Georgia Postal History Society
History of the Society
The Georgia Postal History Society began as a suggestion by Ervin Underwood to form a society to study the postal history of Georgia. Four collectors, McCary Ballard, Frank Crown, Tom Kingsley, and William McDougall, responded to the suggestion and met with Underwood on April 15,1984 to discuss the idea. At that time is was agreed to proceed with the formation of a society and Underwood volunteered to act as Secretary pro-tem until a formal structure was established.
By the end of the year, the structure of the society was agreed upon and the first elections conducted. The officers selected for the first three year term were Ervin Underwood, President; Francis J. Crown, Jr., Vice- President; Douglas N. Clark, Secretary; and Ernest C. Owens, Treasurer.
The society, which numbers 40 members, meets once a year at what is now called the Southeastern Stamp Expo (formerly Peach State Stamp Show). The annual meeting always includes an informative seminar by a GPHS member that is open to all members of the public.
Benefits of Membership
The Georgia Postal History Society is devoted to the study of all aspects of Georgia postal history. This includes the pre-stamp, or stampless, period that dates back to the late 1700s, the Confederate period, fancy cancels, machine postmarks, RFD markings, railroad markings, flight covers, first days, last days, use of a particular stamp on covers from Georgia and just about anything else you can think of that mixes stamp collecting and Georgia. Basically there is something for everyone.
Benefits of membership include a quarterly journal, Georgia Post Roads and the annual meeting held each year at the Southeastern Stamp Expo in Atlanta. You also have the benefit of meeting and corresponding with other members of the society, many of whom are recognized experts in their Georgia postal history specialty.
Are you interested in becoming a member? The best way to join is to come to the Southeastern Stamp Expo and meet current members and obtain a membership application. Or, download and complete the membership application (below link) and send to the Society's President, Steve Swain (at the address below).
The Georgia Postal History Society began as a suggestion by Ervin Underwood to form a society to study the postal history of Georgia. Four collectors, McCary Ballard, Frank Crown, Tom Kingsley, and William McDougall, responded to the suggestion and met with Underwood on April 15,1984 to discuss the idea. At that time is was agreed to proceed with the formation of a society and Underwood volunteered to act as Secretary pro-tem until a formal structure was established.
By the end of the year, the structure of the society was agreed upon and the first elections conducted. The officers selected for the first three year term were Ervin Underwood, President; Francis J. Crown, Jr., Vice- President; Douglas N. Clark, Secretary; and Ernest C. Owens, Treasurer.
The society, which numbers 40 members, meets once a year at what is now called the Southeastern Stamp Expo (formerly Peach State Stamp Show). The annual meeting always includes an informative seminar by a GPHS member that is open to all members of the public.
Benefits of Membership
The Georgia Postal History Society is devoted to the study of all aspects of Georgia postal history. This includes the pre-stamp, or stampless, period that dates back to the late 1700s, the Confederate period, fancy cancels, machine postmarks, RFD markings, railroad markings, flight covers, first days, last days, use of a particular stamp on covers from Georgia and just about anything else you can think of that mixes stamp collecting and Georgia. Basically there is something for everyone.
Benefits of membership include a quarterly journal, Georgia Post Roads and the annual meeting held each year at the Southeastern Stamp Expo in Atlanta. You also have the benefit of meeting and corresponding with other members of the society, many of whom are recognized experts in their Georgia postal history specialty.
Are you interested in becoming a member? The best way to join is to come to the Southeastern Stamp Expo and meet current members and obtain a membership application. Or, download and complete the membership application (below link) and send to the Society's President, Steve Swain (at the address below).
| Georgia Postal History Society - Membership Application.doc |
Officers Contact
Our current slate of elected officers: Steve Swain, President [email protected]
President: Steve Swain
Treasurer/Secretary: Larry Stephens
President Emeritus: Douglas N. Clark
Our current slate of elected officers: Steve Swain, President [email protected]
President: Steve Swain
Treasurer/Secretary: Larry Stephens
President Emeritus: Douglas N. Clark
Georgia Post Roads
The official Journal of the Georgia Postal History Society, Georgia Post Roads, is published quarterly featuring articles on various aspects of Georgia postal history. Articles for publication may be submitted in the form of typed manuscript or, preferably, via email.
Georgia Post Roads was awarded a Gold in the Literature Competition of the August 14-17, 2024 American Philatelic Society's Great American Stamp Show.
