Stagecoach Mary Fields Poster

This folk art poster celebrates a hidden treasure in our history: Mary Fields, a legend in her time was known as Stagecoach Mary. She was the first Black American and second woman to be hired as a mail carrier by the USPS. Born a slave in 1832 in Hickman County, Tennessee, Mary was freed in 1865 when slavery was abolished in the United States. She stood 6 feet tall and weighed 200 pounds. She was a tough woman-whiskey drinking, cigar smoking, gun-toting, swearing, fighing Republican! She was unafraid of men or hard work. While working at St. Peters Mission, in Cascade Montana, she did everythng from laundry to digging holes, to carpentry to chopping wood. She was also kind-hearted; loved little children and ran her restaurant out of business feeding everyone whether they paid or not. She was admired and respected by the townspeople who each year closed the schools to celebrate her birthday. Mary Fields died in 1914 from liver failure at the age of 82. Includes detailed summary Great for home, school or business Teaches family/friends/students about important historical figures/events