Post Mark Collector's Club

The Post Mark Collector's Club (PMCC) is an international, non-profit organization by and for collectors and students of postmarks, covers and related items. The PMCC is committed to the preservation of postal history and encouraging the fun and interesting hobby of postmark collecting.The PMCC maintains the most accurate and often updated list of Post Offices available (Post Office Directory). The directory covers all 50 states, and some Canadian provinces and U.S. possessions. Each year the PMCC holds an annual Convention in a different part of the U.S. hosted by member(s) of the club, offering free postmarks, cachets, benefit auctions, exhibits, tours and more. The Post Mark Collector's Club is affiliate #62 of the American Philatelic Society (APS).(2)

History

The Post Mark Collector's Club (PMCC) began in 1941 by Charles Strobel of Cleveland, Ohio. However, World War II intervened and Mr. Strobel's health was poor, so the PMCC was reorganized in 1946 under the guidance of Rev. Walter Smith in Maine. By 1950, the Postal Cancellations Society (PCS), founded by Kenneth Rinker merged with PMCC.(1)

logan

The slogan for PMCC, composed by Rev. Smith, had its earliest mention in the June 1950 Bulletin. It evolved in form and by September 1950, it appeared on the cover page of the bulletin for the first time: "Joyful In Joining...First In Friendliness...Happy In Helpfulness...Gladsome In The Golden Rule." This slogan was considered the cornerstone of PMCC.(1)

Bulletin

In October, 1947, the PMCC Bulletin was first published by Rev. Smith and Robert K. Francis. The mimeographed issue was three pages long. The award-winning newsletter is published eleven times a year with news, photos and postmark collecting information. The current Editor of the PMCC Bulletin is Bill German.(1)

Museum

The start of the PMCC Museum, goes back to 1957. Margie Pfund of Columbiana, Ohio devoted a 7 foot by 10 foot room of her farmhouse for the museum. Pfund and her husband helped play an important role of the club. She, and her husband, Art, were the curators. Soon, they moved the PMCC Museum to a larger room in an added wing of the house. The Pfund's received help in the museum from nearby members.

In 1963 the museum was dedicated as the Margie Pfund Memorial Postmark Museum and Library to honor the many hours she spent building PMCC enthusiasm and making the museum a success.

Bernice Mittower was the museum curator from 1969 to 1994 and a cornerstone of the PMCC Museum for 25 years. She was a driving force behind its growth, moving the collection from a bus located on her farm to Historic Lyme Village in 1978. Its new home was the original Lyme Post Office, which had been relocated to Historic Lyme Village by the PMCC. In 1993 the museum collection was transferred again to the larger Groton Township building.

The current home of the PMCC Museum was dedicated on October 23, 2003. This expansive space was built entirely with donations from PMCC members.

The Museum's holdings make up the largest single Postmark collection in the world, grouping over a million different postal history items. The library contains reference material on postmark collecting from all 50 states, as well as from Canada and many other countries around the world. Along with postmarks and research materials, the Museum has a fine collection of vintage post office memorabilia. Special collections of postmark slogans, such as the "Pray for Peace" series are the highlights of the holdings.

The museum is situated in Historic Lyme Village, just east of Bellevue, Ohio on State Road 4, near Route 113. The current curator of the museum is David Proulx.(1,2)

External links

* [http://www.postmarks.org/ Post Mark Collector's Club]
* [http://www.postmarks.org/museum/ Margie Pfund Memorial Post Mark Museum and Library]

References

(1) Early History of PMCC, by Linda Barkley #1785L PMCC Bulletin, October 2006

(2) The Post Mark Collector's Club Museum Pamphlet