1 ORGS · 20 ACTIVITIES ← all strategies ·
theory of action →

Curated Research Access

By building and maintaining specialized, non-duplicative collections in philately and postal history, the organization enables scholarly and public research, because access to rare, regionally focused, and well-organized materials increases the depth and quality of historical inquiry. This strategy emphasizes intentional collection development—acquiring, organizing, and preserving print, visual, and electronic resources with a focus on Arizona and the American West—to serve researchers, historians, and genealogists. Unlike general archival preservation or broad public education approaches, this strategy prioritizes research utility and collection specificity, ensuring materials are both accessible and of high value for targeted scholarly and public inquiry.

1
orgs running it
20
activities of those orgs
5
clusters touched
who runs it

organizations running this strategy · 1

what it looks like in practice

activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above. These are what the strategy looks like on the ground.

  • Deliver educational programs on philately and postal history THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Provides educational services to various groups including educators, parents, students, and community organizations through the Stamp Discovery Education Program. This includes youth educational programs, merit badge workshops, and interactive exhibits using donated materials.
  • Deliver youth and educational programs THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Runs the Stamp Discovery Education Program, offering free or low-cost resources and activities for children, parents, teachers, scouts, and community groups. Includes merit badge workshops, stamp design contests, and an education collection of donated materials used in youth engagement, continuing a youth philately program established in 1964.
  • Exhibits and Tours THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Offers museum exhibits, guided tours, and hosts special events, providing a unique visitor experience related to postal history and philately.
  • Foster study and research of postal history THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    research
    Actively fosters the study and research of postal history, broadening its focus from solely Western postal history to include worldwide collection and study.
  • Host museum exhibits and guided tours THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Offers museum exhibits, including permanent collections of cultural objects and rotating/online exhibits, to connect people to postal history and philately. The organization also provides pre-scheduled guided group tours led by staff or volunteers.
  • Host museum exhibits and public tours THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Operates a museum with permanent and rotating exhibits, including historical artifacts like the old Naco post office front, territorial-era post office equipment, and artwork depicting early mail delivery. Offers pre-scheduled guided group tours and online exhibits to educate the public about postal history and stamp collecting.
  • Host stamp design contests THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Hosts the Tucson Birthday Stamp Design Contest, recognizing winners such as Nola Gelling, Serena Hsu, Roark Polzin, Joshua Baca, Jillian Stochowski, Sierra McLean, Lorenzo Corza, and Ryan Bridges.
  • Library Services THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Operates the Slusser Library, allowing local members to check out materials, provides free remote research assistance, and offers photocopying and scanning services subject to copyright and capacity limits.
  • Library and Archival Collections THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Maintains two main collections: a Library Collection focused on philately, Arizona history, and the American Civil War, and an Archives Collection that preserves philatelic materials, particularly Arizona philately and postal history.
  • Maintain and provide access to philatelic and postal history collections THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Maintains extensive library and archival collections, including over 30,000 titles and hundreds of boxes of research material related to stamp collecting and postal history. These collections are made available to the public for research in a reading room, with local members able to check out materials.
  • Operate a philatelic sales facility and post office THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Operates a philatelic sales facility and postal outlet in Arizona that receives almost all new stamp issues, offering U.S. and worldwide stamps, covers, postcards, collectibles, and stamp collecting supplies, with stock supplied by donations. It also provides a contract post office.
  • Operate philatelic library and archival collections THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    The organization maintains the Slusser Library with over 30,000 titles and extensive archival collections focused on philately, Arizona postal history, and related topics such as the American Civil War. These collections include books, journals, auction catalogs, maps, ephemera, and research materials, which are cataloged and made accessible to the public through a reading room.
  • Operate philatelic sales and contract post office THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Manages a philatelic store selling U.S. and worldwide stamps, covers, postcards, collectibles, and supplies, with inventory sourced from donations. Also operates the only philatelic sales facility and contract post office in Arizona that receives nearly all new U.S. stamp issues.
  • Philatelic Sales and Postal Outlet THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Operates the only philatelic sales facility and postal outlet in Arizona, selling U.S. and worldwide stamps, covers, postcards, and collectibles, with stock supplied entirely by donations.
  • Preserve and acquire postal history artifacts THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Obtains and preserves postal history of all periods for the Western States, including acquiring significant artifacts like the oldest known envelope postmarked in Tucson, Arizona Territory, and gathering historical objects related to mail transportation and distribution.
  • Promote research in postal history THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    research
    Fosters academic and public study of postal history through curated collections, access to archival materials, and support for research. The organization’s collections and services are designed to advance knowledge of postal systems, particularly in the Western U.S., while also expanding to worldwide philately.
  • Provide research and library services THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Offers free remote research assistance (typically up to 30 minutes), in-person access to collections, photocopying and scanning (subject to limitations), and research tips on stamps and postal history. Services are available to members and the public, supporting scholarly and personal inquiry into postal history and philately.
  • Provide research assistance and resources THE POSTAL HISTORY FOUNDATION INC
    direct service
    Offers free remote research assistance, typically up to 30 minutes, and provides free photocopying and scanning of materials when possible. The organization also offers research tips through its library for topics such as stamps and post office information.