An Inventory of His Personal Papers
1943-1979
At the John F. Kennedy Library
National Archives and Records Administration
Administrative Information
Biographical Note
Collection Overview
List of Series
Series Description
Administrative Information
Abstract
Papers 1943-1979
Postmaster General (1961-1963). The collection documents his tenure as Postmaster General. Speeches, diaries and daybooks, business and personal correspondence, minutes and memos from cabinet meetings, photographs, travel files and foreign and domestic stamps and first day covers. Also includes material related to Doe vs. McCone lawsuit against the Postmaster General.
Access
Open.
Usage Restrictions
According to the deed of gift signed March 2001, copyright of these materials has been assigned to the United States. Users of the materials are advised to determine the copyright status of any document from which they plan to publish excerpts.
Copyright
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excesses of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. The copyright law extends its protection to unpublished works from the moment of creation in a tangible form. Direct your questions concerning copyright to the reference staff.
Provenance
Received from Mary Louise B. Day of Chevy Chase, MD, in September 2001 (Acc. 2001-447).
Creator
J. Edward Day
Extent
About 5400 items (8 linear feet, 9 linear inches ; 10 cubic feet)
Withdrawn Items
Selected folders may contain withdrawal sheets where documents, in accordance with the donor's deed of gift, were removed from the collection. These include documents that may be used to injure or harass any living person.
All withdrawn documents have been placed under seal and upon request the Kennedy Library will review any material which has been closed for a period of not less than 2 years for the purpose of opening items which no longer require restrictions. Researchers should consult the reference staff to obtain the appropriate form(s).
Processed by
Amara Edwards
Date Completed
December 2001
Encoded by
James M. Roth
The Personal Papers of J. Edward Day
Biographical Note
J(ames) Edward Day (1914-1996) was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, on October 11, 1914. Day attended Harvard Law School and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Day was appointed U.S. Postmaster General in 1961 by President elect John F. Kennedy. At the time, this post was a cabinet level position. He resigned due to financial difficulties in 1963. During his tenure, he implemented the ZIP code and worked to eliminate the circulation of pornography in the mail system. An active member of numerous organizations, including The American Bar Association, Day was known for his wit and published several memoirs and a work of fiction. J. Edward Day died in Hunt Valley, Maryland, October 29, 1996.
Collection Overview
The Personal Papers of J. Edward Day document his time as Postmaster General during the Kennedy years. The collection is organized into six series: Series 1. Appointment Books; Series 2. Subject files; Series 3. Speeches; Series 4. Trips; Series 5.
Doe v. McCone
; and Series 6. Museum objects. The bulk of the collection is found in the Speeches and Trip Files series. Personal and official appointment books contain appointments kept by Day’s secretary with a few personal notes, notes to self, and notes on current events. Subject files mostly relate to his appointment as the Postmaster General and contain personal correspondence, correspondence related to the publishing of books written by Day, general business correspondence, press clippings, photographs, and various reports. Of note in this series are minutes from cabinet meetings and photographs documenting his time as Postmaster General and American life in general during the Kennedy years. Speech files are largely composed of drafts and final versions of Day’s speeches, photographs, and press coverage of speeches and public appearances. Trip files contain travel arrangements, press coverage of Day's appearances, speeches, photographs, and background information on his destination. Doe v. McCone lawsuit material includes copies of official court documents, reports, correspondence between Day and his lawyer, CIA-post office correspondence, and press releases/newspaper clippings related to the lawsuit. Museum items include stamps, brochures, booklets, domestic and foreign first day covers, dedication ceremony programs, and a few framed photographs. All museum objects have been transferred to the JFK Museum.
List of Series
Series 1. Appointment Books
Series 2. Subject file
Series 3. Speeches
Series 4. Trips
Series 5. Doe v. McCone
Series 6. Museum objects
Series Description
Series 1. Appointment Books, 1961-1963.
7 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Personal and official Appointment books of J. Edward Day. The official books contain appointments kept by Day’s secretary with a few personal notes. The personal books contain appointments, notes to self, and notes on current events.
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Box 1
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Personal, 1961
Official, 1962
Personal, 1962
Official, 1963
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Box
2
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Personal, 1963: January-June
Personal, 1963: July-December
Personal, 1963
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Series 2. Subject File,
1959-1972.
About 1500 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Subject files contain personal correspondence, correspondence related to the publishing of books written by J Edward Day, general business correspondence, press clippings, photographs, material related to his appointment as Postmaster General, various reports, and minutes from cabinet meetings.
