WHAT:

St. Louis Postmaster Cathy Vaughn and Beverly Brennan, Director of Speech and Theatre, Harris Stowe University, will dedicate and unveil the 39th stamp in the Black Heritage Stamp Series honoring preacher, activist and civic leader Richard Allen.

WHEN:

Friday, February 5, 2016 – 8 p.m.

WHERE:

Emerson Theatre
Harrison Stowe University

WHO:

Beverly Brennan
Director of Speech and Theatre,
Harris Stowe University
Cathy Vaughn
Postmaster, City of St. Louis
U.S. Postal Service

BACKGROUND:

The dedication of this year’s honoree in the U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage Stamp Series takes place on stage at the Emerson Theatre, Harris Stowe University prior to the opening of the one man play “The Messengers.”

The 39th stamp in the Black Heritage Stamp Series commemorates preacher, activist, and civic leader Richard Allen. This stamp coincides with the 200th anniversary of Bishop Allen’s founding of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The stamp art is a portrait of Bishop Allen extracted from an 1876 print titled “Bishops of the A.M.E. Church.” The print features Allen in the center surrounded by ten other bishops. It is from the collection of the Library Company of Philadelphia.

Bishop Allen’s life — a legacy of determination, uplift, charity, and faith — remains an inspiration to all Americans. The A.M.E. denomination that he founded now boasts more than 2.5 million members and remains a truly indispensable institution in African-American life.