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Sea Post Clerk Oscar S. Woody's set of keys

National Postal Museum

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Object Details

Associated Organization
Eagle Lock Company
Oscar Scott Woody, American, died 1912
Description
These three keys and 24-inch chain were recovered from the body of American Sea Post Clerk Oscar S. Woody. Woody was one of five postal clerks on board the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) Titanic. All of the postal workers perished when the ship sank on April 15, 1912. These keys were returned to Woody’s widow along with his other personal effects.
The Eagle Lock Company of Terryville, Connecticut, manufactured the largest of the three keys. Woody used it to open a mailbag lock, such as those used on registered mail sacks. One side of the key is stamped "US Mail 19"; on the obverse is "Sea Post 101". It is believed that the number 101 referred to ships of the White Star Line. The small, two-barrel key with a round head was likely intended for lever locks installed on furniture in the mail room, such as a desk drawer.
Reference:
Posted Aboard Titanic: Remembering Titanic’s Postal Workers. Freehold, N.J.: Titanic International, Inc., 1993.
Merideth, Lee William. 1912 Facts About Titanic. Mason City, Iowa : Savas Publishing Co., 1999.
1912
Object number
2007.2012.1
Type
Employee Gear
Medium
metal
Dimensions
Height x Width: 26 1/2 x 1 3/8 in. (67.31 x 3.5 cm)
See more items in
National Postal Museum Collection
On View
Currently on exhibit at the National Postal Museum
National Postal Museum
Carrier
Steamship RMS Titanic, April 14-15, 1912
Topic
The Gilded Age (1877-1920)
Mail Processing
Record ID
npm_2007.2012.1
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm8438d1767-a3e7-452a-a81e-29a3529c3da4

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  • The Titanic

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