Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum Inducts Three Women to the Council of Philatelists

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum announces three new members to the Council of Philatelists, an advisory board made up of national philatelic leaders, who have a knowledge and passion for philately, as well as a desire to support the museum initiatives, MaryAnn Bowman, Liz Hisey and May Day Taylor.

MaryAnn Bowman, a retired Wisconsin school teacher, received the first annual Ernest A Kehr Future of Philately Award in 1991 for her work with youth in stamp collecting. Among her achievements for philately was the creation of the first formal youth area at a national level stamp show in 1982. In addition to school stamp clubs and community outreach program, Bowman served on the American Philatelic Society Youth Activities Committee, Youth Director for the American Topical Association and Director of educational projects for the Junior Philatelists of America.

Elizabeth M. Hisey is a life member of the American Philatelic Society, an APS accredited Judge, co-founder of Women Exhibitors and a member of the Council on the Accreditation of National Exhibitions and Judges. Hisey is the current secretary of the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors and is Treasurer for Women Exhibitors. Hisey owned a catering company for ten years and with that experience she collects and exhibits food-related philately, collects turn of the century advertising covers and early 1950s Bolivia.

May Day Taylor is a native of Washington, D.C., a stamp collector since age ten and a Sustaining Fellow of The Smithsonian Institution. A historian by education, a business owner and consultant by profession, Taylor has moved from a worldwide stamp collector to a topical collector with interests that include new U.S. issues. Taylor is an award-winning cachet-maker, she collects ceremony programs and philatelic pages. Locally, Taylor is the president of the Mr. Beasley Stamp Club, active in three other clubs and has served on the Board of NAPEX and the American Philatelic Society Finance Committee.

“The appointment of these three accomplished women to the Council of Philatelists is a great step in adding diversity and new perspectives to the council. They will provide much needed direction and energy in targeting youth and continuing to promote the hobby to new audiences.” said Allen Kane, museum director.

The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing the largest and most comprehensive collection of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., in the Old City Post Office Building across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information visit the museum’s Web site at postalmuseum.si.edu.

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