Articles by Society members and non-members are welcomed. Contact: Steve Swain, Editor, at [email protected].
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The Digital G.P.H.S. Bulletin and Georgia Post Roads
With a May 1985 publication date, the G. P. H. S. Bulletin was the first journal of the Georgia Postal History Society. The first three volumes were titled G. P. H. S. Bulletin. The second three volumes were titled Bulletin. The first issue of Georgia Post Roads was published in September 1991. The stated purpose was not as “a replacement for the GPHS Bulletin but rather a means to keep the lines of communication open between members of the society and to provide timely information of interest to all members.” The subheading in the banner of the early issues sums up this up: “Newsletter of the Georgia Postal History Society.” Beginning with the January 1994 issue GPR took on a more formal role as noted by the new subheading in the banner: “Publication of the Georgia Postal History Society.” Digital files, in an Adobe PDF format, of the G.P.H.S. Bulletin and Georgia Post Roads are provided below for viewing and/or downloading. Also provided is an index for the Bulletin and Georgia Post Roads. Guidance for searching the digital files is provided in the Searching the Digital Files document. The Adobe Acrobat Reader program (or an other PDF file viewer program) is needed to open the digital files. The Adobe Reader software is free and can be downloaded via www.adobe.com. 
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| Bulletin of the GPHS Vols 1-6 (1985-1991) |
| Georgia Post Roads Vols 1-5 (1991-1995) |
| Georgia Post Roads Vols 6-10 (1996-2000) |
| Georgia Post Roads Vols 11-15 (2001-2005) |
| Georgia Post Roads Vols 16-20 (2006-2012) |
| Georgia Post Roads Vols 21-25 (2013-2017) |
| Georgia Post Roads Vols 26-29 (2018-2021) |
| GPHS Bulletin Index |
| Georgia Post Roads Index |
| Searching the Digital Files |
G.P.H.S. Bulletin and Georgia Post Roads Index
The index is available in three versions, each in a downloadable PDF format:
(1) Sorted by Volumne-Number-Year
(2) Sorted by Article Title
(3) Sorted by Author's name.
| Index - Volume_Number_Year |
| Index - Articles |
| Index - Author |
Society Members Literature Competition Awards
Great American Stamp Show 2025
Michael Wing
Gold: "When the US Post Office Silenced the Father of Rural Free Delivery"
Gold: "Georgia Postmaster and County Postmarks"
Great American Stamp Show 2025
Juan L. Riera
Silver: "The USS Manley (DD-74) at Puerto Columbia:
Silver-Bronze: "Fishing with FDR"
Sarasota National Stamp Expo, January 19-21, 2024
Michael Wing
Postal History Society Award: "Georgia Postmaster Free Frank Letters"
Gold: "Georgia Postmaster Free Frank Letters""
SESCAL, October 29, 2022
Steve Swain
Large Vermeil: " 'Local Usage' Prevails for Name of Town and Post Office"
Great American Stamp Show 2022
Steve Swain
Large Vermeil: " 'Local Usage' Prevails for Name of Town and Post Office"
Vermeil: The Postal History of Saint Simons Island, Georgia
Large Vermeil: The Florida Postal History Journal (Editor: Steve Swain)
Nancy B. Clark
Gold: "An Oddity Uncovers a Short-Lived Registry Plan"
Large Vermeil: "Fort Oglethorpe Georgia Internee's Postcard: Written From a Spy
to a Spy?"
Large Vermeil: "The Sinking of the P.R.R. Ferry Chicago, October 31, 1899:
SESCAL, October 9, 2021
Nancy B. Clark
Gold: "Steamship City of Rockland"
Silver: "World War II Trainee and POW Mail Camp Wheeler, Macon, Georgia"
Great American Stamp Show, August 12-15, 2021
Francis J. Crown, Jr.
Vermeil: "The 3c Nashville Provisional Adhesive: A Study in Postal History Research"
Vermeil: As posted on the Civil War Philatelic Society’s website: “Crown Illustrated Censuses of Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals”
Sarasota National Stamp Expo, January 22-24, 2021
Francis J. Crown, Jr.
Reserve Grand Award: “The 10¢ Red ‘Southern Confederacy’ Danville, Va., Provisional Envelope
Large Gold: “The 10¢ Red ‘Southern Confederacy’ Danville, Va., Provisional Envelope
Gold: “Athens, Georgia, Provisional Gutter Pairs”
Southern California SESCAL, October 3, 2020
Francis J. Crown, Jr.
