Institute of American Deltiology Postcard Collection

The Institute of American Deltiology (IAD) Postcard Collection is a major research collection held by the University of Maryland's Special Collections and University Archives at Hornbake Library. Founded in 1993 by longtime collector Donald Brown, the IAD operates as a non-profit library, gallery, and research center dedicated to the study of postcards and North American history and culture. Brown donated the collection to the National Trust Library, now housed within UMD's Special Collections.

The full IAD collection is estimated at over one million postcards. UMD currently holds approximately 104,000 cards received in two installments (roughly 66,000 in 2011 and 38,000 more in 2012), with additional cards expected in future years.

Collection Scope:

• Approximately 104,000 postcards processed and accessible

• Localities in 36 U.S. states and territories, including the District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia

• Dates range from the 1870s to the 2000s, with the bulk post-1939

• Arranged geographically, then by genre/approximate print date

• Cards housed in mylar sleeves for long-term preservation

Access:

• Open for research (collection is fully processed)

• Duplication available per Special Collections policy

• Select cards digitized and viewable online via UMD's Digital Collections

• Finding aid and box list available on the ArchivesSpace site

Related Collection at UMD: National Trust Library Historic Postcard Collection (~20,000 cards, 1893–1970s)

Contact:

• University of Maryland Libraries, Hornbake Library

• 4130 Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20742

• Phone: 301-405-9212

• Email: askhornbake@umd.edu