Time Inc. Postal Rates Records
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
When postal rates or other aspects of law governing postal delivery were changed, or may be changed, in ways Time Inc. found unfavorable, it advocated for its position with Congress and the public. This collection contains information used in those activities such as bills put before Congress on the topic of postal rates and law, correspondence between people within Time Inc. and with members of Congress, proceedings of the Postal Commission including witness testimony, reports on the costs of postal delivery, and examples of Time Inc.'s direct mail marketing.
Historical Note
Being primarily in the business of selling magazines that must be shipped to subscribers and newsstands, Time Inc. was a heavy user of the postal system and was sensitive to increases in postal rates and other changes in classification of mail. When unfavorable changes to rates and/or laws were proposed by the Postal Rate Commission (PRC) or Congress in the late 1960s and early-to-mid 1970s, Time Inc., along with other publishers, advocated for their positions by contacting members of Congress and running articles in Time to explain their position to the public. Two individuals at Time Inc. particularly represented in this collection are Raymond J. "Ray" Mitchell's, Director of Time Inc.'s Alternative Distribution Program, and Winston H. "Tony" Cox, Assistant to the Group Vice-President for Magazines.
Arrangement
The materials within the Time Inc. Postal Rates Records record group are organized into six series: Series I. Time Inc. Preparations for Cases; Series II. Mail Classification Schedule Proceedings; Series III. Cost Ascertainment Reports; Series IV. Direct Mail Exhibits; Series V. Raymond J. Mitchell Files; and Series VI. Winston H. Cox Files.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of files kept as information for Time Inc. advocacy efforts and includes copies of bills put before Congress on the topic of postal rates and law, correspondence between people within Time Inc. and with members of Congress, presentations produced on the subjects of postal costs by Time Inc. personnel, proceedings of the Postal Commission including witness testimony and questions to witness from Time Inc. and other parties, reports from the United States Post Office Department on the costs of delivery, and examples of Time Inc.'s direct mail marketing.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Materials in this collection are stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Open to qualified researchers with the exception of restricted materials. Restricted materials include contracts and are located in box R86.
Conditions Governing Use
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
This record group should be cited as Time Inc. Postal Rates Records, MS 3009-RG 57, New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Time Inc. in 2015.
About this Guide
Processing Information
The Time Inc. Postal Rates Records were processed by Allen Thomas in 2021. The original folders were retained where present; loose material was foldered. Generic binders were disassembled and not retained, and their contents rehoused. The records were organized into series based on the original groupings of folders, and arrangement was imposed. Allen Thomas created the inventory and other descriptive notes to produce this finding aid.
Sponsor Note
Repository
Series I. Time Inc. Preparations for Cases, 1952-1975, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Series I consists of information used by Time Inc. to prepare internally for legal arguments regarding changes in postal rates and law. Memos between Time Inc. employees are prevalent along with outside information sources such as magazine articles, reports on congressional sessions, and presentations created based on the gathered information.
Arrangement
Series I is in alphabetical order.
Ablard, Charles, 1962-1965, inclusive
Blueprint for Change: Canada Post Office, 1969, inclusive
Book II: Report on Third Class Mail, 1953, inclusive
Cost Ascertainment Report (C.A.R.) Statistical Approximation, 1952-1953, inclusive
Cost Ascertainment Reports, 1947, 1957, inclusive
Coronet Article, 1957, inclusive
Exhibit A: Post Office Presentation Pictures: Negatives, 1956, inclusive
Exhibit B: Questions and Answers, 1960, inclusive
House, March 1957, 1957, inclusive
House: 1960 (May), 1960, inclusive
House 1961 (May), 1961, inclusive
Legal Fees [Restricted]
Life Booklet, 1957, inclusive
Life Photo Exhibits, undated, inclusive
List of Appearances, undated, inclusive
Magazine Publishers Association, Inc., 1953-1958, inclusive
Magazine Publishers Association: Memoranda, 1963, inclusive
Memos, 1965-1975, inclusive
Memos, 1965-1975, inclusive
Policy and Supporting Positions, 1968, inclusive
Post Office Charts, circa 1956, inclusive
Postal Photostats, undated, inclusive
Postal Presentation, 1953-1963, inclusive
Postal Testimony: Statistics: 1962 April, 1962, inclusive
Postmaster Correspondence, 1957, inclusive
Proposed, 1957-1958, inclusive
Publications Exempt from Zone Rates, circa 1952, inclusive
Pull-Out: 2nd Class Rate Problem, 1960, inclusive
Senate Appropriations, 1961, inclusive
Senate: 1st Presentation (Not Given), 1954, inclusive
Senate: 1962 (April), 1962, inclusive
Testimony, 1969, inclusive
Series II. Mail Classification Schedule Proceedings, 1969-1977, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Series II is composed of reports from congressional proceedings on postal rates and law. This includes witness testimony, questions given and answered to and by various parties, and proposed legislation.
