National Museum of American History (U.S.). National Philatelic Collection.

While the Smithsonian acquired elements of a philately collection in the nineteenth century, systematic work began with the appointment of Joseph Britton Leavy as Philatelist in 1913.

Until 1947 the Philatelist was a staff member of the Division of History. In 1947 a Section of Philately was created and then upgraded to a division in 1949. In 1957, the Division was renamed Philately and Postal History (changing again to Postal History in 1969). It was affiliated with the Departments of Civil History, 1957-1968, Applied Arts, 1969-1977, and National History, 1978-1979, as a result of museum reorganizations. In 1980, the Division was organized as the National Philatelic Collection in the National Museum of American History, reporting to the Director. In 1990, the National Philatelic Collection became the National Postal Museum, an independent entity, in consequence of an agreement between the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Postal Service.

Curators and staff included Joseph Britton Leavy, Philatelist, 1913-1921; Catherine L. Manning, Philatelist, 1921-1943, Assistant Curator of Philately, 1944-1951; Franklin R. Bruns, Jr., Assistant Curator of Philately, 1951, Associate Curator in charge, 1952-1957, Associate Curator, 1971-1977, and Supervisor, 1978-1979; Francis J. McCall, Assistant Curator of Philately, 1957, Acting Curator, 1958, Associate Curator, 1959-1963; George T. Turner, Acting Curator of Philately, 1959-196 Associate Curator, 1962; Richard Hubbard Howland, Acting Curator of Philately, 1962-1963; Carl H. Scheele, Assistant Curator of Philately, 1960-1963, Acting Curator, 1964-1968, Associate Curator, 1969, Curator in charge, 1970-1977; Reidar Norby, Assistant Curator of Philately, 1969, Associate Curator, 1970-1983, Curator, 1984-1988; Robert G. Tillotson, Executive Director of the National Philatelic Collection, 1980-1982; Herbert Ridgeway Collins, Executive Director of the National Philatelic Collection, 1982-1990.

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Agency History. Record 222866