National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 40

The National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 40, was established in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 6, 1889 as the Cleveland Letter Carriers' Association. Although no national association of letter carriers existed at this time, representatives of the Cleveland association met with representatives of other independent associations in 1890 to form the National Association of Letter Carriers; Cleveland received its official charter from the national organization on August 28, 1890. At this time the branch was known simply by its branch number, 40; in 1898, the name of Branch 40 was changed to the Forest City Branch, and in 1965, the name changed again, to the William C. Doherty Branch.

Branch 40 has been in the forefront of many developments in union activity and benefits, both nationwide and locally. the first Mutual Benefit Association to insure letter carriers and their families was formed in Cleveland in 1891. On December 15, 1899 Branch 40 carried out its first mail collection completely by automobile. In 1905 delivery service was changed from personal to box delivery only. Another innovation came in 1913 when the first parcel post service in Cleveland went into effect. In 1920 and again in 1935 Branch 40 was in the vanguard of the lobbying which obtained passage of the Postal Retirement Act (1920), and the act reducing the postal work week to 40 hours (1935).

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