Document Record

Title

Deputy Postmaster General : Correspondence addressed to the Marine Mail Officers
Sous-ministre des Postes : Correspondance adressée aux agents du courrier maritime

Identifier

lac_mikan_133454
164103
RG 3 B 6
R169-57-0-E
R169-57-0-F
oocihm.lac_mikan_133454

Document source

Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada

Language

English

Description

Mail delivery within Canada first started in 1693 when the Portuguese born Pedro da Silva was paid to deliver mail between Quebec City and Montreal. Official postal services began in 1775 and was under the control of the British Government up to 1851. It was not until 1867 when the newly formed Dominion of Canada created the Post Office Department as a federal government department headed by a Cabinet minister, the Postmaster General of Canada. The Act took effect in April 1868, providing uniform postal service throughout the new country. In October 1908, the first free rural mail delivery service was instituted in Canada. The Post Office Department was also an early pioneer of airmail delivery with the first airmail flight taking place in June 1918, carrying mail from Montreal to Toronto. The Post Office Department was rebranded as "Canada Post" in the late 1960s, even though it had not yet been separated from the government. In October 1981, the Canada Post Corporation Act came into force, abolishing the Post Office Department and creating the present day Crown corporation which provides post service, the Canada Post Corporation.
From 1784 to 1850, Deputy Postmasters General were appointed in the Canadian colonies, subordinate to the Postmaster General in Britain. When the Province of Canada assumed control of the Post Office in 1851, the Office of the Deputy Postmaster General was temporarily abolished and replaced by a Secretary who was given most of the duties of the Deputy Postmaster General. The Office of the Deputy Postmaster General was reinstated in 1857 and continued until 1981, when the Post Office became a Crown corporation.
This collection consists of letterbooks that contain copies of the Deputy Postmaster General's letters to various Marine Mail Officers. The correspondence consists primarily of covering letters enclosing a cheque for salary and allowances followed by sailing instructions. Occasionally, a request is made for a report or compliance to regulations.

URL

https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_mikan_133454