Today is the 51st anniversary of the Zone Improvement Plan, a.k.a. the ZIP Code.
The Post Office Department launched an advertising campaign in support of the new service, encouraging Americans to adapt the practice of adding five numbers to each mailing address. ZIP Codes appeared at a time when Americans were already juggling the new area codes and needing to remember their social security numbers on a more regular basis.
Understanding that the public would be reluctant to add more numbers to their daily memory banks, the Department planned a multi-stage publicity campaign aimed at making Americans more comfortable with the new coding system. A major part of the campaign was the use of Mr. Zip, an odd, yet friendly cartoon character who was used to personalize the ZIP Code campaign.
From the Postal Museum.
The postal system used to be a major way states would organize their societies and make them more legible. What’s the equivalent today in low and middle income countries, where mail is exceptional?
I fear the answer might (soon) be “using US and Chinese technology to record and analyze all phone and email conversations.”
9 Responses
Cartooning like a state: Today is the 51st anniversary of the Zone Improvement Plan, a.k.a. the ZIP Code. The … http://t.co/O991yOAuU2
RT @cblatts: Today is the 51st anniversary of the zip code. How do states re-organize societies in the 21st century? http://t.co/a4GJ4hF56w
Cartooning like a state http://t.co/ib5qSeYGro
Happy zip code day http://t.co/EL5BY4jZvl
RT @cblatts: Today is the 51st anniversary of the zip code. How do states re-organize societies in the 21st century? http://t.co/a4GJ4hF56w
RT @cblatts: Today is the 51st anniversary of the zip code. How do states re-organize societies in the 21st century? http://t.co/a4GJ4hF56w
RT @cblatts: Today is the 51st anniversary of the zip code. How do states re-organize societies in the 21st century? http://t.co/a4GJ4hF56w
Today is the 51st anniversary of the zip code. How do states re-organize societies in the 21st century? http://t.co/a4GJ4hF56w
Cartooning like a state – Chris Blattman http://t.co/uDPOcow6K5