Letter Carrier O. J. Murphy on a Bicycle, circa 1905

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Artifact Overview

In 1902, the U.S. adopted Rural Free Delivery. Americans in the countryside would no longer need to go to town to get their mail -- the mail would be brought to them. Rural letter carrier Orville J. Murphy, pictured here, used a bike to deliver mail to outlying households around New London, Iowa.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Cabinet photograph

Subject Date

1901

Creators

Place of Creation

Collection Title

Research Center General Photograph Collection

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

86.18.43.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Cardboard
Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process
Mounting

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 7.75 in
Width: 5.75 in

Inscriptions

Imprint on front: DYALL'S STUDIO / 121 N. MAIN ST. / MT PLEASANT, IA. Handwritten in ink on back: O.J. Murphy / New London, Ia. / Rural Carrier No. 1. / Time 2:13 in 26 miles / [scratched out] July 4, 1901 Handwritten in pencil on back: From / Gordon L Elliot[?] / Des Moines / Iowa / 1126 Sixth Ave
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