Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies > Professional Development > Announcements > Spellman Museum – June 2016

Spellman Museum – June 2016

JUNE IS GRANDPARENTS MONTH AT THE MUSEUM
Grandparents

Many grandparents have fond memories of collecting stamps when they were younger and now wish their grandchildren would start their own stamp collection. These seniors remember that stamps were a fun way to learn about U.S. and world geography, famous people in history and all sorts of information about countries, science, art, nature and other subjects.

   To encourage young people to consider taking up the hobby, the Museumon the Regis  has declared June to be “Grandparents Month” and is inviting grandparents to bring their grandchildren to the Museum to help them learn about stamps and stamp collecting.
  The Museum has prepared free children’s starter packets that include US and world stamps, first day covers, a beginner’s album, a booklet about how to start the stamp hobby and many helpful websites.
   Museum Education Director Henry Lukas says that he hopes “the younger generation can learn from the older generation, the many benefits and joys that can come from starting a stamp collection.”
   Also on display will be many US commemorative stamps starting from the 1930’s that should bring back grandparents’ recollections of their collecting days. Grandparents are also welcome to bring their old album to share with the Museum staff.
JULY AT THE MUSEUM
 
ANNUAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA FAMILY DAY
MONDAY JULY 4 11:00 – 3:00
 
July 4 1959

Come celebrate our nation’s birthday with postage stamps.  There will be many activities including arts and crafts projects using patriotic stamps, taking home a free collection of stamps featuring the US flag, making envelopes to send summer greetings to friends (free postage), designing July 4 stamps, being turned into a stamp and creating flag stamp mosaics. The main gallery will have a stamp scavenger hunt for the exhibit “Old Glory on Stamps.”

Everyone is also invited to  share a piece of our July 4 Stamp birthday cake.
Free packets of stamps for the children as always.
If you wear something red, white and blue, you will get a discount on admission.
 
CELEBRATE THE OLYMPICS
FRIDAY  JULY 15  9:00 – 5:00
FREE ADMISSION 
 
Because of a generous grant from the Highland Street Foundation, there will be no admission charge for the Museum’s celebration of the Olympics on July 15.
 
View an exhibit showing how past Olympics have been honored on stamps.
There will be plenty of hands-on activities and games and puzzles for both children and adults to learn more about all the events.  You can make your own collection of Olympics on stamps to take home.Several past Olympians have been invited to visit.
  The Highland Street Foundation is also sponsoring free Fridays for many area museums over the summer.  Click here to get a complete list: Free Fridays
COMING IN AUGUST


Exhibit celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service.
 
 
MUSEUM IN USA TODAY
In connection with the recent International Stamp Show in New York City, USA Today featured on article in their travel section about ten stamp related locations for people to visit to learn more about stamps and stamp collecting.  The Spellman was one of the ten.
     To read the complete list, click on USA Today.
NEED A LAST MINUTE GIFT FOR DAD?
 

Still need a gift, stamp related or general, for your Dad?  Stop by the Museum this weekend and see what our gift shop has to offer.  We have stamp supplies, small collections, books on stamps and even the traditional gift of a stamp tie.

RIVERSIDE STAMP SHOWS

 

Although the Museum is closed on Sundays in July and August, the Riverside Stamp shows will be held on Sunday, July 10  and Sunday August 14 from 10:00 – 3:00.  Admission is free to the show and the Museum galleries.  

 
INVERTED JENNY STEALS THE SHOW

Newspapers across the country recently reported on both the return of one of the famous “Inverted Jenny”
stamps that was stolen back in 1955 and the sale of another of these stamps that was sold at auction for over one million dollars at the International Stamp Show in New York City. Click here for two of these stories: Jenny and Jennysale

Although the Museum does not own one of these stamps, it has had one on display in the past.  The Museum library also has a number of books about the history of this stamp and the latest issue of the American Philatelist has a full story on the stamp.   Click here: APS Journal
 
A WELCOME TO THE MILITARY

Again this year, the Museum is participating in the Blue Star Museum Families program.  This program, which involves over 2000 museums nationwide, provides free admission on any open day until Labor Day for members of the military and their families.  The Spellman is proud to be a participant. A list of participating museums is on the Blue Star website at Military.