Making the Case for Brown University’s Stamp Collections
Abstract
Postage stamp collections offer distinct challenges for special collections libraries.
This essay presents a case study of the stamp collections in Brown University
Library Special Collections from the perspective of a graduate student researcher
and a professor who examined the holdings during a recent partnership with
the University’s Public Humanities program. Currently, the stamp collections
are in transition from volunteer curator to professional library management.
The partnership, which included development of a class project to explore the
collections and production of an exhibition to increase knowledge of the postage
stamp holdings and show their value in teaching and research, was one step in
that direction. This essay describes the history, management, and development
challenges of the stamp collections at Brown, as well as student interaction with
the materials and takeaways from planning the exhibition.