Henry W. McGee papers

  • Creator Names McGee, Henry W. (Henry Wadsworth), 1910-2000.
  • Title Henry W. McGee papers [manuscript], 1918-1985, bulk 1966-1973.
  • Physical description
    • 5.5 linear ft. (9 boxes)
    • 12 cassette tapes.
  • Access and usage restrictions For listening purposes, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a listening copy made if one is not available).
  • Collection summary Correspondence, speeches, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, minutes, newsletters, certificates, photographs, and other papers of Henry W. McGee, who served as the first African American postmaster of Chicago (Ill.) after a long career with the United States Postal Service in Chicago. Topics include McGee's career as a postal worker, his service as president of the Chicago branch of the National Alliance of Postal Employees, and his work with civil rights and social service organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, the Little City Foundation, the Joint Negro Appeal, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
  • Acquisition information Gift of Henry W. McGee (1987.0308).
  • Finding Aids Note Descriptive inventory available online.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Henry W. McGee photograph collection (1987.0110).
  • Biographical or Historical Note Henry W. McGee (1910-2000) was the first African American postmaster of Chicago (Ill.). He was born in Hillsboro (Tex.) and moved to Chicago in 1927. He became a postal clerk in 1929 with the United States Postal Service (USPS; known as the United States Post Office Department until 1971). McGee received several promotions before becoming the first African American postmaster of a major American city in 1966.
  • Names
    • McGee, Henry W. (Henry Wadsworth), 1910-2000 Archives.
    • National Alliance of Postal Employees (U.S.). Chicago Branch.
    • United States Postal Service. Chicago Division.
    • Boy Scouts of America.
    • Joint Negro Appeal.
    • Little City Foundation (Chicago, Ill.)
    • National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (U.S.)
    • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Chicago Branch.
    • Chicago Post Office (Chicago, Ill.)
    • United States. Post Office Department.
    • National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (U.S.)
    • United States Postal Service. Chicago Division.
    • Boy Scouts of America.
    • Joint Negro Appeal.
    • Little City Foundation (Chicago, Ill.)
    • National Alliance of Postal Employees (U.S.). Chicago Branch.
    • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Chicago Branch.
    • Chicago Post Office (Chicago, Ill.)
    • United States. Post Office Department.
  • Subjects
    • African American men Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • African American postmasters Illinois Chicago.
    • Civil rights Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Postal service Employees Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Postmasters Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Social service Illinois Chicago 20th century.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Race relations 20th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Social conditions 20th century.
  • Genre
    • Awards. aat
    • Certificates. aat
    • Correspondence. aat
    • Ledgers. aat
    • Minutes. aat 1940s.
    • Newspaper clippings. aat
    • Newsletters. aat
    • Photographic prints. gmgpc
    • Research (document genres) aat
    • Scrapbooks. aat
    • Speeches. aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
  • Finding aid URL Finding aid available online http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/M-M/McGeeHenry-inv.htm