Postmaster R.H. Harris of the Tuskegee Institute Post Office signed covers at the first day ceremony.
Second Day Ceremonies
On Monday, April 8, 1940, the Postmasters of New York City and Philadelphia both participated in officially sponsored second day ceremonies for the Booker T. Washington stamp. 26 These events were unprecedented in philatelic history.
In New York, Postmaster Albert Goldman presided over the celebration held April 8, at 9:30 am at the College Station Post Office, 140th Street near Seventh Avenue. 27 Many political, civil rights, and civic dignitaries attended. Among them was New York Senator James Mead. Postmaster Goldman presented an autographed sheet to Booker T. Washington, 3rd.
The ceremonies on April 8 in Philadelphia, presided over by Postmaster Joseph J. Gallagher, honored not only Booker T. Washington but Major Robert Richard Wright, Sr., the Philadelphia banker through whose efforts the Washington stamp was issued. 28 Again, many political and civic dignitaries attended this unprecedented ceremony which was held at Philadelphia’s main post office. It was a particularly moving ceremony because Major Wright, 85 years old, had been unable to attend the first day ceremonies at Tuskegee Institute the day before. Many national newspapers reported on this event.
The Philadelphia Record wrote, "A former slave, now the leading Negro banker in America, bought a batch of 1000 stamps bearing the face of a Negro." 29
Judge Harry S. McDevitt of Philadelphia spoke at the ceremony, saying that the Booker T. Washington stamp marks a turning point in the life of the people, "who seventy-five years ago started out penniless, homeless and friendless to accomplish what no other race has done in the same period of time; your future is in your hands.". 30
Bishop David H. Sims, First Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church, in his speech, said that honoring Washington was "the fulfillment of a prophecy and a dream come true." 31
After The Ceremonies
The Temple Stamp Club of Milwaukee wrote Postmaster General James A. Farley requesting that he autograph a block of four of the Washington stamp which they would suitably frame. 32 They wrote that among their activities was the gathering of stamps and accessories which are distributed among crippled children, "regardless of nationality, color or creed." Farley complied.
Baltimore, Maryland Postmaster Ernest Green distributed a broadside concerning Booker T. Washington and the stamp issued in his honor to the Baltimore School System and to various African-American Civic organizations. 33 He noted that the Washington stamp would be available in Baltimore on April 8, 1940.
On April 18, 1940, Eddie Tolan, Executive Director of the "75 Years of Negro Progress Exposition" to be held Detroit in May 1940 again wrote to Ramsey S. Black, Third Assistant Postmaster General, requesting that a display of stamps including the Washington stamp, be presented to the exposition. 34 In reply, Black reported, on behalf of the Postmaster General that special display frames of the Washington stamp, photographs taken at the first day ceremony at Tuskegee Institute on April 7, and display frames of other postage stamps would be made available to him. Further, Mr. George W. Peterson would be sent to assist in the arranging of the exhibits. (Mr. Peterson was noted earlier as the first African-American to participate in a first day ceremony for the Post Office Department).
Mr. Lee J. Morton, Chairman of the Board of the Michigan Federated Democratic Clubs, thanked Postmaster General Farley for sending the stamp exhibition to the "Negro Progress Exposition", stating, "may we also express our appreciation for your sending one of our own as your representative." 35
Life Magazine, in its April 19, 1940 issue, put the Washington stamp issue into its political perspective: "Overlooked by almost everybody except working politicians is the fact that U.S. Negros may well decide who the next U.S. President shall be . . . No less a Democrat and post-office official than Mr. Farley himself turned up at Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute to consumate a shrewd Democratic coup." 36
Postscript
There was much concern in many quarters that the issuance of a stamp honoring even so great a man as Booker T. Washington would not receive the same national support as other stamps in the Famous American series. The concern was increased when it was learned that the Washington stamp was a 10c denomination. The final results of the first day event showed that both philatelists and the general public were very eager to obtain this unique stamp and its first day covers.
A total of 233,363 stamps were sold, and 163,507 first day covers were cancelled on the first day – both were records for any 10c stamp ever issued before. 37 In fact, the number of Washington covers processed was only surpassed by three of 35 Famous American stamps (two 1c and one 3c denomination).
The number of stamps sold of 10c Washington stamps was surpassed only by the 10c Jane-Addams stamp issued in Chicago. No other 10c Famous American stamp came close to the Washington stamp in numbers sold. Thus the issuance of the Booker T. Washington stamp was a great success.
However, there was one false rumor that seems to have survived even to today, namely that the Washington stamp was quickly withdrawn from circulation.
The facts are that the Booker T. Washington stamp remained in circulation for about nine months, when it and ten other Famous Americans were withdrawn in January 15, 1941. The 5c Inventor stamp, also withdrawn January 15, had a circulation for only three months.
The number of Washington stamps printed was about 14 million, about the same as the other six 10c Famous Americans.
G.N.T. Gray of the National Alliance of Postal Employees, in a letter to New York Senator James M. Mead wrote, "nothing has so touched the hearts of millions of Negros as this recognition of a Negro for the first time in such a manner." 38 He noted the $23 million sales of the Washington stamp exceed those of any recent stamp of any denomination.
He ended with, "Will you not suggest to the President and the Postmaster General that a Frederick Douglas stamp would result in just as great returns and have just as great appeal to all Negro citizens?"
Acknowledgements
I thank Branch Librarian Timothy Carr, Smithsonian Institution Libraries, for his support of this work. I also thank Cynthia Wilson, Hollis Burke Frissell Library, Tuskegee University, for information about the Founder’s Day Exercises in 1940.