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Box 2
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Appointment-press release
Autograph requests, 1962-67
Beal, Orville E.
Bar associations miscellaneous
Belen, Frederick C., 1962-1968
Blount, Winton M. (Postmaster General), 1970
Book -
Bartholf Street
Book - DoubleDay
Book -
Humor in Public Speaking
Book - Miscellaneous correspondence etc.
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Box
3
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Book - Miscellaneous
Book –
My Appointed Round
, correspondence from publisher (HR&W)
Book –
My Appointed Round
, correspondence other than from publisher
Book –
My Appointed Round
, clippings
Book –
My Appointed Round
, miscellaneous
Brookings Institution, conference on state and local finance, 1965
Brown, Edmund G. (Pat), Governor
The Business Lawyer: "The US Post Office Department", November, 1961
Cabinet
Celebrezze, Anthony J
Certificates Miscellaneous
Clippings – Appointment
Clippings – General
Clippings – Resignation
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Box
4
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Democratic Digest, Inaugural Issue, January-February, 1961
Freeman, Oroville L., 1961-67
Goldberg, Arthur J.
Hodges, Luther H.
Inauguration, 1961,1965
Invitations declined (3 folders)
Ives, Ernest
John F. Kennedy Library
Kelleher, James F.
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Box
5
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Kennedy, Ethel
Kennedy, Robert F.
Kennedy Fifth Anniversary Dinner, January 26, 1966
Kennedy, Robert, Foundation, 1969
Krim, Arthur B., 1967
Mailing Lists & Pornography," American Bar Association Journal, 1962-1969
Minow, Newton J.
Miscellaneous
Photographs 1
Photographs 2
Pictures 1
Pictures 2
Postmaster General appointment, letters of congratulations acknowledged
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A-E (3 folders)
F-L (1 folder)
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Box
6
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F-L (2 folders)
M-Z (4 folders)
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Postmaster General appointment, letters of congratulations no reply (3 folders)
Postal Rate Bar Association, 1971-72
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Box
7
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Quigley, Mary E.
Report on accomplishments of the post office department during the first year of the Kennedy administration
Report by the advisory commission on intergovernmental relations
Report; post office department, fiscal year 1963
September 1964
Sweeny, Mary Frances
Woodward, Warren
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Series 3. Speeches,
1961-1963.
About 900 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Speeches are largely composed of drafts and final versions of Day’s speeches, but may contain photographs, and press coverage of speeches and public appearances. Folders are titled by speech occasion and arranged chronologically.
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Box 7
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Jefferson- Jackson day dinner, 3/25/61
Dedication of Fort Sumter commemorative stamp, 4/12/61
Jefferson- Jackson draft, 4/14/61
Dedication of US post office and federal building, Portsmouth, VA, 4/29/61
Groundbreaking ceremony, US post office Terminal Annex, 5/1/61
Anchorage, Alaska, Dedication, 5/13/61
Kenai, Alaska, Dedication, 5/13/61
Claremont, California, Claremont College, 6/3/61
Dedication of George W. Noms commemorative stamp, 7/11/61
Nationwide improved mail service program, 7/1961
Chamber of commerce, Bakersfield, California, 7/21/61
Bohemian Grove Encampment, Santa Rosa, California, 7/23/61
American Bar Association, St. Louis, Mo, 8/8/61
National Rural Letter Carriers Association, 8/16/61
Workmen’s compensation law commemorative stamp, 9/4/61
National Press Club Luncheon, 9/7/61
Federal Bar association annual convention, Washington DC, 9/14/61
National Assoc. post office &postal transportation service, 9/30/61
Jewish National Fund, Los Angeles, California, 10/2/61
National congress on medical quackery, Washington DC, 10/6/61
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen stamp, Washington DC, 10/10/61
Political, Topeka, Kansas, 10/14/61
Kansas City Chamber of commerce, 10/25/61
Political, San Diego, California, 10/28/61
Political, San Francisco, California, 10/31/61
St. Barnabas medical center, Millburn, NJ, 11/15/61
American Stamp Dealers Assoc., NY, NY, 11/17/61
Volunteer for Victory Dinner, Los Angeles, California, 12/1/61
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Box