Gold: “The 10¢ Red ‘Southern Confederacy’ Danville, Va., Provisional Envelope
Gold: “Dr. H. H. Green: An Early ‘Junk Mailer’
Steve Swain
Large Vermeil: “Thrilling Adventures in Stamp Comics”
Large Vermeil: “Fake Town Spanish-American War Postal History”
Signers of the Declaration of Independence
A Georgia Postal History
Steve L. Swain
The personal and political history of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration
offers fascinating stories with significant elements revealed through correspondence to and from the signers. These letters reveal foundational motivations, character, beliefs, and subjective experiences of the signers related to the great political events of their time.
And such was with Lyman Hall, Button Gwinnett, and George Walton of
Georgia who signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia the
same day Georgia joined the United States. Those signatures, and as boldly disclosed in their letters, signaled their forthright advocacy of a new regional entity in unquestionable support for a united nation.
This image rich study ventures into a new field providing a look into a unique aspect of Georgia’s postal history before now not offered.
The 8.5 x 11-inch, full color, 60-page monograph can be ordered from the author at [email protected].
A Georgia Postal History
Steve L. Swain
The personal and political history of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration
offers fascinating stories with significant elements revealed through correspondence to and from the signers. These letters reveal foundational motivations, character, beliefs, and subjective experiences of the signers related to the great political events of their time.
And such was with Lyman Hall, Button Gwinnett, and George Walton of
Georgia who signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia the
same day Georgia joined the United States. Those signatures, and as boldly disclosed in their letters, signaled their forthright advocacy of a new regional entity in unquestionable support for a united nation.
This image rich study ventures into a new field providing a look into a unique aspect of Georgia’s postal history before now not offered.
The 8.5 x 11-inch, full color, 60-page monograph can be ordered from the author at [email protected].
Social Circle, Georgia
The Results of a Lottery Winner
Tony L. Crumbley
Georgia’s 1820 land lottery drew lot number 96 which provided 250 acres in Walton County to Mr. Joel Strickland. Mr. Strickland decided that he did not want the land and sold it for $118.00 to three men.
◄ Depiction of participants in the 1820 land lottery.
This land is where today’s Social Circle is located as seen on the below map.
The Results of a Lottery Winner
Tony L. Crumbley
Georgia’s 1820 land lottery drew lot number 96 which provided 250 acres in Walton County to Mr. Joel Strickland. Mr. Strickland decided that he did not want the land and sold it for $118.00 to three men.
◄ Depiction of participants in the 1820 land lottery.
This land is where today’s Social Circle is located as seen on the below map.
One of the three owners had financial problems in 1824 and his portion of the property was sold in a sheriff’s sale. John P. Blackmon, one of the original owners purchased his third of the land for $11.00. Later, Blackmon was able to buy the other third to be sole owner of 250 acres of Georgian land.
John Blackmon was quite pleased with this property as it was at the crossroads of two Indian trails that had become important North, South, and East, West routes in Georgia. The property had an excellent spring and a recently abandoned camp site of a band of Creek Indians. All this added up to an excellent choice for prime land.
Blackmon built a home there and donated a site for a Methodist church. Soon, the community had a storehouse, a meeting house, and a shop.
On January 1, 1826, John P. Blackman (Blackmon) was appointed Social Circle’s first postmaster. He would serve only until May 3, 1826, when Augustine B. Pope took over as postmaster. Augustine Pope would only serve a short time as well, as Charles Holmes replaced him on September 19, 1826. It seemed that they were having a run on postmasters. From 1826 until 1859, the town would have sixteen different postmasters. On September 2, 1859, John B. Davis was appointed postmaster and would serve throughout the war years.
There are two theories as to how the town got its name. The first is that a new traveler passing through town was offered refreshments by the community. Based on this hospitality, he commented that “This sure is a Social Circle.” The second theory is that someone moved to the area from another community called Social Circle and convinced the town to name it as such.
In 1832, Social Circle was incorporated. Growth continued. In 1836, John Dally opened a grocery store in the town. In 1845, the Georgia railroad reached the community. This event was the most important happening in the town’s early history. Social Circle became Walton County’s rail center.
