CAM Art

When I found out I had gotten an internship at the National Postal Museum I was excited because it combined two things I love- museums and mail. My project, as an intern, has been looking at Contract Airmail (CAM) artwork.  Most people are slightly confused when they hear that, so here is a little background.

In the early days of U.S. Airmail, the Post Office Department had planes, hired pilots and delivered mail; however, in the late 1920s, the Department began contracting out to different airlines. There were over a hundred airmail routes in the United States, each covering a specific geographical location. In order to distinguish cities along a specific route, a symbol was chosen to represent the city.  Some cities chose important buildings or works of art to represent them, while others chose an animal native to the area or a type of plant grown. Each city’s symbol was then used as the design element for cachet art for First Day Covers (envelopes carried on the first trip of the route) prized by some stamp collectors.

My project has been looking at the museum’s collection of CAM art to identify original pieces. There were four large boxes filled with information about CAM art, so I went through and sorted and re-filed the original pieces. After I found the original pieces, I began contacting towns through their local Chamber of Commerce, historical societies and libraries to find information about the image used for their town. With the information I gained, I did a write up containing a description of the piece of art, of the route and of the chosen image.  The CAM art will eventually be an exhibit on the museum’s Arago website.

With my project I have been involved with different aspects of museum work. I was able to work with the actual objects in conservation and also work on research for the curatorial side. I have enjoyed working with both aspects- being close to the objects but also seeing how the objects relate to history. This project has put me in contact with many people and led to interesting discoveries about small town America. From the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota to the Swan Lake Pageant in Bend, Oregon,  there are some amazing things here in the United States!

My time as a National Postal Museum intern has been amazing. Everyone on the staff has been friendly and helpful, always willing to answer my questions about the museum world.  The National Postal Museum Rocks!

Comments

[Amy Girl]

Very interesting! This great country never ceases to amaze me. What a fantastic experience you've had. Thank you for your work which will no doubt be another wonderful little piece of America made available to all.

[Marlyce]

YOur news makes me want to come to DCagain and see the postal museum. Keep up the postings!

[Emily]

I had actually sort of forgotten that you were really doing anything in DC. Besides just having a few laughs and riding the metro, I mean. However, I did love to tell aquaintances about your intership. It sounds so prestigious

[Rachel]

I am so embarassed that I didn't even know that DC had a postal museum. It sounds incredible though and very interesting! What an awesome intern experience to have!

Next time I am in town I will have to make a special visit!

Good Job Melissa!

[Karen]

I'm excited to see the display on the website. It is nice that the internet makes it possible for those of us who are not there to see some displays.
Nice to read a little about your research.

[Hannah]

I am so embarrassed that I've never been to the postal museum... I'm a bad museum studies student!

Can't wait to see how the project turns out!