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National Air Mail Week Covers of IndianaNational Air Mail WeekIn 1938, while America remained mired in the Great Depression, the United States Post Office Department undertook a nationwide publicity campaign to promote its underused Air Mail service. The project was also designed to stimulate business, by helping the nation%u2019s airlines become more financially stable. This singular event was called National Air Mail Week (NAMW), and it was first announced in a Press Release on February 15, 1938, a mere 3 months beforehand%u2014not much time to publicize, plan, and carry out anything on a national scale.Air travel and Air Mail were rare in 1938%u2014more novelties than commonplace. To change that perception, Postmaster General James A. Farley, and his Air Mail Superintendent Charles P. Graddick, encouraged all Americans to use Air Mail between May 15 and May 21 of that year. They even had a snappy slogan: %u201cReceive to-morrow%u2019s mail to-day!%u201dPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt and Postmaster General Farley were among the biggest promoters of NAMW, which turned out to be one of the most significant contributions ever to philately. As such, it helped make this period of American history a Golden Age of Stamp Collecting.A Nationwide EventThe date for National Air Mail Week was selected to honor the 20th anniversary of the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt helped kick off National Air Mail Week on May 15, 1938 as she handed her letter to Washington, DC Postmaster Vincent C. Burke as both stood near a large transport plane designated as a temporary Post Office.