African Americans in the Postal Service and Philately

Topical Reference Page
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37c Alvin Ailey and Dancers stamp, 2004

The National Postal Museum celebrates African American history by providing online resources about the role of African Americans in the postal service and philately.

Charcoal drawing of Postmaster John T. Jackson
Systems at Work - 1885
Exhibition
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32-cent Bessie Coleman stamp
Women on Stamps: Part 2 - Bessie Coleman
Exhibition
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Booker T. Washington Postage Stamp
Object Spotlight

On April 7, 1940, the Post Office Department (POD) issued a stamp honoring African-American educator Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) as part of its Famous Americans Series. The nation's first stamp to honor an African-American, it holds a unique place in American history.

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headshot of Dan Piazza
Baseball: America’s Home Run - Ed Bolden
Exhibition
Chief curator Daniel Piazza shares intimate knowledge, little-known facts and secrets about the stories told in “Baseball: America’s Home Run,” highlighting some of the spectacular objects on display, including discussions with key lenders to the exhibition on artifacts never-before displayed for pubic view.
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37-cent Ethel L. Payne stamp
Women on Stamps: Part 3 - Ethel L. Payne
Exhibition
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22-cent Sojourner Truth stamp
Women on Stamps: Part 1 - Fighting for Equality
Exhibition
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33¢ Martin Luther King, Jr. Approved Stamp Art
Freedom Just Around the Corner
February 15, 2015 - February 15, 2016
Exhibition

A chronicle of the African American experience told from the perspective of stamps and mail. Includes letters carried by enslaved Americans, mail to and from famous leaders of the civil rights movement, and a significant selection of original artwork for the USPS Black Heritage stamp series from the Postmaster General’s Collection.

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Jimi Hendrix Forever stamp
In Memoriam: Jimi Hendrix
Exhibition

On September 18, 1970, legendary musician Jimi Hendrix died. In celebration of Hendrix's life and music, the National Postal Museum has created this mini-exhibit highlighting different postage stamps with connections to Jimi Hendrix and the era in American history that he helped shape.

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Wooden countertop distribution case
Systems at Work - John T. Jackson's distribution case
Exhibition
On April 1, 1891 John T. Jackson became the postmaster of Alanthus, Virginia. When he began his career, the twenty-nine year old was greeted with threats from those unwilling to accept an African-American in that position. He remained in his job for 49 years, retiring in 1940.
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Langston Hughes stamp
Langston Hughes
February 1, 2002 - August 2, 2002
Exhibition

This exhibition of stamps, books, photos, and illustrations honored the life of Harlem Renaissance poet and writer Langston Hughes (1901-1967), known for his lyrical, jazz-tinged interpretations of African American life. The exhibition opened on the 100th anniversary of Hughes' birth and coincides with the United States Postal Service's release of a stamp honoring the writer. This exhibition was part of the "Stamps with Personality" series, which highlighted the achievements of historical figures honored with their likenesses on postage stamps issued by the United States Postal Service.

Letter Writing in America - Letters of the Great Migration and the Depression
Research Article
This article explores the place of letter writing in American history, revealing through the words of its citizens the nature of American life and documenting the country’s search for a uniquely American identity.
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32-cent Madam C.J. Walker stamp
Women on Stamps: Part 2 - Madam C.J. Walker
Exhibition
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Related Blogs

African American Representation on U.S. Postage Stamps
02.16.2023

An exploration of the United States Postal Service's philatelic efforts to commemorate African Americans.

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Roberto Clemente Pittsburgh Pirates home uniform
Roberto Clemente 1966 Pittsburgh Pirates Home Uniform
04.06.2022

Two Puerto Rican players reached the big leagues in the early 1940s, but the doors flew open in the 1950s. Baseball fever in Puerto Rico reached unprecedented heights, and the island’s greatest star was Roberto Clemente.

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Roy Campanella Brooklyn Dodgers road jersey on exhibit
Roy Campanella 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers Road Jersey
04.06.2022

Campanella made the fewest plate appearances of any Hall of Fame position player, but his impact was unforgettable.

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Roberto Clemente game-used bat on display in a museum case
Roberto “Momen” Clemente 1960 Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat
04.06.2022

The most prized and desired bats are those which exhibit physical markings that reveal personal traits associated with use by that ballplayer. This Louisville Slugger professional model bat perhaps epitomizes this phenomenon the most—all of its physical markings pertain to use by Clemente.

Learn more About Roberto “Momen” Clemente 1960 Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat

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