Postal History Collection

The T. H. Smith Postal History Collection was assembled by Thomas H. Smith (1928-2012), an architect and dedicated amateur postal historian from Jackson, MS. The collection is primarily composed of postcards, letters, and other materials that document the history of the postal service in Mississippi from statehood through the late 20th century.

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A Christmas Wish

This full color postcard depicts a winter village picture bordered by a Christmas wreath and holly. There is an handwritten note on the back.
A Gulf Coast Home

This full color postcard depicts a large house in Pass Christain, Mississippi with a garden and trees in the front of the house. There is an handwritten note on the back.
Capitol Street, looking West

This postcard depicts the streetview of the Capitol Street looking west in Jackson, Mississippi. There is a handwritten note on the back.
Christmas Greetings

This Christmas postcard depicts poinsettias with a "Christmas Greetings" sign.
Gloucester, Built by Winthrop Sargent, First Territorial Governor of Mississippi

This full color postcard depicts "Gloucester" built Winthrop Sargent, First Territorial Governor of Mississippi. It is a brink building with white columns and trees in front of the building.
Hattiesburg Hospital, Street View

This full color postcard depicts Hattiesburg Hospital from the street view in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Homewood

This full color postcard depicts "Homewood", which is a plantation in Natchez, Mississippi.
Hotel Buena Vista---Most Beautiful on The Gulf Coast

This full color postcard depicts Hotel Buena Vista from the Gulf.
Post Office, Gulfport, Miss-17

This full color postcard depicts the Post Office in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Post Office, Laurel, MS

This full color postcard depicts the Post Office in Laurel, Mississippi.
Post Office, Laurel, MS-9

This full color postcard depicts Post Office in Laurel, Mississippi.
Post Office, Long Beach, MS

This full color postcard depicts the Post Office in Long Beach, Mississippi.
Post Office Lousville, MS

This full color postcard depicts a Post Office in Lousville, Mississippi.
Post Office Pacagoula, MS-102

This full color postcard depicts the Post Office in Pacagoula, Mississippi.
Post office, Vicksburg, MS-1

This full color postcard depicts the Post office in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Post Office, West Point, MS

This black and white postcard depicts the Post Office in West Point, Mississippi.
United States Post Office, Hattiesburg, MS

This full color postcard depicts United States the Post Office Building in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
United States Post Office, Meridian, MS

This full color postcard depicts the United States Post Office in Meridian, Mississippi.
U.S. Post Office, Grenada, Miss

This full color postcard depicts the U.s. Post Office in Grenada, Mississippi.
Wishing A very Merry Christmas

This Christmas postcard depicts Christmas Carolers in the middle of a village.
Elvis Gold Car on Tour

This promotional postcard depicts the Elvis Gold Car on Tour for the RCA Victor Records.
Epsicopal Chapel of The Cross

This full color postcard depicts the Epsicopal Chapel of The Cross.
Neshoba County Fair

This full color postcard depicts a group of people at the Neshoba County Fair.
The Legend of the Spanish Moss

This full color postcard depicts trees with the Spanish Moss.
The Broadwater Beach Hotel Marina

This full color postcard depicts the Broadwater Beach Hotel Marina.
The Buena Vista Motel and Hotel

This full color postcard depicts a sky view of the Hotel Buena Vista.
Longwood, Natchez, Mississippi

This full color postcard depicts Longwood mansion in Natchez, Mississippi.
Greetings Card from Union, MS

This full color postcard depicts a road with autumn trees.
Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis Shrine

This full color postcard depicts "Beauvoir", the home of Jefferson Davis.
Buena Vista Hotel Pool

This postcard depicts the outside pool at the Hotel Buena Vista in Biloxi, Mississippi. There is a handwritten note on the back.
United States Post Office, Winona, MS

This full color postcard depicts the United States Post Office in Winona, Mississippi.
Stanton Hall

This full color postcard depicts Stanton Hall in Natchez, Mississippi.
Federal Building

This black and white postcard depicts the Federal Building. in Jackson, Mississippi.
The Beautiful Buena Vista Hotel

This full color postcard depicts the Hotel Buena Vista from the sea side.
Halls Motor Court

This full color postcard depicts a residential area beside a road named "Hall's Motor court."
Highway U.S. 90.

