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How PaPHS Got Its Start
Our Story
On January 19, 1974, eleven men, with a common interest in Pennsylvania postal history, met one afternoon to form a club dedicated to their passion, The Pennsylvania Postal History Society.
The founders included:
- John DeLuca
- Art Gregg
- Jim Keally
- Jim Russell
- Sidney Fingerhood
- Blair Gibbs
- John Kay
- Dick Longachre
- Hank Hiorth
- Harry Yeager
- Ray Ruthrauff (original chairman)
Their mission was to create a fine organization for the benefit of all stamp collectors.
Two of our early members, John Kay and Chester (Chet) Smith, collaborated to publish the definitive work, Pennsylvania Postal History. This work lists all Pennsylvania post offices, their dates of operation, and postmasters.
Where every cover tells a story.
The society also maintains an exhaustive listing of all Pennsylvania post offices in the stampless period, up to about 1860. All postmasters and their dates of service are listed as well as their annual compensation. This information, painstakingly gleaned from records in the National Archives in Washington, DC.
Deeper Look
PaPHS Mission Statement
Since 1974, the Pennsylvania Postal History Society has been dedicated to uncovering and preserving the rich postal heritage of Pennsylvania. As a non-profit educational membership organization, we inspire collectors, historians, and enthusiasts to explore the stories behind mail routes, postmarks, and the evolving communication networks that shaped our communities.
Preserving the past, shaping the future.
Through research, education, and collaboration, we uncover the stories behind Pennsylvania’s postal heritage – connecting communities, preserving history, and inspiring the next generation of collectors and historians.