LOUISVILLE, KY — The U.S. Postal Service and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law will honor the city’s native son, Louis D. Brandeis, on what would have been his 153rd birthday.
Brandeis is featured on a new set of commemorative stamps, which also includes U.S. Supreme Court associate justices Joseph Story, Felix Frankfurter and William J. Brennan Jr. Nationally-known graphic designer Ethel Kessler worked with Lisa Catalone-Castro and Rodolfo Castro on the inspired design of the souvenir sheet that incorporates images of the Supreme Court building and a detail from the first page of the United States Constitution.
The presentation will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, November 13 in Room 275 of Wilson Wyatt Hall, 2301 S. Third St. Prior to the event, Professor and Distinguished University Scholar Laura Rothstein will be giving an overview of Brandeis, his distinguished career and his connection to Louisville. The lecture begins at 9 a.m. and the public is welcome.
In addition to Rothstein, U of L law school Dean Jim Chen and Louisville Postmaster Richard Curtsinger will be in attendance.
“It is an honor to remember such a prominent member of the Louisville community and to celebrate the many contributions he made for our nation,” said Curtsinger.
Louis Brandeis was the associate justice most responsible for helping the Supreme Court shape the tools it needed to interpret the Constitution in light of the sociological and economic conditions of the 20th century. “If we would guide by the light of reason,” he once exhorted his colleagues, “we must let our minds be bold.” A progressive, and champion of reform, Brandeis devoted his life to social justice.
“Louisville can be proud that Justice Brandeis is so connected to our community and that the values he is known for had their roots here,” said Rothstein.
“The principles and philosophies Brandeis is known for—including rights to privacy, free speech, curtailing big government and big business, balancing regulation with free enterprise—are timely today,” she added. “It is appropriate that his enormous contributions are recognized on this set of commemorative stamps.”
To mark the event, 153 commemorative envelopes with a special postmark — both designed by artist Leslie Friesen — will be available for sale. The envelope features a photo of the Brandeis School of Law as well as one of Brandeis’ famous quotes, “Knowledge is essential to understanding & understanding should precede judging.” The cancellation features a Corinthian capital and the numerals 153 to mark his 153rd birthday. It also features the Louis D. Brandeis commemorative stamp. Each envelope is numbered by the artist. The artist will also be on hand to sign the limited edition artwork. The envelopes are $5.
The event is free and open to the public. Public parking is available at the Speed Museum, 2035 S. Third St., which is a short walking distance from the law school.
Mail order requests for the special cancellations will be available for 30 days beginning November 13. Customers should allow at least a 2-inch by 4-inch space in the stamp area for the postmark and have postage applied to cards or letters before mailing them — inside another envelope — to the Post Office.
Send mail order requests to: Station Manager, Downtown Station, 835 S. 7th St., Louisville, KY 40302.
About the artist
Leslie Friesen is the Power Creative Designer-in-Residence at the University of Louisville's Hite Art Institute, teaching in the Communication Art & Design BFA program. Friesen, an award-winning designer, also continues to work as a designer with Point A Consulting. After graduating from the University of Louisville in 1980 with a degree in Fine Arts, Friesen worked for more than four years as Assistant Art Director for Louisville Magazine; headed the graphic design group at Shandwick (now New!West), where she worked with national clients including Yum!Brands, KFC, Humana and GE. Friesen is a member AIGA, the professional association for design, and the Louisville Graphic Design Association (LGDA) where she currently serves as Membership Chair.
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