The postmaster's position at West Point, NY, between 1836 and 1897, was a family affair:
Claudius Berard -- appointed November 1,1836 (Died May 6, 1848)
Mary Berard -- appointed May 12, 1848
Miss Augusta Blanche Berard -- appointed June 15, 1871
Mary Berard was the wife of Claudius, and assumed the position when he died in 1848. Augusta Blanche was their daughter, and she took over the position when her Mother died. Augusta served in the position until she was replaced by Mary R. Newlands on May 13, 1897.
[NOTE: Appointment data taken form the USPS Postmaster Finder website]
Postmaster appointments to Presidential Offices were made by the President, and then approved by the Senate. Prior to the actual appointment, the Postmaster General's office would notify the candidate postmaster of their pending appointment (or nomination) by a Department form letter.
The following documents chronicle part of their roles as Postmaster:
Mary Berard's Postmaster Commission issued (and signed) by James Buchanan on Mar 25, 1857.
[NOTE: This document is not from my collection, but is the illustration from an auction catalog]
The letter sent by Postmaster General John A J Creswell to Mary Berard, dated Jan 23, 1871, nominating her for another term in the position of postmaster at West Point, NY. [From my collection]
The letter sent by Acting Postmaster General A. D. Lyman to Augusta Blanche Berard, dated March 15, 1884. nominating her for another term in the position of postmaster at West Point, NY. [From my collection]
Augusta Blanche Berard's Postmaster Commission issued (and signed) by Chester A Arthur, on Mar 25, 1884.
[NOTE: This document is not from my collection, but is the illustration from an auction catalog]
And finally...
Augusta Blanche Berard's Postmaster Commission issued (and signed) by Grover Cleveland, on Feb 2, 1897.
[From my collection]
Posted 04/18/2021 1:20 pm
