Virtual Exhibitions

Leadership, Accomplishment and Cultural Celebration
Historic American Indian leaders honored here on postage stamps, exemplify a wide range of reaction to the radical confrontations that would drastically affect the traditions and culture of their peoples. Some chose resistance and war; others chose a path of adaptation and accommodation to a new way of life. In all cases, these leaders of nations were elder representatives of huge extended families, and their commitment to future generations was paramount.

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Political leaders purposefully use print culture to promote political agendas, solidify authority, and fire patriotic emotions. The stamps issued by Mexico after its 1910-1920 revolution offer a compelling example. Among the postage stamps issued for this purpose, Mexico's airmail stamps played a significant role. This virtual exhibition is bilingual (English and Spanish) and features stamps and mail of Mexico.

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Though it existed as a stamp-issuing entity for only about seventy-five years, the Panama Canal Zone has a long history.

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This virtual exhibition features every U.S. postage stamp issued to date (2023) that honors Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Americans or their history and culture. It also highlights some stamps that depict the natural environments of the places from which they came.

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This virtual exhibition is the first in a series of four focusing on the accomplishments of women featured on stamps. In Women on Stamps: Part 1, we acknowledge the efforts of pioneering women and early government leaders who entered previously unexplored territories - from the frontier to the Senate floor.

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This virtual exhibition is the third in a series of four focusing on the accomplishments of women featured on stamps. In Women on Stamps: Part 3, we feature women who have made significant contributions to the visual arts and literature.

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African Americans on Postage Stamps
Since the founding of the United States, African Americans have played a pivotal role in the shaping of American history and heritage. Their contributions to America have included the fields highlighted by the 1940 Famous Americans and many more. This virtual exhibition showcases the black experience in the United States through the lens of American postage stamps.

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One of America's Greatest Civil Rights Pioneers
By the time Thurgood Marshall was appointed to the United States Supreme Court on June 13, 1967, he had already made his mark on the “highest court in the land.”

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The Crime, the Victims, and the Legacy
On October 11, 1923, would-be robbers murdered three railway workers and a mail clerk during their holdup of Southern Pacific Train 13 at Tunnel 13 in the Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon. The investigation and international search for the three suspects led to their arrests and convictions in 1927. The case captivated public attention and has continued be reexamined in histories, documentaries, and the collections of museum and archives over the century. This 2023 online exhibition considers the records and artifacts that are part of the legacy of the tragic events at Tunnel 13.

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A dedicated public servant, Lincoln’s first civil service position began at the age of twenty-four as the postmaster of the New Salem, Illinois post office.

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Featuring Research Volunteer Contributions

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