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Post Card Project at the University of Baltimore Collection

 Collection
Identifier: R0100-PPB

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Scope and Contents

The Post Card Project at the University of Baltimore Collection contains over 700 postcards depicting the people and places of Baltimore from the colonial era through the twentieth century. Each series is organized according to the collections of Bert Smith, Greg Otto, and the Great Blacks in Wax Museum. The postcards in these series show miniature versions of original artwork depicting Baltimore's landscapes in addition to postcards showing African American life. A fourth series contains postcards from additional donations added to the collection.

Dates

  • Creation: 1900-2001

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Historical Note

In December 2000, Bert Smith donated 477 postcards of Baltimore to the university in the hope that creative people would both use the collection and add to it. Local artist, Greg Otto, also donated over 60 of his postcards and notecards, which are miniature versions of his original artwork and provide a unique and creative vision of the city's changing landscape. The collection also contains a set of 24 postcards from the Heritage Postcards/Tours that depict African American life in Baltimore from the Colonial period through the twentieth century.

Extent

1.42 Linear Feet (3 containers) : 755 postcards

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Collection is organized in 4 series:

  • Bert Smith Collection
  • Greg Otto Collection
  • African American Heritage Postcards Collection
  • Miscellaneous Donations

Custodial History

The collection was donated to the University of Baltimore by Bert Pendleton Smith on June 19, 2000. Additional donations were made by Greg Otto on March 9, 2001; the Great Blacks in Wax Museum (date unknown); Rob Wallace on November 18, 2003; Robert Bacigalupa on March 9, 2006; and Bert Smith on October 13, 2016.

Title
Finding aid for the Post Card Project at the University of Baltimore Collection
Author
Finding aid prepared by Special Collections and Archives staff. Revised by Laura Bell (2022).
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Baltimore Studies Archives Repository

Contact:
H. Mebane Turner Learning Commons, Room 104
1415 Maryland Avenue
Baltimore Maryland 21201 USA
410-837-4253