‘Blue and Gray: Mail and the Civil War’ Papers Available

Papers and presentations from the 7th Annual Postal History Symposium, held November 2–4, 2012 at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, are now available to download from the American Philatelic Society’s website at http://stamps.org/2012-Papers-and-Presentations.

The theme of the symposium was “Blue and Gray: Mail and the Civil War.” Presenters covered diverse aspects of mail during the Civil War period such as “Decorated Envelopes as Weapons of War,” and “The Madison, Florida Postmaster Provisionals: Anatomy of a Postal History Research Project.”

The American Philatelic Research Library, the American Philatelic Society, and the Smithsonian National Postal Museum jointly produce the postal history symposia, which have been held annually since 2006. The symposia provide a forum for philatelists, academic scholars, postal historians, and the interested public to discuss and present research that integrates philately or the history of postal operations into the broader context of American history.

The 2012 symposium featured ten talks delivered by philatelists and academic scholars, as well as a keynote presentation, “The Post Office as Civic Institution in Civil War America,” by Dr. Joseph M. Adelman, Visiting Assistant Professor of History at Framingham State University.

In conjunction with the symposium, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society presented a show that including invited exhibits of Civil War philatelic material, a dealer bourse, and a charity auction. The Postal History Society held a board meeting during the weekend and presented a talk by David M. Frye, “The Fort Sumter Issue of 1961: A Commemorative in Conflict.”

The APRL is a public nonprofit that relies heavily on donations of materials. Members of the APRL and the APS may borrow materials directly through the mail and others may use the library through interlibrary loan. Scholars are always welcome to do research on site.

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