The Washington State Library has unveiled its latest digital initiative, ‘Postmarked Washington,’ an interactive archive dedicated to the postal history of Washington State. This project offers a unique lens into the community history of Whatcom County through its post offices.
The brainchild of Guy Reed Ramsey (1894-1980), a passionate collector of postal memorabilia, this project highlights his relentless quest to document the history of every post office in Washington.
Although Ramsey was a forester by profession, his dedication to this hobby earned him a reputation as a meticulous researcher, as noted by Mary Schaff, the Northwest Librarian who spearheaded the project.
In an era predating the Internet, Ramsey dedicated significant time to studying at the Washington State Library’s extensive resources, including their manuscript, newspaper, and printed collections.
In addition to utilizing library resources, Ramsey personally traveled across the state, interviewing individuals at various post offices to gather their stories.
Despite his extensive research covering all counties in Washington, much of his work remained unpublished both during his lifetime and after, which left Ramsey feeling deeply disappointed, as reflected in the words of his son, Fred Ramsey, a retired professor from Oregon State University.
Fred Ramsey has remained a strong supporter of the ‘Postmarked Washington’ project, which aims to give new life to his father’s comprehensive research.
The foundations of this project date back to around 1960 when Ramsey completed the bulk of his manuscript for publication.
In 1966, he entrusted the Washington State Library with the microfilming of this manuscript, but the original document has since been lost.
Since then, many researchers have turned to Ramsey’s microfilm for valuable information. Among them was Mary Schaff, who found it instrumental during her work with the Washington State Committee on Geographic Names.
Four years ago, the effort to enhance access to Ramsey’s research began in earnest.
The core team consists of Mary Schaff, Reference Librarian Julie Thompson, and Application Developer Evelyn Lindberg, who worked diligently to transform Ramsey’s extensive manuscript into a user-friendly digital database segmented by county.
To bring this project to fruition, the team faced challenges in transcription, as the program Omeka struggled to accurately read old microfilm.
At times, Schaff opted to manually transcribe portions of the text to ensure accuracy and maintain the essence of Ramsey’s original work.
Upon completing the transcription process, the team built a templated format that was reflective of Ramsey’s manuscript while considering the practical needs of modern researchers, particularly in engaging with mapping tools like Google Maps.
Notably, Whatcom County posed unique mapping challenges due to its elongated shape, prompting creative solutions from the team.
In the spirit of preserving Ramsey’s original research, the team limited their corrections, allowing readers to submit their comments or corrections, particularly concerning common spelling errors that occurred through multiple layers of post office applications.
The researchers also enriched the archive by incorporating additional materials, such as newspaper articles that breathe life into the historical narratives surrounding each post office.
Schaff and Thompson emphasize how these unexpected discoveries added an element of enjoyment and immersion to the project, transforming it from a straightforward archiving task into a vibrant exploration of local history.
Launched in October 2024, ‘Postmarked Washington’ is hosted by Primarily Washington, a platform that serves as a repository of various digital resources about the state’s history.
The project originally focused on five counties, with Whatcom County being the first to be completed.
With 86 entries, it stands out as one of Ramsey’s most significant contributions, providing the team with valuable insights and experiences for future work.
Beyond serving genealogists, ‘Postmarked Washington’ also illuminates aspects of local, regional, economic, and women’s history.
As Schaff notes, post offices weave the narrative of their communities, with many experiencing a fleeting existence.
Whatcom County’s postal legacy includes intriguing anecdotes about local developments, such as the unique history of Bellingham, which was formed from the merging of four towns, including Bellingham, Fairhaven, Sehome, and Whatcom.
Thompson highlights how the evolution of towns directly influenced the establishment of post offices.
For instance, the separate post offices of Old Ferndale and Ferndale were later consolidated due to their close proximity, illustrating the dynamic interaction between community identities and postal services.
The project also underscores the critical role of women in postal history.
Many women held official titles as postmistresses; however, it was common knowledge that the daily responsibilities often fell to their wives and daughters, especially in smaller, home-operated post offices.
Grateful for Ramsey’s thorough work, which included recording full married and maiden names of women, the project provides invaluable resources for genealogical researchers.
Among the compelling stories unearthed, the removal and movement of the Camp Semiahmoo post office, which transitioned from Washington to British Columbia due to boundary changes, captures the complexity of the region’s postal history.
Looking ahead, work on ‘Postmarked Washington’ will persist as resources allow, guided by the passion of the team.
Although the project lacks dedicated funding or staff, its sustainability is rooted in a commitment to enrich the historical narrative of Washington State’s post offices.
Eventually, the team hopes to digitize all 13 of Ramsey’s unpublished counties followed by his published materials, seeking to engage students through initiatives such as the postal history zine project developed by Thompson within the ‘Postmarked Washington’ Digital Backpack.
Through ‘Postmarked Washington,’ a treasure trove of historical insights can be explored, allowing community history to thrive through the stories connected to local post offices.
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