John Blackmon was quite pleased with this property as it was at the crossroads of two Indian trails that had become important North, South, and East, West routes in Georgia. The property had an excellent spring and a recently abandoned camp site of a band of Creek Indians. All this added up to an excellent choice for prime land.
Blackmon built a home there and donated a site for a Methodist church. Soon, the community had a storehouse, a meeting house, and a shop.
On January 1, 1826, John P. Blackman (Blackmon) was appointed Social Circle’s first postmaster. He would serve only until May 3, 1826, when Augustine B. Pope took over as postmaster. Augustine Pope would only serve a short time as well, as Charles Holmes replaced him on September 19, 1826. It seemed that they were having a run on postmasters. From 1826 until 1859, the town would have sixteen different postmasters. On September 2, 1859, John B. Davis was appointed postmaster and would serve throughout the war years.
There are two theories as to how the town got its name. The first is that a new traveler passing through town was offered refreshments by the community. Based on this hospitality, he commented that “This sure is a Social Circle.” The second theory is that someone moved to the area from another community called Social Circle and convinced the town to name it as such.
In 1832, Social Circle was incorporated. Growth continued. In 1836, John Dally opened a grocery store in the town. In 1845, the Georgia railroad reached the community. This event was the most important happening in the town’s early history. Social Circle became Walton County’s rail center.
By the time the Civil War came, the role of the railroad in Social Circle meant it would be a target for destruction. The cover shown to the left is an Eleven Star Flag Patriotic Cover type F11-13 posted from Social Circle on September 1, (1863).
The red circular datestamp and bold PAID 10 make an outstanding Confederate cover. Only four copies of this patriotic cover have been recorded. Only twenty towns in Georgia used red ink. The cover is addressed to Col. D. W. Hart, Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
◄ SOCIAL CIRCLE, GA, SEP 1, (1863) PAID 10 on an eleven-star flag Patriotic cover Type F11-13. The cover is one of only four recorded Type F11-13. Social Circle was one of only twenty Georgia towns that used red ink for postmarks.
On July 23, 1864, Second Lieutenant William L. Birney and his 177th Indiana Mounted Infantry Regiment under the direction of Union Brigadier General Kenner Garrard charged into town. They took several prisoners and captured the mail. The troops had orders to burn the town’s hotel, railroad depot, the wood station, and water tank. Several Confederate wagons and a store filled with commissary supplies were destroyed along with five nearby houses. The troops then galloped away. With Atlanta’s fall to General Sherman, Social Circle became a temporary home for many of Atlanta’s citizens fleeing the city. The stranded railroad boxcars made for suitable housing.
The Federal 20th Corps under Commander Brigadier General Alphas S. Williams and accompanied by Major General Henry W. Slocum marched into town on Friday, November 18, 1864. The troops were part of General Sherman’s “Left Wing.” The residents were alarmed as the troops marched through. One Union soldier noted that the town did not represent its name. The only joyous reception given to the Union soldier were by the slaves. The northern troops found the area plentiful with sweet potatoes, corn syrup, and hogs. At 2:00 pm, the troops halted for dinner then moved on towards Rutledge, Georgia, to continue Sherman’s march to the sea.
Such is the history of many of Georgia’s small towns. By 1870, the city of Social Circle had a population of 400. Today, the city has 4,974 residents.
The red circular datestamp and bold PAID 10 make an outstanding Confederate cover. Only four copies of this patriotic cover have been recorded. Only twenty towns in Georgia used red ink. The cover is addressed to Col. D. W. Hart, Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
◄ SOCIAL CIRCLE, GA, SEP 1, (1863) PAID 10 on an eleven-star flag Patriotic cover Type F11-13. The cover is one of only four recorded Type F11-13. Social Circle was one of only twenty Georgia towns that used red ink for postmarks.
On July 23, 1864, Second Lieutenant William L. Birney and his 177th Indiana Mounted Infantry Regiment under the direction of Union Brigadier General Kenner Garrard charged into town. They took several prisoners and captured the mail. The troops had orders to burn the town’s hotel, railroad depot, the wood station, and water tank. Several Confederate wagons and a store filled with commissary supplies were destroyed along with five nearby houses. The troops then galloped away. With Atlanta’s fall to General Sherman, Social Circle became a temporary home for many of Atlanta’s citizens fleeing the city. The stranded railroad boxcars made for suitable housing.
