Download this report as an MP3 sound file.

Family Affair.

The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.

This year’s U-S Black Heritage stamp honors Robert Robinson Taylor, believed to be the
first academically-trained African American architect in the U-S and M-I-T’s first
black graduate.

Taylor designed many of the buildings at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, now Tuskegee
University. That would have been the logical place for the launch ceremony. Instead, it
was held at the National Postal Museum in Washington... on Lincoln’s Birthday.

There were two reasons: First, the Museum was opening a major exhibition on
African-American history as told through mail on that same date. And second, one of
Taylor’s great-granddaughters is Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Obama. It
was hoped she would be able to attend the ceremony if it were held in Washington.

She did.

“It’s an extraordinary legacy and challenges us all to do better, but we’re very proud
to be on his shoulders.” RUNS :06

So did dozens of other family members... as well as Attorney General Eric Holder.

That meant more attention to the stamp, the Postal Service and the Museum. Everybody
wins — except maybe Tuskegee University.

I'm Lloyd de Vries of The Virtual Stamp Club. For more on stamps and stamp collecting,
and to see pictures from the ceremony, visit virtual-stamp-club-dot-com.

----------------------------------------------------------
Go to Previous Report
Go to Next Report 

Go to Report Index