BEP’s First Photogravure Stamp
On May 8, 1971, the USPS issued the first stamp printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) on its new Andreotti photogravure press. The press enabled the BEP to print stamps with more colors more affordably.
This Day in History
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Founding of the American Planning Association
The American City Planning Institute (ACPI) was founded on May 7, 1917. Later becoming the American Planning Association (APA), the organization promotes urban planning – the building or improving of parks, highways, roads, and residential developments.
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Birth of Robert E. Peary
Explorer Robert Edwin Peary Sr. was born on May 6, 1856, in Cresson, Pennsylvania. Peary claimed to have been one of the first people to reach the North Pole. Though his claim has been debated, historians generally agree he at least came very close.
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Opening of Carnegie Hall
On May 5, 1891, Carnegie Hall officially opened to the public with a concert conducted by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Carnegie Hall has become one of the world’s most highly acclaimed venues, hosting both classical and popular music acts as well as important speeches and gatherings.
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Birth of Horace Mann
Horace Mann was born on May 4, 1796, in Franklin, Massachusetts. Mann was a pioneering educational reformer who improved public education in his home state. Many of his ideas were quickly adopted by several other states.
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Passage of the First Successful Workmen’s Compensation Law
On May 3, 1911, Wisconsin passed America’s first worker’s compensation program. This law provided financial security for workers injured on the job. By 1948, all the then-48 US states had passed such laws. Alaska and Hawaii had workmen’s compensation laws when they joined the Union.
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Founding of Alexandria, Virginia
On May 2, 1749, the House of Burgesses approved the creation of a town that would become Alexandria, Virginia. George Washington helped plan the town’s street systems and Alexandria was part of the US capital for several years.
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Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary
On May 1, 1924, the US Post Office issued a set of three stamps known as the Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary Issue. The stamps honored the role of Protestant immigrants in settling America.
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The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
On April 30, 1957, the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee opened its first meeting. The committee receives tens of thousands of stamp proposals every year and passes on their recommendations to the US Postmaster General who makes the final decision.
