National Museum of African Americans on Stamps

The American Philatelic Society (APS) has updated the Black Heritage Series document. Here is a brief history from their site www.stamps.org to give you some background on this commemorative series.

“At a 1975 planning meeting of the Queens County, New York, Bicentennial Committee, Clarence L. Irving, founder of the Black American Heritage Foundation (BAHF), proposed asking the U.S. Postal Service to include black Americans in the stamp program associated with the upcoming Bicentennial of the United States. The proposal quickly outgrew its original scope, and in 1978, the U.S. Postal Service, as part of its mission “to celebrate the people, events, and cultural milestones that are unique to our great nation,” created a totally new stamp series to honor black Americans and the vital role they have played in U.S. history.

The first stamp in the new Black Heritage Series featured Harriet Tubman (1820–1913). Born a slave, she helped more than 300 slaves escape to freedom along the fabled “Underground Railroad.” Tubman was the first African American woman to appear on a U.S. stamp. Subsequent honorees have included scientists, politicians, educators, authors, actors/singers, and athletes, among many others.”

In 2018 we will be highlighting the individuals in this series in celebration of 40 years – 1978-2018 

We have to honor Booker T. Washington, the first African American on a U.S. Postage Stamp – April 7, 1940. “Born a slave in Hale’s Ford, Virginia, Washington served as a role model for other struggling African-Americans, and, as founder of Alabama’s Tuskegee Normal Industrial School (renamed Tuskegee Institute in 1937), he profoundly influenced the community’s self-esteem and self-reliance. In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, responding to numerous petitions from African-American supporters, recognized the timeliness of such a stamp and directed that Washington be considered for this important stamp series.”

 

Source: https://postalmuseum.si.edu/collections/object-spotlight/btw-stamp.html

In 1956 another stamp was issued in his honor

 

After collecting stamps for over 26 years, Charlene Blair, has established the National Museum of African Americans on Stamps as a 501c3 non-profit organization.

This is a virtual and travelling museum with aspirations for a physical space to display Ms. Blair’s personal collection as well as donations from other collectors. Our intent is to encourage the hobby of stamp collecting while exposing others to the many African Americans on stamps.

Researching the history of the individuals and having an appreciation for the artist that designed the stamps is highlighted on social media and expressed in exhibits.