8
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Groundbreaking, Terminal annex, Los Angeles, California, 12/14/61
NIMS, Los Angeles, California, 12/4/61
NIMS, Dallas, TX, 12/5/61
"Passe Club", Dallas, Texas, 12/5/61
NIMS, Houston, Texas, 12/6/61
Army Postal Units, Fort Meade, MD, 12/15/61
Democratic Party victory dinner, Rochester, NY, 12/28/61
P.O.D., 1961
Dedication, Arizona Statehood Commemorative stamp, 2/14//62
Statehood Ball, Phoenix, Arizona, 2/14/62
Congressman, David King, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2/15/62
Fellows of the American Bar assoc. & Natn’l conference of Bar Residents, 2/18/62 Century 21 Commemorative stamps, Seattle, Washington, 2/25/62
National Assoc. of letter carriers, Washington Dc, 3/5/62
Ancient Order of Hibernians, Cleveland, Ohio, 3/17/62
Employee management cooperation in Federal Gov., 5/26/62
Maryland State Democratic Dinner, Baltimore, MD, 3/31/62
Century 21 commemorative stamp, Seattle, Washington, 4/25/63
Boy Scout pilgrimage to Lincoln’s Tomb, Springfield, Illinois, 4/29/62
Post office dedication, Texas city, Texas, 5/1/62
Catholic War veterans, Chicago, Illinois, 5/5/62
Detroit Committee for seven eastern women’s colleges, 5/7/62
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 5/8/62
Post office dedication, Williamsburg, Virginia, 5/12/62
American Bar Assoc., New York, New York, 5/18/62
Homestead Act commemorative stamp, Beatrice, Nebraska, 5/20/62
Democratic Associates, Los Angeles, California, 5/24/62
Combined philatelic Exhibition of Chicagoland Inc., 5/25/62
Illinois College Commencement, Jacksonville, Illinois, 5/27/62
University of Reno, "Crisis in Talent", 6/4/62
Don Rose Dinner, Los Angeles, California, 6/30/62
Senator Brian McMahon stamp, Washington Dc, 7/27/62
Insurance Law Section, American Bar Assoc., San Francisco, CA, 8/6/62
National Rural Letter Carriers Assoc., Los Angeles, California, 8/8/62
Town Hall, Los Angeles, California, 8/14/62
National Convention-United Federation of Postal Clerks, Portland, Oregon, 8/20/62
Mail Users Council, Denver, Colorado, 8/23/62
National Apprenticeship stamp, Washington DC, 8/31/62
National Convention- National Assoc. of Letter Carriers, Denver, CO, 9/3/62
Direct Mail Advertising Assoc., Chicago, Illinois, 9/14/62
Post Office Dedication, Ypsilanti, Michigan, 9/22/62
Life Office Management Assoc., Cincinnati, Ohio, 9/24/62
James A. Farley, NY, NY, 10/2/62
Richard Richards dinner, Los Angeles, California, 10/4/62
Mishawaka Chamber of Commerce, South Bend, Indiana, 10/9/62
Tri-state Democratic dinner, Salisbury, Maryland, 10/12/62
Mail Users Council, San Francisco, California, 10/15/62
Dag Hammarskjold stamp, NY, NY, 10/23/62
National Assoc. of Postmsaters of the US, Pittsburgh, PA, 11/1/62
Post office dedication, Romney, West Virginia, 11/3/62
George Washington Stamp, NY, NY, 11/23/62
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Box
9
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8-cent airmail postage stamp, Washington DC, 12/5/62
Winslow Homer stamp, Gloucester, Massachusetts, 12/15/62
American Flag stamp, Washington DC, 1/9/63
Personnel & Industrial Relations Assoc., Los Angeles, California, 1/23/63
Downtown businessmen’s Assoc. ABCD, Los Angeles, California, 1/24/63
Chamber of Commerce, Charleston, West Virginia, 1/29/63
Federal Business Assoc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2/13/63
Washington Kiwanis Club, Washington DC, 2/21/63
ABCD, Washington DC, 2/25/63
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Washington DC, 3/16/63
Traffic Club of Washington, Washington DC, 3/20/63
Women’s National Democratic Club, Washington DC, 3/22/63
International Business Machines Sales Meeting, Miami, Florida, 4/1/63
Inter-American Postal Conference, Miami Beach, Florida, 4/2/63
Carolina Charter dedication, Edenton, North Carolina, 4/6/63
Chamber of Commerce, Beverly Hills, California, 4/9/63
ABCD, Boston, Massachusetts, 4/26/63
Advertising club & Junior Bar Assoc., Baltimore, Maryland, 5/1/63
Montgomery Blair stamp dedication, Silver Spring, Maryland, 5/3/63
Cardinal Spellman Library, Weston, Massachusetts, 5/4/63
Paris Postal Conference, Paris, France, 5/7/63
Federal Gov. Accountants Assoc., Washington DC, 6/3/63
Dedication, Freedom from Hunger stamp, Washington DC, 6/4/63
Inauguration of ABCD, Alexandria, Louisiana, 6/7/63
Aero Club, Washington DC, 6/25/63
Civil Aeronautics Board, Washington DC, 6/23/63
Gettysburg Civil war centennial series, Gettysburg, PA, 7/1/63
Unveiling, alliance for progress, Washington DC, 7/2/63
Swearing in Dinner, Postmaster John Munnelly, Omaha, Nebraska, 7/14/63
Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City, Missouri, 7/23/63