This full color postcard depicts Highway U.S. 90.
Gulf Park College

This full color postcard depicts Gulf Park College.
Angelos Place Facing the Sparkling Waters of the Gulf on U.S. 90 Gulfport Mississippi

This full color postcard depicts Angelos Place at U.S. 90 Gulfport Mississippi. There is an handwritten note on the back.
United States Navy

This envelope has United States Navy stamped with an eagle on top and a picture of the U.S.S. Mississippi Battleship below.
Fort Massachusettes On Ship Island Off The Mississippi Gulf Coast

This full color postcard depicts Fort Massachusettes On Ship Island Off The Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Lauderdale County Court House

This full color postcard depicts Lauderdale County Court House in Meridian, Mississippi.
With Best Christman Greeting

This Christmas postcard depicts a winter scene bordered by holly.
7-Post Office, Columbus

This postcard depicts the post office in Columbus, MS. The post office is a brink buliding with white columns and a flag pole with the U.S. Flag.
The Buena Vista, Gulf of Mexico

This full color postcard depicts a sea side view of the Hotel Buena Vista.
Elgin

This full color postcard depicts the Elgin home with trees with spanish moss in front in Natchez, Mississippi.
Hotel Buena Vista and Cottages

This full color postcard depicts Hotel Buena Vista and Cottages in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Tivoli Hotel, East Beach

This full color postcard depicts the Tivoli Hotel, East Beach at Biloxi, Mississippi.
Typical View of the Shrimp and Oyster Industry

This full color postcard depicts shrimp and oyster boats at the Gulf in Biloxi, Mississippi.
U.S. Post Office

This full color postcard depicts the U.S. Post Office in Cornith, Mississippi.
U.S. Post Office Gulfport, Ms

This full color postcard depicts the U.S. Post Office in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Commemorating the Anniversary of the Admission of Mississippi as a Territory of the Union

This envelope has the Mississippi state seal and picture of the U.S.S. Mississippi battleship.
Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year

This full color postcard depicts a hut next to the sea in the Philippines in a wicker pattern.
Picturesque Shrimp Boats At Anchor In Beautiful Back Bay Of Biloxi

This full color postcard depicts Shrimp Boats At Anchor In Bay Of Biloxi.
The New State Capitol Building

This full color postcard depicts the New State Capiol Building in Jackson, Mississippi.
Whitworth College, Exterior of East Side of Quandrangle

This full color postcard depicts the Whitworth College, Exterior of East Side of Quandrangle.
Court House, Laurel, Miss.-16

This full color postcard depicts the Court House in Laurel, Mississippi.
Edgewater Gulf Hotel

This full color postcard depicts the Edgewater Gulf Hotel at Edgewater Park, Mississippi.
New Capital Building

This full color postcard depicts the New Capital Building in Jackson, Mississippi.
Pinehurst Hotel

This full color postcard depicts Pinehurst Hotel in Laurel, Mississippi.
A "Tug of War" On The Beach

This full color postcard depicts a group of young women and men playing tug of war on the Beach at Forest, Mississippi. There is an handwritten note on the back.
Edgewater Gulf Hotel Side view

This full color postcard depicts the Edgewater Gulf Hotel in a side view at Edgewater Park, Mississippi.
Four Lane Beach Drive, West Beach

This full color postcard depicts Four Lane Beach Drive beside west beach in Biloxi, Mississippi.
George L. Nute

This envelope depicts a illustration of battleship and blimp above a body of water.
United States Post Office Building, Hattiesburg, MS

This full color postcard depicts United States the Post Office Building in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Biloxi-Ocean Springs Bridge

This postcard depicts the Biloxi-Ocean Springs Bridge. There is a boat under the bridge and another boat on the beach. There is a handwritten note on the back.
Edwards Hotel

This full color postcard depicts the Edwards Hotel at Jackson, Mississippi.
Governors Mansion

This full color postcard depicts the Governor's Mansion in Jackson, Mississippi.
Gulf Coast Military Academy, Miss-64

