02 / 23 /
2000
This section will be displaying a postal history project that
I've been working on for about 2 months now. It focuses
on the life of Hallock C. Alvord through a recently purchased
collection of United States (USPS) postal cards.
Mr. Alvord was a stamp dealer in Gloversville, New York (USA)
in the late 1880s through the early 20th century.
Gloversville was the heart of the glove industry in the 19th
century. I purchased the last of the
"old-timers" stock that he passed down to his
daughter, Elizabeth. The majority of the collection is
United States related. Hallock was a lawyer.
He started a stationery store (Alvord & Smith) in
Gloversville that stayed in business for 103 years. It
finally closed in 1999. Hallock was APA (American
Philatelic Association) member #558. The APA is now the
American Philatelic Society. Elizabeth carried on the
tradition and collected newer issues, from the 70s and 80s in
plate block format.
This project originally was to be a small collage of stamps
from "dead" countries, such as Obock, Saxony,
Newfoundland, etc... but has taken on a life all its own.
The collage was to be presented to Hallock's grandson Prentice
and granddaughter Josephine. The project has grown into
an exhibition of postal cards, stamps, newspaper articles, APA
journal information as well as Gloversville and Johnstown, New
York local directory and local history articles.
This project was done without the active participation of the
grandchildren and will be presented to them on CD-ROM to pass
on.
I have had a lot of fun researching this project. I must
give credit to Laura Kane for helping me in the library,
working on the time line and helping out with various tasks
when needed.
I hope you find something of interest here as well. If
you do, please let me know. And now, on to the show!
