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Words from the West
Arizona Stories and Stamps
Words connect people. In an instant, individuals in Arizona can share beliefs, information, and experiences with people around the globe with digital resources like text messaging and Internet posting, but this really is nothing new. As long as there have been people living in this place we call Arizona, they have been connected by words. Not only do these words from the west connect over distances in space, but also time.
Words on the Railroad
The Gadsden Purchase of 1853 included lands south of the Gila River and west of the Rio Grande (now southern Arizona and New Mexico) and was intended to allow for construction of a transcontinental railroad. By the turn of the 20th century Arizona was campaigning for statehood and the mail was widely distributed by rail.
Follow the video links below to see examples of postal distribution on the railroad.
Words from a Territory
When Congress discontinued the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, the citizens in the southern New Mexico Territory followed the example of other states seceding from the Union. After writing their Ordinance of Secession, the Confederate States of America recognized the Confederate Territory of Arizona. A year later, the United States declared its own Arizona Territory with overlapping borders. After the Civil War, the borders of Arizona stabilized, and Arizonans began the campaign for statehood.
Words from a State
Exactly fifty years after becoming part of the Confederacy, Arizonans sent letters to family and friends from the State of Arizona by air and automobile as well as train. As Arizona celebrates a Century of Statehood, what words from this time will be remembered?
Use the links below to get connected to postal Arizona - Past and Present.
See primary sources of Arizona Postal History.
Download fun activities from Arizona's Postal History Foundation.
Start collecting for the Arizona Centennial.
Get connected to local Arizona stamp enthusiasts.
Everything you wanted to know about the Postal history of the United States.
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