This full color postcard depicts Gulf Coast Military Academy with a park out front with a tree and bench.
Hotel Buena Vista and Cottages

This full color postcard depicts Hotel Buena Vista and Cottages from a sky view in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Hotel Lamar

This full color postcard depicts Hotal Lamar in Meridian, Mississippi.
State Of International Star Class Race

This full color postcard depicts a group of sailboats in a race on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The Walthall Hotel

This full color postcard depicts the Walthall Hotel in Jackson, Mississippi.
The War Memorial Building

This full color postcard depicts War Memorial Building at Keesler Field.
White House Hotel

This full color postcard depicts the White House Hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Y.M.CA. Building On Main Street

This full color postcard depicts the Y.M.C.A. Building On Main Street in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Aerial View Of Gulfport, Mississippi

This full color postcard depicts an aerial view of Gulfport, Mississippi. There is an handwritten note on the back.
A Picturesque Bayou Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast

This full color postcard depicts the bayou along the Mississippi Gulf Coast with Spanish Moss trees and a river opening up to the coast.
Attractive Lounge Of The Marine Room, Hotel Buena Vista

This full color postcard depicts the lounge of the Marine room at the Hotel Buena Vista. The room is full of red sofas and chairs. There is an handwritten note on the back.
Battalion review, Camp Van Dorn

This black and white postcard depicts the battalion review at Camp Van Dorn. There is an handwritten note on the back.
Beautiful Benachi Ave., Miss-12

This full color postcard depicts Benachi Ave., Miss-12 in Biloxi, Mississippi with trees with spanish moss along the street.
Beautiful Double Lane Boulevard Along The Gulf Coast

This full color postcard depicts a double lane boulevard along the Gulf Coast. There is an handwritten note on the back.
Business Section of Gulfport 108

This postcard depicts the business section of Gulfport, Mississippi. There is a handwritten note on the back.
City Hall Floral Gardens

This full color postcard depicts City Hall Floral Gardens at Jackson, Mississippi.
Confederate Monument, Harrison County Courthouse, Miss-21

This full color postcard depicts a Confederate Monument at Harrison County Courthouse in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Double Beach Driveway Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, The Beauty spot of America-61

This full color postcard depicts a double beach driveway along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
EAT At Weidmanns-since 1870

This black and white postcard depicts an dining area with a fireplace at the Weidmanns in Meridian, MS.
Euclid Avenue, "The Crepe Myrtle City of The South"-43

This full color postcard depicts Euclid Avenue, "The Crepe Myrtle City of The South." There are pink flower bushes on both sides of the road.
Fort Massachusetts, Ship Island, Mississippi Gulf Coast-32

This full color postcard depicts Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island, Mississippi.
Great Southern Hotel, Miss-73

This full color postcard depicts Great Southern Hotel in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Greeting From GulfPort

This full color postcard depicts people in boats over a body of water with the title "Greetings from Gulfport."
Greetings From Keesler Field

This full color postcard depicts uniformed men on a practice field with the title KEESLER FIELD above them.
Grenada Industries Inc.

This full color postcard depicts the Grenada Industries Inc. in Grenada, Mississippi.
Gulf Park College, on the Gulf, Miss-7

This full color postcard depicts the Gulf Park College.
Mississippi Ordance Plant

This is a letter from S/Sgt Harly H Dolick to Mr. and Mrs. Glean Barr.
Mounument to Captain Joseph T. Jones

This full color postcard depicts the Mounument to Captain Joseph T. Jones, founder of the Port of Gulfport.
One Of Mississippi's Modern Highways

This full color postcard depicts one Of Mississippi's Modern Highways with a vehicle and horse drawn carriage and spanish moss hanging above them.
Panoramic View of Jackson, Miss-39

This full color postcard depicts a panoramic View of Jackson, Mississippi.
Prisoner Of War letter

This Prisoner of war letter is written in German.
Sailing by The Moonlight on the Gulf Along The Mississippi Gulf Coast 156

This full color postcard depicts two sailboats along the Mississippi Gulf Coast at night.
Scenic Highway, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Between Biloxi and Gulfport-49

This full color postcard depicts a highway along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

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