References:
1. The letters cited below are in the files of the Post Office Department, which now reside in the Branch of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries at the National Post Museum. All are filed under Scott No. 873.
2. Letter, July 20, 1939, R.R. Wright, Sr., to Roy M. North, Deputy Third Assistant Postmaster General.
3. Letter, July 20, 1939, R.R. Wright, Sr., to Roy M. North, Deputy Third Assistant Postmaster General.
4. Letter, October 9, 1933, B.F. Thornett, Ballston, VA to PMG Farley, reply, Oct. 18, 1933.
5. Letter, July 20, 1939, Arthur Howe, Pres. Hampton Institue to PMG Farley.
6. Letter, July 28, 1939, Sphinx Stamp Club, Charleston, W.VA, to PMG Farley. Also supporting letter from D. Boone Dawson, Mayor of Charleston, W.VA.
7. Letter, September 6, 1939, F. D. Patterson, Pres. Tuskegee Institute to PMG Farley
8. Letter, November 8, 1939, PM Mound County, Miss to P.O.D.
9. Letter, November 21, 1939, Sen. Theo. G. Bilbo (Miss.) to P.O.D.; Reply, Novemeber 30, 1939.
10. Letter, October 26, 1939, Eddie Tolan, "75 Years of Negro Progress Exposition" to PMG Farley; Reply, Nov. 6, 1939.
11. Letter, November 3, 1939, C.C. Saunders, YWCA, NYC, to PMG Farley; Reply, Nov. 15, 1939.
12. Philip H. Ward, In., "United States News and Comments," Mekeel’s Weekly Stamp News (Aug. 14, 1939) p. 395.
13. Letter, November 8, 1939, R.R. Wright, Sr., Philadelphia, PA to PMG Farley; Reply, November 14, 1939, Ramsey S. Black.
14. Letter, November 27, 1939, R.R. Wright, Sr. to Ramsey S. Black.
15, Joseph F. Nolan, "B.T. Washington Stamp Rewards Philadelphia Banker", Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia) July 27, 1939; "Credit Philadelphia Man For Special Stamp Issue," Pittsburgh Courier, (Philadelphia Edition), July 29, 1939; Who’s Who in Colored America (1941-44) p. 589.
16. "Booker T. Washington Celebration", Stamps (Feb. 17, 1940) p.223.
17. Letter, Feb. 23, 1940, W. Leon Chapman, Founder, Booker T. Washington Memorial and Historical Ass’n, (Brooklyn, NY) to PMG Farley; reply, March 6,1940.
18. Letter, Feb. 26, 1940, F.G. Rieger, PM, Scotlandville, LA, to P.O.D.; reply, March 1, 1940.
19. Letter, Feb. 27, 1940, D.H. Kyle, Clarsburg, W.VA. to PMG Farley; reply, March 6, 1940.
20. "Free Souvenir for Tribune Subscribers", The Washington Tribune, (March 23, 1940); "First Negro Stamps will be issued April 7", idem.; "Booker T. Washington Stamp will be limited,"
21. "Use Booker T. Stamps", idem, "Booker Washington Stamp Climaxes 10-year Crusade," idem; "Students see BTW Stamps Printed," idem.
22. "Will Aid Stamp Sale at Tuskegee", The Washington Tribune, (March 23, 1940).
23. George C. Hahn, United States Famous American Series of 1940, American Philatelic Society (1940), "Booker T. Washington", p. 88-93
24. "An Appraisal of Booker T. Washington by Dr. F.D. Patterson, President Tuskegee Instititute, Alabama, on the occasion of the Booker T. Washington Stamp Celebration, April 7, 1940," Press Department, James E. Boyack, Tuskegee, Inst. Ala.
25. "Booker T. Washington", Address of the Honorable James D. Farley, Postmaster General, Tuskegee Inst., Sunday afternoon, April 7, 1940 . . .," Press release, P.O.D., (April 8, 1940).
26. Herbert A. Trenchard, "An Early Second Day Program," The Ceremonial, Vol. 8, No. 3, (May 15, 1995) 7-9.
27. "Stamp Honoring Booker T. Washington, and Descendent who is Student Here," New York Herald Tribune (April 4, 1940); "Booker T. Washington Stamps Go On Sale In Harlem", Stamps (April 20, 1940) p. 80.
28. "Major Wright Launches Sale of Booker Washington Stamp at Post Office Celebration Here," Philadelphia Inquirer, (April 9, 1940); "Wright Buys First Stamp," The Evening Bulletin (Phila) (April 8, 1940); "Stamp Sale Here Tribute to Negro", The Evening Ledger (Phila) (April 8, 1940).
29. "Post Office Honors Another Washington; B.T. Washington Stamps on Sale," Philadelphia Record (April 9, 1940).
30. See Ref. 29.
31. See Ref. 29.
32. Letter, April 9, 1940, The Temple Stamp Club of Milwaukee, to PMG Farley; reply, April 23, 1940.
33. Letter, PM Baltimore, MD to P.O.D. incl. attachment "Booker Taliaferro Washington"
34. Letter, April 18, 1940, Eddie Tolan, "75 Years of Negro Progress Exposition," Detroit, MI, to PMG Farley; reply, April 29, 1940.
35. Letter, June 14, 1940, Lee J. Morton, Michigan Federated Democratic Club, to P.O.D.; reply, June 22, 1940.
36. "Negro First", Life Magazine, (April 19, 1940).
37. See reference 23, pp. 192-3.
38. Letter, May 2, 1940, G.N.T. Gray, National Alliance of Postal Employees, Washington, D.C., to Senator James M. Mead (New York).