Ben Franklin, Colonial Postmaster

On July 26, 1775, members of the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and agreed to appoint a Postmaster General for the colonies, based in Philadelphia, and to create a line of posts from Falmouth, Maine, to Savannah, Georgia. With that, the United States Postal Service was born. Its operation, independent from the British Crown, assured the secure transfer of messages and opened lines of American communication that played a vital role in the battle for independence. The origins of the post are thus tied closely to national identity and the Founding Fathers. In his murals, Harding shows historically based scenes of two Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, interacting with the post in key ways.

Benjamin Franklin—author, printer, scientist, inventor, signer of the Declaration of Independence—was the first Postmaster General of the Unites States. In 1737, when the colonial post was still under control of the British Crown, Franklin was appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia. From 1753 to 1774, he served as joint Postmaster of the American colonies with William Hunter. During this time, he reorganized, expanded, and regularized mail delivery, even allowing mail carriers to travel at night to speed delivery. In 1775, when the colonies created their own Post Office Department, Franklin was appointed Postmaster General. In this mural, Harding depicts Franklin receiving the mail at his printing shop in Philadelphia. Surrounded by many of his own publications and the busy activity of the shop, Franklin stands in the center of the composition signing the post receipt book as a carrier on the left sets a packet of mail on the table. While planning the mural, Harding researched Franklin's life and work to ensure the historical accuracy of his renderings.