American Postal Workers Accident Benefit Association, Kansas City Branch, Records (KC0110)

The Kansas City Branch of the APWABA is the successor to several earlier organizations devoted to the benefit of postal workers. It has been particularly important in assisting those who at one time worked in the Railway Mail Service or its successor, the Postal Transportation Service.

The employees of the Railway Mail Service formed their initial organization, the National Association of Railway Postal Clerks, in 1891 which operated as a fraternal benefit association for its members and to improve working conditions in the mail cars. In 1904, it was named the Railway Mail Association. The RMA, along with other associations of railway clerks and the American Federation of Labor, helped stimulate the United States Congress to adopt the Lloyd-LaFollette Bill in 1912. The act recognized the right of government employees to organize.

In 1917, RMA voted to affiliate with the AFL. At the same time former members of the National Association of Railway Postal Clerks were allowed to join the RMA, thus making it the principal association for railway mail clerks. RMA changed its name in 1949 to the National Postal Transportation Association, and in 1961, to the United Federation of Postal Clerks, affiliated with the AFL-CIO. In 1972, when the UFPC became the American Postal Workers and the fraternal benefits to retired members were no longer available through the union, the APWABA was formed.

This collection consists primarily of newsletters for the Kansas City Branch but also includes a small amount of correspondence, bylaws, membership rosters and convention material. 1927-1991.

54 folders.

© WHMC-KC, University of Missouri

updated: Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Kansas City
(816) 235-1543 WHMCKC@umkc.edu