Draft:Edith Alice Macia

Edith Alice Macia
Photograph taken in 19XX
12th Postmaster of Tombstone, Arizona
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 1928
President	Herbert Hoover
Preceded by	William A. Fowler
Succeeded by	Mrs. Minnie V. Van Deren
Personal details
Born	Edith Alice Robertson (1884-09-17)September 17, 1884 Leadville, Colorado, USA
Died	August 17, 1974(1974-08-17) (aged 89) Prescott, Arizona, USA
Resting place	Melrose Abbey, Anaheim, CA, USA
Spouses	Norman Stirratt Barr (married 1902-XXXX) Harry Elmer Macia, Sr. (married 1917)
Children	4
Parents	Samuel Christy Robertson Alice Madora Robertson
Education	University of Arizona
Occupation	Postmaster, Undercover FBI Agent
Awards	American Legion Citation of Honor (1953) Order of Elks Outstanding Mother (1953) Veterans of Foreign Wars Certificate of Appreciation (1953) Freedom Foundation George Washington Award (1954) University of Arizona Distinguished Citizen Award (1962)
Signature

Edith Alice Macia born September 17, 1884, was a pioneer of Arizona that served as postmaster of Tombstone Arizona and received numerous awards for her work as an undercover FBI agent.

Biography

Early life

Edith was born on September 17, 1884 (Constitution Day) in Leadville, Colorado to parents Samuel Christy (Chris) and Alice Madora Robertson. Chris and Alice were married on October 19, 1880 and had traveled by wagon train from St. Joseph, MO via Leadville, CO to Tombstone, Arizona Territory. They arrived in Tombstone on December 25, 1880 and remained residents of Cochise County until their deaths. Edith was born in a log cabin, the home of her aunt Mollie and her family. At age 7 months, her family returned home in Tombstone, AZ in April 1885. Her mother died some time after the birth of her fourth child, on November 15, 1895. Edith and the family then moved to Pearce, AZ in June 1896.

Her father was murdered in front of his place of business in Pearce on October 23, 1899 by Sidney R. Page, son of Judge Page of Wilcox, AZ. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and was released on parole after serving seven years, plus three years for good behavior. Following Chris' death, Edith and her minor siblings were declared wards of the court and moved back to the family home in Tombstone in 1899.

Education

Edith completed the equivalent of 8th grade, the highest level of schooling available at the time.

Edith matriculated to the University of Arizona in fall of 1901 and completed classes in the newly formed Commercial Department.

Career

County Treasurer's Office (1901)

Following her time at U of A, Edith returned to Tombstone and gained employment in the Cochise County Court House as a clerk working on tax rolls for the Tax Assessor's Office. She was one of the first women employees of Cochise County.

Edith married Norman Stirratt Barr on December 5, 1902. The wedding ceremony took place at Edith's home. Norman was trained as a construction engineer and was a journeyman machinist that installed machinery in mining towns.

Edith gave birth to Norma Stirit Rockfellow on August 28, 1903 in Tombstone, AZ.

In 1906 she moved to Douglas, Arizona to join her husband Norman who had gained employment in the machine shops at Q smelter.

Edith gave birth to John R. Barr on February 27, 1907.

Beginning in 1907, she lived in the mining camps of Sierra de Cobre, Cananea, Mexico with her husband while he was a master mechanic. In 1910, they had to leave due to Mexican Revolution.

In 1910, she moved to Los Angeles, CA.

In 1912, she divorced from Norman Barr on grounds of desertion and moved back to Tombstone from Los Angeles with her two children Norma and John and resided in the Old Homestead purchased from father’s estate. She was once again employed by Cochise County at the time Arizona gained statehood. The following year (1913), her 10-year-old daughter Norma accidentally fell from a wagon and sustained a fractured skull and clavicle.

Edith married Harry Elmer Macia, Sr. in 1917. Harry was the younger brother of Ethel Macia's husband James Herbert (Bert) Macia, sisters were married to brothers.

Edith gave birth to Betty Rose Macia on June 14, 1918.

In 1919, Edith was awarded a Red Cross service badge for her work with the organization.

Edith gave birth to Harry Elmer Macia, Jr. (Thad) on April 2, 1924.

Edith's Postmaster Appointment Letter 1928

Edith's American National Red Cross Membership Card 1929

Tombstone Postmaster (1928 - 1936)

Edith was appointed to her first term as postmaster (or postmistress) of Tombstone on January 9, 1928 after submitting her winning exam. She announced that Joe Hood, her brother-in-law, would serve as her assistant.