Dedication, Amelia Earhart stamp, Atchison, Kansas, 7/24/63
Mail Users Council, Topeka, Kansas, 7/24/63
Federal Executive Board Chairmen, Washington DC, 7/26/63
Society of American Florists, Cincinnati, Ohio, 7/31/63
Mail Users Council, Memphis, Tennessee, 8/1/63
Dedication, new post office, Clarksville, Tennessee, 8/2/63
Rotary Club, Los Angeles, California, 8/9/63
"Postal policy: For Public or Publisher?" no date
YMCA, draft, no date
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Series 4. Trips, 1961-1963.
About 1420 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical by name of city.
Trip files contain travel arrangements, press coverage of Day's appearances, speeches, photographs, and background information on his destination.
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Box 9
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Alexandria, Louisiana, 6/6-8/63
Anchorage, Alaska, 5/12-17/61
Atlanta, Georgia, 8/16-17/61
Bakersfield, California, 7/21/61
Baltimore, Maryland
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12/18/61
3/31/62
5/1/63
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Beatrice, Nebraska, 5/20/62
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Box
10
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Boston, Massachusetts
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9/28-10/1/61
4/26/63
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Charleston, West Virginia, 1/29-30/63
Chicago, Illinois
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11/1-2/61
2/17-18/62
3/6-7/61
5/5-6/6/62
5/25/62
9/14/62
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Chula Vista, California, 10/28/61
Cincinnati, Ohio
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4/30-5/1/61
9/24/62
7/30-31/63
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Cleveland, Ohio, 3/17-18/62
Columbus, Ohio, 5/1/63
Dallas, Texas, 12/4-6/61
Denver, Colorado
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3/24-26/61
10/26/61
8/23/62
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Box
11
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9/2-4/62
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Des Moines, Iowa, 4/27-28/62
Detroit, Michigan
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8/17/61
2/19-20/62
5/7-8/62
9/23/62
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Edgewater, New Jersey, 2/11/63
Edenton, North Carolina, 4/6/63
Fort Meade, Maryland, 12/15/61
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 7/1/63
Honolulu, Hawaii, 5/30-6/2/61
Houston, Texas, 12/6/61
Japan, 4/6-18/62
Kansas City, Missouri, 10/25/61
Kansas City, Topeka, Atchison, Kansas, 7/23-24/63
Lansing (Ypsilanti), Michigan, 9/21-22/62
Long Beach, California, 8/15/62
Los Angeles, California
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3/2-5/61
6/6-11/61
10/27-29/61
12/1-4/61
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Box
12
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5/24/62
6/30/62
8/8/62
10/4/62
1/22-25/63
8/8-10/63
4/8-10/63
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Martinsburg, West Virginia, 8/17/61
Memphis-Nashville, Tennessee, 8/1-2/63
Miami, Florida, 3/31-4/3/63
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 9/3-4/61
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 10/21/61
Newark, New Jersey, 2/11/63
New Brunswick, New Jersey, 5/8/62
New Orleans, Louisiana, 4/29-30/62
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Box
13
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New York, New York
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9/23/61
11/17/61
2/03/62
3/26/62
5/18-5/19/62
10/02/62
11/23/62
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Norfolk, Virginia (cancelled), 4/29/61
Omaha, Nebraska, 7/14-7/15/63
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2/19-2/20/62
Paris, London, Germany, 5/5-5/17/63
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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8/31/61
5/17/62
2/13/63
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Phoenix, Arizona, 2/13-2/15/62
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 10/31-11/02/62
Portland, Maine, 7/14-7/16/62
Portland, Oregon, 8/20/62
Portsmouth, Virginia, 4/29/61
Reno, Nevada, 6/3-6/4/62
Richmond, Virginia, 9/15/62
Rochester, New York, 12/28/61
Rockville, Maryland, 10/12/62
Romney, West Virginia, 11/03/62
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Box
14
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Salisbury, Maryland, 10/12/62
Salt Lake City, Utah, 2/15-2/16/62
San Antonio, Texas, 7/6/63
San Diego, California
