National Postal Museum Library
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
(West of Union Station, south of G St.)
Washington, D.C. 20560-0570, USA
Tel.: 202.633.9370, Fax: 202.622.9371
E-mail
(
Read first)
M-F 10a-4:30p (Open to the public by appointment)
In July 1993 the 'National
Postal Museum Library was formed
from the collections at the National
Museum of American History
Library and the National Philatelic
Collection. Now, with more than
40,000 books, journals, catalogues
and archival documents, the
National Postal Museum Library is
among the world's largest postal
history and philatelic research
facilities. The Library features a
specimen study room, an
audio-visual viewing room and a
rare book collection. ...
The public may
borrow SI Library books
(searchable via
Smithsonian Institution Research Information Service (SIRIS); their
primary tool for searching the library's holdings - and
in the OCLC and RLIN international databases)
through their own public, special or academic
library's interlibrary loan program. SIL adheres to the interlibrary loan guidelines
of the American Library Association. The National Postal Museum Library does
not lend books that are fragile, damaged or otherwise at risk.
...In addition to the Libraries' online catalog and to OCLC and RLIN listed above,
the library has a variety of both print and electronic reference tools useful for
finding information on philately and postal history. The print collection includes
a variety of catalogues, directories, handbooks and encyclopedias that support
philatelic and postal history research. More general reference tools are found in
Central Reference and Loan Service (CRLS).
Photocopy and Microfilm facilities are available on site.
Special Collections
Textual material on United States Post Office Department subjects:
Postage stamp & stationery public comment files, 1847 to 1971.
United States Post Office Department subject files not related to
postage stamp and stationery issues.
Highway Post Office files.
Panama Canal Zone Postal Administration files.
Railway Post Office files.
Aerial Mail Service files.
National Air Mail Week, 1938-39, files.
Zip Code files of Mr. James R. Sydnor.
Photographs. Two thousand black and white photographs covering many
topics in postal history, Smithsonian Institution postage stamp and
stationery exhibiting history, and general postage stamp design, printing
and collecting history.
->See Also:
NPM's online State Postal History Registry
Complementary collections within the Smithsonian Institution Library system
are located at :
"The
world's largest and most comprehensive stamp collection."
The
National Museum of American History
Contains: an exhibit gallery "devoted to the display of select portions of the
world's largest and most comprehensive stamp collection. ...a Library Research Center, a
Discovery Center for educational programming, a Museum Shop, and a
philatelic sales center."
One unique feature is "the 19th-century country store/post office, restored as a working postal
facility" ...
and their online
Encyclopedia Smithsonian:
(
U.S. Postal History and Philately -
Alt. HTML)
c.2008: A revisit comes up with absolutely NO philatelic relationships! - And no apprent way to contact anyone by e-mail!
So, now, I'm not sure where the "world's largest stamp collection" is! - ajw
(and I sent a general query to info@si.edu)
And their:
National Museum of American History Library
A 'complete bibliographic reference to the history of
the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present.' Including a
section on the
Postal Service and Stamp Collecting featuring:
Internet Resources,
Museums,
Other Organizations and
U.S. Government Agencies
National Museum of American History - Room 5016
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20560-0630, USA
The
National Air and Space Museum
(Resources on airmail ...)
And their:
National Air and Space Museum Library
&
Archives
(Info)
(Open to the public M-F 8:45a-5:15p
by appointment)
National Air and Space Museum - Room 3100
6th Street & Independence Av, SW
Washington, D.C. 20560-0314, USA
Tel.: 202.633.2330 (for appointments)
Tel.: 202.357.3133, Fax: 202.786.2835
E-mail
(
Read first)
See Also:
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Library
(Cambridge, Mass.)
The "premier postal history and philatelic research center in
the United States."