Edith's Helldorado Days Tag 1930, stating she arrived in Tombstone in 1884

Edith was part of the planning committee for Tombstone's 2nd annual Helldorado Days festival held October 17-19, 1930. She hosted a visit of former US Postmaster General Frank H. Hitchcock and air mail pilot Earle Ovington at the Tombstone Post Office on October 18, 1930. Hitchcock had flown into Tombstone from Tucson the day prior as served as an honorary "co-pilot" during the flight. During the visit to the Tombstone Post Office, Edith was able to secure signatures of Hitchcock and Ovington on a special first flight air mail cover that was sent to her by the postmaster of Douglas, AZ to commemorate the first air mail route (CAM 33) servicing Douglas, AZ. Earle Ovington and Frank Hitchcock also participated in the Helldorado pageant by riding in the parade on October 18. Edith had recognized the philatelic value of the cover and sent a letter to H. E. Harris & Co. in 1966 describing the piece and soliciting opinions on its value:

I was Postmaster of Tombstone, Arizona and this letter was mailed to me by the Postmaster of Douglas, Arizona. It arrived at about the time of the ‘Heldorado’ Celebration, going back into the past and depicting all of the Customs of the time of Tombstone’s Hey Days.

Two of the most prominent men in United States Airmail service flew to Tombstone to take part in the Parade, etc, and take part in the celebration. They decided amongst other things to come into the P.O. to see how things were progressing. I showed them my Airmail letter which had all of the cachets and marks of importance on it. It is really a beautiful cover. After examining it Mr Hitchcock, whom I know, suggested that they Autograph it, which they did. Their autographs appear thus:

(Frank H. Hitchcock) Honorary Co-Pilot

(Earle L. Ovington) First Air Mail Pilot

The Appraisal Department of H. E. Harris wrote back to Edith stating the cover was interesting and would perhaps fetch a better price if made available for sale locally in Arizona (see letter at right).

Reply Letter from H.E. Harris to Edith 1966

Edith was notified of the recommendation of of her reappointment to Postmaster by Hiram Corbett (namesake of Hi Corbett Field) of the Republican National Committee on November 30, 1931 (see letter at right).

Hiram Corbett Recommendation Letter Nov 30 1931

Edith was reappointed for a second term as postmaster on February 19, 1932.

Edith's Arizona Association of Postmasters Card 1932

In May 1934, Edith returned home to Arizona after undergoing medical observation in Los Angeles. Upon returning home, she attended the US Forest Service dedication of Cochise monument in Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoon mountains. She would return to Los Angeles agin later that year.

In 1936, she sold the Old Homestead and moved to Los Angeles, California where Harry found employment.

Undercover FBI Agent (1943 - 1948)

In 1943, she accepted an invitation to became an undercover agent for the FBI and join the Communist Party of America. During her five years of service, she missed only three cell meetings and took down the names of 248 people from the dues registration book at each meeting of the Communist Party. Edith had first encountered Communism during her days in Tombstone, AZ, when rebel copper miners staged a series of strikes in 1917.

Edith disclosed her activities before a session of Congress in 1953.

Later Years

In 1945, Edith purchased an unopened trunk from a public auction of a wealthy Los Angeles family. The auctioneer did not inspect the contents of the trunk because the original keys had been lost. Upon taking the trunk home and having it opened by a locksmith, she found six elaborate dresses made by hand in France during the 1890s. Investigation revealed that the dresses belonged to a wealthy woman that died in a train crash. The dresses were placed in the trunk and forgotten about for ~50 years until sold at auction. In 1952, the original price of the dresses ranged from $6,000 to $15,000.

In March 1953, she appeared as a surprise witness before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA). Her testimony resulted in the break up of an important Communist cell.

In November 1956, she was listed as a citizen of Orange County (Placentia, CA) in support of the reelection of Republican US Congressman James Utt.

On August 6, 1957, her husband died of a massive heart attack in their home in his easy chair.

In October 1963, she purchased and moved to 944 Apache Drive in the Pinecrest Historic District of Prescott, AZ in order to be closer to her daughters.

Awards

Edith received many awards for her work with the FBI.

On April 17, 1953, she received the American Legion Citation of Honor from the 17th District, Department in California.

On May 10, 1953, she received a citation from the Los Angeles Lodge No. 99 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks as the Outstanding Mother of 1953.

On May 12, 1953, she received a Certificate of Appreciation before a gathering of 50,000 Veterans of Foreign Wars at San Francisco.

On July 9, 1953, she received a citation of recognition from the Garden Grove Lions Club.

On February 22, 1955, she was recipient of the Freedoms Foundation George Washington Honor Memorial Award.

On March 12, 1962, she received the Distinguished Citizen's Award from her alma mater the University of Arizona.

Death and legacy

Edith died on Wednesday, July 17, 1974 at Yavapai Community Hospital, in Prescott, AZ. She was cremated on July 19 at Mountain View Crematory and her memorial service was held on July 20 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Her cremains were interred at Melrose Abbey Memorial Park in Anaheim, California.