[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 115 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H6418-H6419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MINNIE COX POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4010) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 100 West Percy Street in Indianola, 
Mississippi, as the ``Minnie Cox Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4010

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. MINNIE COX POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 100 West Percy Street in Indianola, 
     Mississippi, shall be known and designated as the ``Minnie 
     Cox Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Minnie Cox Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues, particularly the 
gentleman from Mississippi, in the consideration of H.R. 4010 which 
names a postal facility in Indianola, Mississippi, after the first 
black postmistress in the United States of America, Ms. Minnie Geddings 
Cox.
  Introduced on October 30, 2007, by Congressman Bennie Thompson, the 
Representative of Mississippi's Second Congressional District, H.R. 
4010 is cosponsored by the State's entire delegation. Congressman 
Thompson's measure, H.R. 4010, was reported from the Oversight 
Committee on June 12, 2008, by voice vote.
  This afternoon's postal naming bill honoring our country's first 
black female postmaster is designed to pay tribute to Minnie M. Cox, 
who served as the postmaster of Indianola, Mississippi, during the 
administrations of Presidents Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, and 
Theodore Roosevelt.
  As we can see, Mississippi has a long, glorious history, and Ms. Cox 
is indeed a part of it. Ms. Cox's legacy stands as a beacon for all 
Americans to admire and emulate, in tribute to all that she 
accomplished by breaking barriers and providing quality service to her 
hometown of Indianola, Mississippi.
  So, Mr. Speaker, let us pass H.R. 4010 and designate the postal 
office building located at 100 West Percy Street in Indianola, 
Mississippi, as the ``Minnie Cox Post Office Building.''
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 4010, legislation to designate the post 
office at Indianola, Mississippi, as the ``Minnie Cox Post Office 
Building.''
  Minnie M. Geddings Cox was born in 1869 in a Mississippi emerging 
from the Civil War. After graduating from Fisk University, she returned 
to teach in the common schools in her hometown of Lexington.
  In 1891 at the age of 22, Ms. Cox was appointed postmistress of 
Indianola by President Benjamin Harrison, becoming the first black 
postmistress of the United States. She was reappointed by President 
William McKinley and, again, by President Theodore Roosevelt.
  In 1902, however, some of the local whites of Indianola demanded Ms. 
Cox's resignation, determined to remove her from her leadership 
position solely because of her race.
  Ms. Cox refused, but when threats against her and her family 
persisted, she submitted her resignation to be effective in January 
1903. Theodore Roosevelt felt that Ms. Cox had been aggrieved and 
refused to accept her resignation. Instead, he closed the post office 
in Indianola, rerouted the mail, and continued paying Ms. Cox.
  It is important to remember determined and dedicated Americans such 
as Minnie Cox and be ready to stand for what is right when people are 
treated unjustly.
  Let us now commemorate this courageous woman by naming the post 
office building in Indianola in honor of Minnie Cox.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 4010, legislation designating the United States Post Office 
located at 100 W. Percy Street in Indianola, Mississippi as the 
``Minnie Cox United States Post Office''.
  Minnie M. Geddings Cox was one of two daughters born to William and 
Mary Geddings of Lexington, Mississippi. She graduated from Fisk 
University and first taught school at the common schools in Lexington. 
Soon after, she married and assisted her husband, Wayne, when he was 
principal of the Indianola Colored Public School.
  Minnie M. Geddings Cox, was appointed postmistress of Indianola, 
Mississippi in 1891, by President Benjamin Harrison, and was 
reappointed by President William McKinley; thereby, becoming the first 
Black postmistress of the United States. On January 25, 1900, President 
McKinley raised the rank of the Indianola Post Office from fourth class 
to third class and appointed Mrs. Cox for a full 4-year term.
  However, in the fall of 1902, under the presidency of Theodore 
Roosevelt, a controversy brought national attention to Mrs. Cox. James 
K. Vardaman, running for governor, in 1902 used Minnie Cox as proof 
that African Americans had too much power, and that President Theodore 
Roosevelt was a Negrophile. Vardaman, who was indeed elected governor, 
called Theodore Roosevelt that ``coon-flavored miscegenationist in the 
White House.''
  Jim Crow Laws overran Reconstruction in America and whites wanted 
blacks eliminated from leadership positions. Mrs. Cox was threatened 
with violence by local whites, who held several mass or mob meetings to 
demand her removal (her term expired in 1904). The mayor and sheriff 
declined to protect her, and as a result of the increased tension and 
threats of physical harm, she resigned as postmaster, effective January 
1, 1903, and left town for a time.
  President Roosevelt believed Mrs. Cox had been wronged, and that the 
authority of the federal government was being compromised and refused 
to accept her resignation. Instead, he closed Indianola's post office 
on January 2, 1903, rerouted the mail to Greenville, MS, thirty miles 
away and Minnie Cox continued to receive her salary. For four hours in 
January 1903, the Indianola postal event was debated on the floor of 
the United States Senate, and appeared on the front pages of newspapers 
across the country. One year later, at the expiration of Mrs. Cox's 
term, in February 1904, the post office was reopened, but demoted in 
rank from third class to fourth class.
  Minnie Cox and her husband Wayne W. Cox, who had been an employee in 
the railway mail service, returned to Indianola and organized the 
``Delta Penny Savings Bank.'' They had been substantial property owners 
before 1903, and they bought more land and became successful bankers as 
well. Much of

[[Page H6419]]

the success of African-Americans is attributed to Wayne and Minnie Cox. 
Both descendants of parents who were former slaves, through their 
ability to penetrate barriers, promote progress, and instill pride as 
educators, bankers, entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and political 
activists, exemplify remarkable courage, wisdom and tenacity.
  United in matrimony October 31, 1889, Wayne and Minnie Cox had one 
daughter, Ethel Grant Cox. The Coxes acquired thousands of acres of 
land and ranked among the wealthiest of the race in Mississippi. Their 
spacious home sat on some five acres of land in the white section of 
town. As premier supporters of the business enterprises of blacks in 
the state, they sold homes to hundreds of African Americans on terms 
that would not have been possible if they were dealing with people who 
had no interest in them.
  Today, a street in Indianola named in their honor, Cox Street, bears 
their name. Also, the city's most popular park, Cox Park, located 
within minutes of the business district at Faisonia Avenue and West 
Gresham Street in Indianola, is named in their honor. Minnie Cox died 
in 1933.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to in strong support of this 
resolution and urge Congress to pass this legislation renaming the Post 
Office in Indianola, MS, after the first African-American postmistress, 
Mrs. Minnie Cox.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would urge passage of this 
resolution and yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4010.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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