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September 11, 2001
Collecting and Exhibiting a National Tragedy


Nancy A. Pope
National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Institution








Church Street Objects: Part 1

A general list of items to be selected was determined by curatorial discussion prior to the trip. Items were to be selected that represented the time and date of the attack, such as hand cancellation stamps of various markings. Additional items that represented the role of the Church Street Post Office in its community would be sought, with specific attention to be paid to sorting units. On October 4, 2001, National Postal Museum curatorial staff member Jeffrey Brodie, accompanied by U.S. postal inspectors, went to the Church Street station to identify and secure objects for the National Postal Museum collection.

Among the items that were eventually brought into the National Postal Museum collection were:

Picture of a mail cart used in building 6.
Mail cart with saddlebags marked "6 WTC" and used to deliver mail at 6 World Trade Center Building.
Picture of manual distribution cases.
(Above and below) Manual Distribution Cases. A pair of cases used by letter carrier Emma Thornton for mail delivered to World Trade Center tower #1. The station lists some of the larger tenant groups, including "Windows on the World," and "Cantor Fitzgerald."
Picture of sorting unit separated out for transport to National Postal Museum.
Sorting unit separated out for transport to National Postal Museum. Note the decontamination and wrapping work that has been done on other items in the area.
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Chapter Titles:


Collecting and Exhibiting Tragedy


Discussions Regarding Collecting


Church Street Objects: Part 1


Church Street Objects: Part 2


Church Street Objects: Part 3


A Final Irony, A New Challenge


Church Street Post Office


Reestablishing Neighborhood Service


Church Street Postal Workers

Related reading:

2002 Significant Acquisitions














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