On
November 10, 1919, a group of stamp collectors organized the Syracuse
Stamp Club to promote their mutual interest and enjoy good fellowship.
Meetings were at the Onondaga Historical Society building and the
club experienced a gradual growth. The first 20 years are somewhat
hazy. Two events that stand out, however, are the club's participation
in the first day ceremonies for Scott #644 (the Burgoyne/Saratoga
commemorative) and the evening that famed collector Arthur Hind of
Utica visited the club and showed some of his legendary collection.
The club signed
on as a charter member of the Federation of Central New York Philatelic
Societies in 1940, and members frequently served as Federation officers.
(Syracuse and Elmira are the only founding clubs still in existence.)
In 1959, three SSC members — Anton Zahm, Austin Dulin, and Fred
Scholl — created a monthly Federation newsletter that later was
followed by the Stamp Insider.
During
the years that followed World War II a good many of the members were
specialists and some outstanding collections were passed around for
inspection. Circuits were available at each meeting, but auctions
were rare. A show and dinner took place annually, and these often
featured noted speakers such as Herman Herst and Harry Lindquist.
About
1953, the club was invited to a joint meeting with the Syracuse Women’s
Stamp Club at the Goodyear–Burlingame School. At that time, the
SSC was an all male organization. Our members were well fed and entertained,
and the two organizations met together regularly until 1956, when
the Women's Club disbanded and its members joined the SSC.
Over
the next 50 years, the club engaged in all types of philatelic activities
and hosted numerous exhibitions, including Exhibition ’59, BICENPEX
’76, and SYRAPEX, which the club has mounted biennially since
1979. In 1991, the club participated in another First Day ceremony,
this one for Scott #2452, the Circus Wagon definitive in the Transportation
series. Only the co-operation of our members made these ventures so
successful and enjoyable.
The
character of the club has changed considerably since the early days.
Topical collectors are becoming more numerous, and with the vast number
of new issues the old-time general collector is becoming a minority.
Auctions are held more frequently and membership continues to increase.
A
number of junior collectors have been added to the club and they are
rapidly increasing their stamp knowledge. These young people have
great potential for future leadership in our club.
The
club is blessed with excellent officers and directors who give their
time and best efforts to the affairs of the organization, and it continues
to evolve and prosper as new ideas and new members change its character.
This club
history is adapted from Howard Scarrett's History of the Syracuse
Stamp Club, written in 1979 as the stuffer in a commemorative cover
for the club’s 60th anniversary.
