Michigan Post Office Murals Project

Grand Ledge: Introduction

James Calder, Waiting for the Mail, 1940. Oil on canvas. 5 ft. 2 in. x 14 ft. Grand Ledge, Michigan. Photo by Megan Flattley. Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.

Waiting for the Mail is an oil on canvas mural created by Detroit artist James Calder for Grand Ledge, Michigan. Calder received the commission in October 1939 after submitting a winning design to the nationwide 48 States Competition. The mural, featuring a farm family receiving their mail through Rural Free Delivery, was installed in late November 1940 in the new post office building at 124 E. Jefferson St., where it can still be seen today.

This entry was written by Michaela Rife and photographed by Megan Flattley.