IAP's strength lies in its Strategic Alliances and Centers of Excellence and the synergy that they bring to philatelic research. Current Alliance Members are:
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The Smithsonian National Postal Museum
Washington, DC
We are pleased to announce that an Alliance agreement has been completed with the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. (NPM). David Herendeen, IAP president, notes that “This alliance with the NPM will provide the basis of what we expect to be many successful research efforts.” This positive tone was reinforced by NPM direct Allen Kane: “The NPM views the Alliance with IAP as synergistic with our mission. We recently began offering scholarships to researchers. These are directed more toward historical research rather than analytical pursuits. So, the cooperation with a group of serous scientists to perform analytical studies is a natural fit.”
One of the primary benefits to both groups is structuring a vehicle that will allow leveraging resources by cost-sharing research efforts. Moreover, Dr. John Barwis, Vice President and Senior Fellow at IAP, as well as a serious student of classic U.S. material, says “Not only will IAP researchers be able to use the NPM facilities, but we will also have access to the philatelic collections.” Tom Lera, the Winton M. Blount Chair in Research at the NPM, will sit on the Advisory Board of IAP. He notes that “The opportunities to rapidly transfer current technologies into philately can only result in tremendous advances in the hobby.”
In fact, the NPM has in many ways acted as an “incubator” for IAP. It was the close working relationship that developed while Dave Herendeen was performing his research at the NPM that led to the formative idea for IAP.
In June, Dave presented a summary of his research to the NPM Council of Philatelists. This Council helps to provide the NPM with guidance on how best to serve both the philatelic and non-philatelic attendees of the museum. Dr. Cheryl Ganz, Curator of the Philatelic Collections indicated that “the additional of technical research activities to the NPM programs adds another dimension to our wide range of services to philately.”
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The Philatelic Foundation
New York, NY
The Philatelic Foundation was granted a charter in 1945 by the University of the State of New York as a Nonprofit Educational Institution. Over the decades the Philatelic Foundation has come to be recognized as the central source for expertizing in U.S. philately.
IAP researchers may arrange for access to the PF’s reference collection which is among the finest assemblages of philatelic material in the world. In addition, to a wonderful library, they have photos of each of the over 400,000 items that have been certified over the years.
George Kramer, Chairman of the PF, writes on their web site, “Last month the PF entered into an alliance with the Institute For Analytical Philately, … The alliance will leverage our 65 years of experience in expertizing philatelic items and our unparalleled reference collection with the IAP's plan to fund scientific research on philatelic problems.... I believe that this alliance will help philately enter the 21st Century with the application of sound science to our hobby. Lewis Kaufman, our Curator, will sit on the Advisory Board of the IAP...”
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The U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, Inc.
IAP Vice President John Barwis addressed the Board of Directors of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society in January 2010. This has resulted in the completion of an Alliance Agreement with the USPCS.
Formed more than 60 years ago, the USPCS has a simple credo prominently placed on their web site, “We emphasize the need to share the results of our studies and research with fellow students and collectors. But most of all, we are here to promote enjoyment and fun from a hobby that has given us many hours of pleasure.”
John is excited that “this agreement opens the possibility of funding larger, even more important research on U.S. Classic issues through the possibility of cost-sharing between our two organizations.”
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The Confederate Stamp Alliance
We are pleased to announce that an Alliance agreement has been completed with the Confederate Stamps Alliance. (CSA) David Herendeen, IAP president, notes that “This alliance with CSA will provide additional research opportunities in an area rich with possibilities.”
The Confederate Stamp Alliance was founded in February 1935 as a national organization of Confederate collectors. In 1968 the Alliance was incorporated as a non-profit organization for the purpose of promoting the collection of Confederate stamps and to encourage the study and dissemination of information on the stamps and postal history of the Confederacy.
At the 75th Anniversary Meeting of the Confederate Stamp Alliance in August 2010 the Trustees voted to enter into an alliance with the Institute of Analytical Philately for the purpose of sharing in the development of analytical tools that will aid in the examination of philatelic items.
The Chairman of the CSA Authentication Service, Frank Crown, will service on the Advisory Committee of the Institute of Analytical Philately as the CSA representative.
The files of the Authentication Service will be available to Institute of Analytical Philately researchers.
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