APRL 50th Event Keynote Speaker: Herman Eberhardt

With the upcoming Golden Anniversary Celebration of 50 years since the incorporation of the American Philatelic Research Library (APRL) just around the corner (November 2-3), one of the genuine highlights of the event will be the Celebration Dinner with keynote speaker Herman Eberhardt. Having over 25 years of experience as a curator and interpretive planner of temporary and permanent museum exhibitions prior to joining the FDRLM in 2003, Mr. Eberhardt is currently the Supervisory Museum Curator of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum (FDRLM) in Hyde Park, New York.

As Supervisory Curator, Mr. Eberhardt oversees the work of the Museum staff and provides a program of changing exhibitions in the 3000 square foot special exhibitions gallery. At the FDRLM he began a program of changing special exhibits in a new special exhibitions gallery that was created in 2003 and initiated the first traveling exhibits in the Museum’s history. His exhibition work at the FDRLM has been honored with two Special Achievement Awards from the Archivist of the United States.

To philatelists, the connection between the APRL and the FDRLM is a natural one.  President Roosevelt was an avid lifelong stamp collector. In 1931 during his second term as Governor of New York he joined the American Philatelic Society and was accepted as member #11590. Governor Roosevelt even sent back a letter with his application dated July 8, 1931 in which he wrote “I think it is a very pious idea about my joining the A.P.S. What I need most at the present time is a month off to play with stamps.”

Further to this, when Governor Roosevelt began his initial presidential bid George Linn, publisher of Linn’s Weekly Stamp News, joined forces with the American Philatelic Society (APS) and were led by Roosevelt campaign manager James A. Farley, on a nationwide promotion titled “A Stamp Collector for President.”  Between Linn’s efforts and those of the APS, various philatelic items were produced to encourage collectors and non-collectors alike to vote for the philatelic candidate from Hyde Park.

Even after becoming president, Roosevelt remained a “stamp collector’s stamp collector” playing an active role, along with newly appointed Postmaster General James A. Farley, in the issuance of many regular and commemorative postage stamps during his four terms in the nation’s highest office. Farley often consulted Roosevelt for ideas regarding the issuance of  postage stamps during his Presidency.

As keynote speaker for the Celebration Dinner Mr. Eberhardt plans to give those in attendance a visual tour of the FDRLM, the nation’s first Presidential Library dedicated by President Roosevelt himself in 1941 , with a view of some rare items from the FDRLM collection. Make plans to join us today, reservation and schedule information can be found on the APS website here. The deadline for reservations for the Celebration Dinner is October 19. We hope to see you there as we celebrate 50 years of research and resources at the APRL.