Arrangement
Series II is arranged alphabetically.
Alternate Delivery, 1971-1975, inclusive
American Business Press (ABP), 1971-1974, inclusive
Arthur Keylor, 1971, inclusive
Associated Third Class Mail Users (ATCMU)/Direct Mail Advertising Association (DMMA), 1973-1976, inclusive
Austell, 1975-1976, inclusive
Board, 1974-1975, inclusive
Clark Clifford, etc., Robert Keeler, A.H. Letter to Ford, Time Editorial (empty), undated, inclusive
Classification Schedule: 1973: Official Transcript, 1973, inclusive
Classification: Phase II, 1974-1976, inclusive
Cost of Living Council, 1973, inclusive
Cost of Living Council, 1973, inclusive
Data, 1975, inclusive
Dow Jones, 1974, inclusive
Evan Ingels, 1974, inclusive
Exhibits on Life Suspension, 1973, inclusive
Filings by Time Inc. and Magazine Publishers Association (MPA), 1976, inclusive
Home Delivery Firms, 1976, inclusive
Idea Release Form, 1975-1976, inclusive
Initial Brief, 1976, inclusive
Klassen: United States Postal Service, 1974, inclusive
Legislative, 1974-1975, inclusive
Louis Cox Statements, 1975, inclusive
MC73-1: Postal Classification, 1976, inclusive
MC73-1: Richard J. Barber Testimony, 1974, inclusive
Magazine Publishers Association (MPA), 1971-1977, inclusive
Mail Classification Proceedings, 1975-1977, inclusive
Mail Classification Proceedings, 1975-1977, inclusive
Miscellaneous, 1970-1976, inclusive
National Postal Forum IX, 1975, inclusive
Notice of Inquiry, 1976, inclusive
Opinion and Recommended Decision, 1972, inclusive
Ottawa Hearings, 1970, inclusive
Phase I Classification, 1976, inclusive
Post Office, 1969-1970, inclusive
Post Office, 1969-1975, inclusive
Postal Activities Booklets, 1976, inclusive
Postal Calculation: Time Story, 1975, inclusive
Postal Charts, 1975, inclusive
Postal: Congress, 1975, inclusive
Postal Classification, 1973-1974, inclusive
Postal Classification, 1976, inclusive
Postal: Heiskell Leave-Behinds, 1975, inclusive
Postal Legislation, 1974, inclusive
Postal Procedures, 1975, inclusive
Postal Rate Case, 1971-1975, inclusive
Postal Rate Commission (PRC) Classification III, 1976, inclusive
Postal Rate and Fee Changes, 1975-1976, inclusive
Postal Rate and Fee Changes, 1976, inclusive
Postal Statistics, 1973, inclusive
Postal Update, 1974, inclusive
Postal: United States Postal Service (USPS), 1973-1975, inclusive
Presentations (Postal Charts), 1975, inclusive
R74-1: Brief on Exceptions, 1974-1975, inclusive
R74-1: Postal Rates and Fees, 1975, inclusive
R76-1: Address Correction, undated, inclusive
R76-1: Fees for Special Services, 1976, inclusive
R76-1: Initial Brief of Magazine Publishers Association (MPA), 1976, inclusive
R76-1: Initial Brief of Time Incorporated, 1976, inclusive
R76-1: Postal Rate Case Decision, 1976, inclusive
R76-1: Postal Rates and Fees, 1976, inclusive
R76-1: Postal Rates and Fees, 1976, inclusive
R76-1: Reply Briefs, 1976, inclusive
R76-1: Oral Argument, 1976, inclusive
Rate Case III, 1975, inclusive
Rate Hearing Transcripts, 1976, inclusive
Reader's Digest, 1973, inclusive
Revenue Sources, undated, inclusive
Richard J. Barber, 1974, inclusive
Senate Bill S2844 (McGee Bill), 1976, inclusive
Senate Hearings, 1975-1976, inclusive
Senate Reports, 1975-1976, inclusive
Senator Goldwater/Terry Emerson, 1975-1976, inclusive
Shoppers: Local, 1975, inclusive
Sirica Ruling [Associated Third Class Mail Users (ATCMU)], 1975-1976, inclusive
State's Interrogatories, 1975, inclusive
Study: Criteria and Methodology for Designing Mail Classification Systems, 1974, inclusive
Study: Red Tag vs. Non-Red Tag Mail, 1975, inclusive
Testimony: First Rate Case, 1971-1975, inclusive
Time Inc. Memos (Miscellaneous Postal Problems), 1975, inclusive
Time Story and Essay, 1975, inclusive
Time-Life Books Alternate Delivery, 1975-1976, inclusive
Total Market Coverage (Preprints), 1975, inclusive
United States Postal Rate Commission, 1975-1976, inclusive
United States Postal Service, 1975-1976, inclusive
United States Postal Service, 1975-1976, inclusive
Washington Updates, 1975, inclusive
Series III. Cost Ascertainment Reports, 1949-1968, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Series III consists of cost ascertainment reports issued by the United States Post Office Department reporting the costs of delivering various classes and kind of mail and providing other services.
