Postal Exhibits Explore the Nation's Past

For those visitors who are interested in postal history, Charleston boasts three exhibits that add a frequently unexplored view to the study of life in the South.

One of the most interesting is the Confederate Stamp exhibit located in the Old Exchange Building at the end of Broad Street. Working with the Confederate Stamp Alliance, local postal historian Joseph T. Holleman was instrumental in putting together this permanent exhibit. Holleman's interest in postal history dates back to the mid-1940s when he began collecting stamps.

"Stamp collectors generally run out of stamps to collect by the time they're 30 or 40 years old," said the avid philatelist. "So they often become interested in more complex features of stamp collecting, and one of those features is postal history."

Philately involves the collection and study of postage and imprinted stamps, while postal history is the study of how mail has been handled and delivered throughout history. As with Holleman, a passion for one frequently leads to an interest in the other.

Holleman is currently in the process of gathering additional postal history materials to add to the exhibit, including some of the few pieces in existence relating directly to the CSA Submarine H. L. Hunley. The Confederate Period (1861-1865) is considered by many historians as a limited but defining period in our country's history.

Adjacent to the Confederate Stamp Alliance's exhibit in the Old Exchange Building is a second postal history exhibit: "The Post Office in the Exchange." Dated to the 1880s, this original post office "screen-line" came from the old Young's Island Post Office, which operated from 1888 to 1984. It illustrates how the Exchange could have appeared when the post office was located there from 1815 to 1896.

Finally, a postal museum is housed in the U.S. post office, located at the corner of Broad and Meeting streets.

Holleman believes the study of postal history enriches our knowledge of the nation's past. As a volunteer for the South Carolina Historical Society, he is frequently charged with the task of pouring through cases of old documents that may be relevant to the history of South Carolina. In addition to recovering items such as birth and death certificates, plantation records, and important legal documents, Holleman pays particular attention to old mail. He has discovered letters written by almost every president, every Civil War general, as well as a variety of other notable historic figures. These documents are meticulously indexed and later made available to other South Carolina historians for study. Take it from postal historian Joseph Holleman. It's addictive... and well worth exploring.

Learn more about the museums of Charleston.

The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek With just 300 members, many of them non-residents and no unaccompanied guests, you might feel as though you have the course to yourself. The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek was recently awarded the 2007 Golfweek Residential Course Of Distinction award.

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Pam Harrington Exclusives Luxury real estate sales on Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Johns Island, Wadmalaw and the surrounding Charleston area. One of Charleston area's leaders in luxury real estate sales and vacation rentals on Kiawah Island. Find the perfect luxury property for a seasonal vacation rental or year round South Carolina coastal living. Tel: (843) 768-0273