-U.S. Mail (registering)- still bank c. early 20th century

Editor: Here we have what's called a U.S. Mail registering still bank, dating to the early 20th century. It's a mixed media construction of wood, metal, and glass, looking somewhat like a miniature post office building. I find it strangely compelling, a solid object designed to encourage saving. How do you interpret its purpose within its historical context? Curator: Well, consider the role of institutions, especially governmental ones, in shaping personal habits. This wasn't just a bank; it was the *Postal* Savings Bank. Think about what that implies. The U.S. Postal Service, a trusted institution, directly encouraging savings, especially amongst working-class Americans, many of whom might have distrusted private banks. Editor: So it was a public institution promoting financial stability. Curator: Precisely. The design itself reinforces this. Look at the building form. This form subtly links personal savings with civic duty and national progress. Each deposit becomes a visual contribution to a shared, larger goal, recorded on those scales behind the glass. Do you notice the dual registers? Editor: Yes! They appear to be tracking the deposit amounts...one side perhaps registering lower denominations? What is striking is that it’s literally registering growth, a concrete way of measuring savings. Curator: And thereby visualizing participation in a national system. Also, remember the political landscape of the early 20th century: progressive reforms aimed at stabilizing society and empowering ordinary citizens. This bank is a material embodiment of that political moment. Editor: It's amazing to see how something as simple as a bank can reflect so many layers of cultural and political history. I hadn't considered the public aspect so directly influencing savings habits. Curator: Seeing the everyday object as a participant within grand societal movement makes this far more than mere decoration! It prompts us to think of what kind of civic structure would invite participation today.