Brief History of UPS The United Parcel Service (UPS) was founded in 1907 as a messenger and delivery service in Seattle, Washington. James E. Casey, a 19-year-old messenger boy, started the company with $100 borrowed from a friend. The company's original name was the American Messenger Company, and it focused on delivering packages and telegrams within the city of Seattle. Over the next several decades, UPS expanded its operations to other cities and states, eventually becoming a nationwide delivery service. In the 1930s, UPS introduced air delivery service, making it one of the first companies to offer air delivery of packages. During World War II, the company played a key role in delivering supplies and equipment to the armed forces, further establishing its reputation for reliable delivery. In the decades following the war, UPS continued to grow and expand its operations. The company introduced new services, such as package tracking, and expanded into international m