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3/03/61
10/20/61
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San Francisco, California
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3/06/61
5/29/61
10/30-11/1/61
5/22-5/23/62
8/3-8/7/62
10/15-10/16/62
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Santa Barbara, California, 6/6/61
Santee-Cooper, South Carolina, 4/19-4/21/63
Seattle, Washington, 4/24-4/27/62
Short Hills, New Jersey, 11/13/61
South Bend, Indiana, 10/9/62
Springfield, Illinois
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4/29/62
5/26-5/28/62
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Box
15
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Springfield, Illinois, 11/18-11/29/62
Stamford, Connecticut, 2/7/62
St. Louis, Missouri, 8/8/61
Texas City, Texas, 4/30-5/1/62
Topeka, Kansas, 10/13-10/15/61
Vernon, California, 6/9/61
Williamsburg, Virginia, 5/12-5/13,62
Wichita, Kansas, 5/21/62
Weston, Massachusetts, 5/4/63
General, 1961-1963
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Series 5. Doe v. McCone,
1975-1977.
About 115 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Material related to the Doe v. McCone lawsuit, including copies of official court documents, reports, correspondence between Day and his lawyer, CIA-post office correspondence, and press releases/newspaper clippings related to the lawsuit.
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Box 15
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CIA- Post Office Correspondence, 1975-77 (3 folders)
CIA- Post Office Defendant’s filings
CIA- Post Office notes
CIA- Post Office press
Com. to study govt. operations, J. Edward Day Test., 10/22/75
Complaint-Interrogations
Doe v Day et al, protective order
Doe v. McCone et al (1 folder)
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Box 16
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Doe v. McCone et al (2 folders)
Driver v. Helms (3 folders)
General documents
Judge Corcoran’s "John Doe" opinion
Interview with J. Edward Day, 6/11/75
Miscellaneous Documents
Motions to dismiss, Doe v Day et al, 7/23/75 (1 folder)
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Box 17
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Motions to dismiss, Doe v Day et al, 7/23/75 (1 folder)
Postal Inspection service hearing, 5/7/75
Rep. of the Dept. of Justice re: it’s investigation and prosecution, media release
Report of proceeding
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Series 6. Museum objects, 1943-1979.
About 1400 items.
Arrangement: by subject/object.
Museum items include stamps, brochures, booklets, domestic and foreign first day covers, dedication ceremony programs, and a few framed photographs. All museum objects have been transferred to the JFK Museum under accession number, MO 01.18.
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Box 1
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Green leather folder with gold Asian characters, contains 4 sheets of Asian stamps
Framed black and white photograph
Framed JFK inaugural address and first day issue stamp
Framed photo JFK, JED, first day issue stamp, Wisconsin
Japanese paper satchel containing Japanese stamps
Folder with crest on front contains French and Austrian centennial commemorative stamps.
French book and one sheet of stamps. Book contains text, illustrations, and stamps commemorating the centennial of the international post office conference.
Booklet with Canadian crest and the name Canada embossed on front cover, with stamps.
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Box 2
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Various commemorative stamp dedication programs (20)
First day issue German commemorative stamps (small) 67 Brochures
Newsletters from Austrian post office, January, July-October, 1963
First day issue German commemorative Stamps (large)
13 booklets
26 booklet (medium)
JFK memorial poster with first day issue commemorative stamps, 1964
Holiday greetings from foreign post office’s, 1962
23 cards
Gold album containing French centenary commemorative stamps
Blue and gold album containing Spanish centenary commemorative stamps
Envelope commemorating the opening of the JFK Library
Sample stamp sets, Japan
3 sets
Sample stamp set, El Salvador
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Box 3
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First day covers
1956
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965-66
Stamps, international and domestic
First Day cover design envelopes, no date
Stamp books
Foreign first day covers, 1953-63
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