Postal Service Dedicates Black Heritage Stamp

A Celebration at Freeport Library Commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Pioneer Writer Charles W. Chesnutt

What:
The U.S. Postal Service will dedicate a 41-cent commemorative stamp honoring Charles W. Chesnutt, a renowned educator, lawyer, columnist, lecturer, entrepreneur and author. Chesnutt is the 31st person honored in the popular Black Heritage stamp series.

Who:
Dermot Tuohy, Freeport Postmaster
Julius O. Pearse, Pres., African Atlantic Genealogical Society
William Glacken, Mayor, Village of Freeport

When:
10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, Feb.13, 2008

Where:
Freeport Library, W. Merrick Rd. & S. Ocean Ave. Freeport, NY 11520

Background:
Chesnutt was a distinguished writer recognized as a major innovator and singular voice among turn-of-the-century literary realists who probed the color line in American life. Known as a man who “chose” to be black, Chesnutt in his writings explored the challenges faced by people of mixed race.

The Postal Service began issuing its popular Black Heritage stamp series in 1978 with a stamp honoring Harriet Tubman. Chesnutt joins a long list of legendary African-American leaders, inventors, educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, entertainers and athletes, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Langston Hughes, Ella Fitzgerald and Jackie Robinson.

Art director Howard Paine wanted a stamp that emphasized Chesnutt’s intelligence and dignity. The portrait painted by stamp artist Kazuhiko Sano was based on a 1908 photograph from the collection of Fisk University’s Franklin Library.

# # #

Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/news.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation — 146 million homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.