On this day, July 26, in 1775, the United States postal system was established. Benjamin Franklin was its first postmaster general.

Dr. Melvin Calvin featured as one of four scientists honored with a U.S. Postal Service stamp, in 2011. The Karsh portrait of Dr. Calvin features in the background. Karsh photographed Arthur Summerfield, 54th Postmaster General of the United States, in 1953. Summerfield served under Dwight D. Eisenhower, from 1953 to 1961.