Arrangement
Series III is arranged alphabetically.
Cost Ascertainment Reports, 1949-1968, inclusive
Series IV. Direct Mail Exhibits, 1969-1971, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Series IV consists of examples of direct mailings sent by Time Inc. to market its magazines. The examples are marked "defendant's exhibit", but no further information about their use is present.
Arrangement
Series IV is arranged alphabetically.
Direct Mail Exhibits, 1969-1971, inclusive
Series V. Raymond J. Mitchell Files, 1976-1978, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Series V consists of Raymond J. "Ray" Mitchell's files on changes in postal rates and laws. During this time Mitchell was Director of Time Inc.'s Alternative Distribution program which studied ways of delivering Time Inc's magazines through non-postal methods such as newspaper carrier and private delivery companies and so the changing costs of postal delivery for Time Inc. was of direct professional interest to him; he also had responsibility for Time Inc.'s activities with the Postal Rate Commission. The contents are similar to Series II, being reports from congressional proceedings on changes in postal rates and law. This includes witness testimony, questions given and answered to and by various parties, and proposed legislation.
Source: Time Inc. Bio Files, MS 3009-RG 2, New-York Historical Society.
Arrangement
Series V is arranged alphabetically.
Briefs of the Officer of the Commission, undated, inclusive
Interrogatories, 1976, inclusive
Scope and Contents
American Business Press
Dow Jones
Magazines Publishers Association (MPA)
Meredith Corporation
Miscellaneous
Reader's Digest
Time, Inc.
United States Postal Service (USPS)
Mail Classification Schedule Proceedings, 1976-1978, inclusive
Opinions and Recommended Decisions, 1977, inclusive
Proposed Changes, 1977, inclusive
Stipulation and Agreement, 1978, inclusive
Witnesses, 1976-1978, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Arthur Eden
Benjamin J. Bailer
Chapin Carpenter
Charles S. Mill
Charles W. King
Evan S. Ingels
Magazine Publishers Association
Paul D. Kagan
Paul E. Postelnek
Working Papers, 1976-1977, inclusive
Series VI. Winston H. Cox Files, 1974-1977, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Winston H. "Tony" Cox was Assistant to the Group Vice-President for Magazines during the time period represented in these files, giving him a professional interest in the cost of postal delivery for Time Inc.'s magazines and potential changes due to new legislation. His files included postal-related bills put before Congress, articles written by Senator Barry Goldwater and Andrews Heiskell, Chairman of Time Inc., on the topic of changes to postal rates, information on Time Inc. postal expenses, and information and correspondence on specific subjects related to postal delivery such as if news periodicals should be considered a public service, the possibility of phasing increases in postal rates over time, and privately-owned alternatives to the United States Postal Service for mail delivery.
Source: Time Inc. Bio Files, MS 3009-RG 2, New-York Historical Society.
Arrangement
Series VI is arranged alphabetically.
3/22 Meeting, 1974, inclusive
30-Day Rule, 1975, inclusive
Bills, 1975-1977, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Buckley Bill
H.R. 10109
Hanley Bill
McGee Compromise Bill
McGovern Bill
Miscellaneous Bills