All financial transactions with patrons result in a paper trail. The post office keeps careful accounts and distributes records to its customers for services rendered. Anyone who has misplaced a receipt understands how ephemeral such documents can be. However, many patrons know how crucial the proof of purchase can be for recording, discussing, or disputing a service. These scraps of paper reveal the way business is conducted, the economic importance of mailing services for the public, and the development of those services over time.
Lynn Heidelbaugh, National Postal Museum
