinner dance at the Martinique Restaurant for the members, their wives, and friends. The organization also made monetary donations to support local athletics; one donation was given to the Foster Park Small Fry Basketball team to help with team expenses.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

AMF Midway Postal Retirement Organization Archives include materials relating to the experience of Midway Airport’s AMF postal facility employees and the formation and history of AMF Midway Retirement Organization. The collection is organized into five series. The series are “AMF Midway Postal Retirement Organization Records,” “AMF Midway Postal Employee Records,” Memorabilia,” “Serials,” and “Photographs.” The collection spans the years 1957 to 2010, with undated materials. The collection will be of value to researchers interested in the history of African Americans in the postal service and transportation.

Series 1: AMF Midway Postal Retirement Organization Records, 1958-2010

This series contains records, rosters, minutes, newsletters, and founding documents from the AMF Midway Organization, as well as postal service memos, records, schematics and registers collected by the organization’s members. A reflective collective memoir (Air Mail Field/Railway Mails/Other Postal Work and Life Experiences), in which of some of the members give insight into their years and work at Midway is included. This series is arranged chronically.

Series 2: AMF Midway Postal Employee Records, 1957-2009

This series is comprised of employment records from two AMF Midway postal workers, Clarence C. James and Albert V. Horne, Jr. The bulk of the material pertains to Horne, including job assignments, schematics, timecards, examination results, pay stubs, and rosters. This series is arranged chronologically.

Series 3: Serials, 1973-2009

This series contains bulletins and newsletters related to the postal service. Please note that the Illowa Bulletin and the Illowa News are the same; the publication underwent a name change between 1986 and 1987. Illowa News is the newsletter of the American Postal Workers Union, a division of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations. It pertains to the Illinois and Iowa branches of the railway mail system. The series is arranged chronologically.

Series 4: Memorabilia, 1957-2009

This series contain Albert V. Horne, Jr.’s postal box scheme case, as well as the contents of an “RPO Clerk’s Grip.” A grip is the suitcase-like bag in which a postal clerk kept the supplies necessary to process mail. The contents of Horne’s grip are in Box 5 while Box 6 recreates his scheme case.

Series 5: Photographs, 1967-2009

This series contains 89 photographs, largely depicting individual members and events of the AMF Midway Organization. Am small number of photographs document AMF Midway Organization members working on railcars.

CONTAINER LIST

Series 1: AMF Midway Postal Retirement Organization Records, 1958-2010

Series 2: AMF Midway Postal Employee Records, 1957-2009

Series 3: Serials

Series 4: Memorabilia

Series 5: Photographs