They are the means by which a country gives sensible expression to its hopes and needs; its beliefs and ideals. They delineate cultural attainments, industrial works, domestic, civil and social life. In a word, these vignettes give a vivid picture of the world, its occupants and their multifarious endeavors." Francis Cardinal Spellman, c. 1950
Mission
The Spellman Museum is a center of learning
and activities for people of all ages. It will preserve, enhance and expand its collections, library and facilities as a philatelic trust for the education and entertainment of the general public; to promote the hobby of stamp collecting and to be a resource for historians. Organization
The Spellman Museum is an independent, not-for-profit cultural organization (501(c)(3)) with a mission to promote knowledge and understanding of worldwide history and geography through the study of stamps, letters, and other artifacts of people's communication through the mail. This educational mission is advanced through exhibitions, a resource center and library, and programs for children, families, and adults. The Museum is a partner in the Regis College Museum Studies Program providing formal classroom support and internship and practicum experiences for students. The Spellman Museum is supported by grants, membership, admission fees and related earned income, earnings from an endowment fund, and the annual contributions of trustees, members, and friends. Donations of philatelic collections and literature are encouraged to enhance the museum's collection, for use in public programs, and for resale to support the museum. Founded in 1960, the museum brought together the collections of Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, and the National Philatelic Museum in Philadelphia. The collection now includes over 2,000,000 items including those from President Dwight David Eisenhower, violinist Jascha Heifetz, and General Matthew Ridgway. The Spellman Museum is one of two public museums in the United States devoted to stamps and postal history, the other being the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C.