The Federal 20th Corps under Commander Brigadier General Alphas S. Williams and accompanied by Major General Henry W. Slocum marched into town on Friday, November 18, 1864. The troops were part of General Sherman’s “Left Wing.” The residents were alarmed as the troops marched through. One Union soldier noted that the town did not represent its name. The only joyous reception given to the Union soldier were by the slaves. The northern troops found the area plentiful with sweet potatoes, corn syrup, and hogs. At 2:00 pm, the troops halted for dinner then moved on towards Rutledge, Georgia, to continue Sherman’s march to the sea.
Such is the history of many of Georgia’s small towns. By 1870, the city of Social Circle had a population of 400. Today, the city has 4,974 residents.
Annual Society Meeting Presentations
The King Family of Roswell, Georgia - A Postal History by Steve Swain
2025 Annual Meeting Presentation
The 2025 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held January 25 at the Peachtree Corners, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. Steve Swain presented his research on the postal history related to the Roswell King family. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided below to view the presentation.
| The King Family of Roswell, Georgia - A Postal History |
Georgia Postmaster and County Postmarks by Michael Wing
2024 Annual Meeting Presentation
The 2024 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held January 27 at the Peachtree Corners, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. Michael Wing presented his research on Georgia postmaster and county postmarks. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided below to view the presentation.
2024 Annual Meeting Presentation
The 2024 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held January 27 at the Peachtree Corners, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. Michael Wing presented his research on Georgia postmaster and county postmarks. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided below to view the presentation.
| Georgia Postmaster and County Postmarks |
The Postal History of Sapelo Island, Georgia by Steve L. Swain
2022 Annual Meeting Presentation
The 2022 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held January 29 at the Peachtree Corners, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. Steve Swain presented his research on the postal history of Sapelo Island, Georgia, one of the seventeen Georgia barrier islands. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided below to view the presentation.
2022 Annual Meeting Presentation
The 2022 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held January 29 at the Peachtree Corners, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. Steve Swain presented his research on the postal history of Sapelo Island, Georgia, one of the seventeen Georgia barrier islands. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided below to view the presentation.
| The Postal History of Sapelo Island, Georgia |
Patriotic Envelopes of Camp George H. Thomas, Lytle, Georgia, Spanish-American War by James C. Cate
2020 Annual Meeting Presentation
The 2020 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held on February 1 at the Peachtree Corners, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. James Cate presented his research and collection related to patriotic covers associated with Camp George H. Thomas and Lytle, Georgia during the brief Spanish-American War. Please open the PowerPoint presentation below to "read the story" and view the covers shown during the presentation.
| Patriotic Envelopes of Camp George H. Thomas |
"Absolutely Fireproof" Postal History
2019 Annual Meeting Presentation
The 2019 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held on January 26 at the Peachtree Corners, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. Michael Wing presented his research and collection related to hotel advertising covers announcing "Absolutely Fireproof" buildings. A most notable cover in Michael's collection is for the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta that burned in one of the worst hotel fires in history. Please open the PowerPoint presentation below to "read the story" and view the photos and covers shown during the presentation.
2019 Annual Meeting Presentation
The 2019 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held on January 26 at the Peachtree Corners, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. Michael Wing presented his research and collection related to hotel advertising covers announcing "Absolutely Fireproof" buildings. A most notable cover in Michael's collection is for the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta that burned in one of the worst hotel fires in history. Please open the PowerPoint presentation below to "read the story" and view the photos and covers shown during the presentation.
| "Absolutely Fireproof" Hotel Advertising Covers |
Camp Thomas - Chickamauga Park - Lytle Ga: Spanish-American War Postal History
2018 Annual Meeting Presentation and Discussion
The 2018 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held on January 27 at the Norcross, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. The presentation and discussion at the meeting explored Spanish-American War postal history related to three closely associated areas in Georgia: Camp Thomas, Chickamauga National Park (Battlefield) and Lytle, Ga. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided below to "read the story" and view the photos and covers shown during the presentation.
2018 Annual Meeting Presentation and Discussion
The 2018 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held on January 27 at the Norcross, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. The presentation and discussion at the meeting explored Spanish-American War postal history related to three closely associated areas in Georgia: Camp Thomas, Chickamauga National Park (Battlefield) and Lytle, Ga. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided below to "read the story" and view the photos and covers shown during the presentation.
| Camp Thomas-Chickamauga Park-Lytle, Ga: Spanish-American War Postal History |