The
Smithsonian American Art Museum
(Formerly: 'National Museum of American Art')
(Art, graphic design and printing techniques - though, c.2008, I find no reference to philately or stamps so we'll try asking their
"Ask Joan of Art"
{or, for those on AOL or
Java-less, via
E-mail})
Eighth and G Streets, NW
Washington, DC
Tel.: (202) 275-1500
See Also (perhaps now combined? - orignal list had 22 branches.):
The Smithsonian American Art Museum
&
National Portrait Gallery (& Library)
(Specializes in American art, history, and biography
)
(Open to the public M-F 10a-5p):
The Victor Building
750 9th Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001-4505
Tel.: (202) 275-1912
Online Reference Desk
"renamed
Ask Joan of Art; continues to aid researchers"
Tel.: (202) 633-8380 c.2008 re databases they have
Related research collections nearby:
The
United States Postal Service (USPS)
Including:
The USPS Corporate Library
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260-1540
The Postal Service's Corporate Library has a collection
of historical material, including
the Annual Report of the Postmaster General
since 1789, Postal Laws and Regulations since 1794,
the United States Official Postal Guide from 1874 to 1954,
and the Postal Bulletin since 1880.
(Exact titles vary.) While the library does not lend out
its historical materials, its collection is open to the
general public during regular business hours.
The library also has many secondary sources on postal
history. (USPS data c.2008)
And:
The USPS Historian
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260-0012
The Historian maintains the Postmaster Finder,
the Postal Service's national historic record of
Postmasters by Post Office
(online
are 'Most postmasters appointed after 1986 and some postmasters appointed before..').
The Historian's staff can provide guidance in researching
specific aspects of postal history. Upon request,
the Historian's staff can provide the names and
appointment dates of Postmasters who have served at
particular Post OfficeTM locations,
Post Office establishment and discontinuance dates,
and the dates of any Post Office name changes. (USPS data c.2008)
The
National Archives and Records Administration
And their:
Archives Library Information Center (ALIC)
"The Archives Library Information Center (ALIC) is more than a
traditional library. Recognizing that our customers no longer expect to
work within the walls of a library, these pages are designed to provide
NARA staff and researchers nationwide with convenient access to content
beyond the physical holdings of our two traditional libraries...Our
physical library
locations
are in the National Archives Buildings in
Washington, DC, and in College Park, MD. (also listed below - aj)
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001
Tel.: 1-202-501-5000, 1-866-272-6272
TDD for the Hearing Impaired: 202-501-5404
Tour Arraingements: 202-501-5205 (Mon.-Friday)
Admission: Free
The National Archives houses postal records prior to 1971. Some of the records most useful in researching local postal history have been reproduced on microfilm, including National Archives Microfilm Publication M1131, Record of Appointment of Postmasters, October 1789-1832;
Publication M841, Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-September 30, 1971;
and Publication M1126, Post Office Department Reports of Site Locations, 1837-1950.
For more information on these and other records, write to the National Archives or visit its Web site. (description is USPS data c.2008)
And:
National Archives' College Park Offfice
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Tel.: 301-837-2000
Admission: Free
(M-F; 8a-5p)
Free hourly shuttle between facilities
Further:
- 'The National Archives and Records Administration presents events and public programs
across the country, in the Washington, DC, area and in Presidential Libraries and regional
records services facilities nationwide.'
Site features an online
Virtual Library.
National Personnel Records Center
(NPRC)
Civilian Records Facility
111 Winnebago Street
St. Louis, MO 63118-4126
"NPRC is one of the National Archives and Records Administration's largest operations. We are a central repository of personnel-related records, both military and civil service. Our mission is to provide world class service to Government agencies, military veterans, former civilian Federal employees, family members, as well as researchers and historians." (via NPRC c.2008)
"
The Civilian Records Facility has personnel records for many postal employees whose service ended after 1910. Researchers should provide as much identifying information as possible about the former employee and his/her place and dates of employment. The Civilian Records Facility also houses rural route cards, filed by Post Office, which provide details on rural routes and carriers."
(description is USPS data c.2008)
The
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The
Library of Congress
(Alt URL)
Washington, D.C., USA
>
Online Catalog
>
U.S. Copyright Office
101 Independence Ave. S.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20559-6000,
Tel.: (202) 707-3000
>
THOMAS (Legislative Information)
|
's
Encyclopedia of Stamps and Philatelic Links
American Philatelic Research Library
Society for Thai Philately
