Franklin Richard Bruns Jr. (1912–1979) of

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

, United States, was a student of

philately Philately (; ) is the study of postage stamps and postal history. It also refers to the collection and appreciation of stamps and other philatelic products. While closely associated with stamp collecting and the study of postage, it is possibl ...

and served it in numerous ways, including writing a syndicated stamp collector newspaper column and serving as curator at the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...

Philatelic literature

From 1932 to 1972 Bruns wrote a stamp collector column that appeared in thirty newspapers. And, from 1942 to 1948, he was editor of the ''Collectors Club Philatelist'' for the

Collectors Club of New York The Collectors Club, often referred to as the Collectors Club of New York, is a private club and philatelic society in New York City. Founded in 1896, it is one of the oldest existing philatelic societies in the United States. Its stated purp ...

Philatelic activity

Bruns remained very active his entire life in advancing philately. At the American Philatelic Congress he was a founder and served in various positions, including president and editor. At the Society of Philatelic Americans he served as director, board secretary, and vice president. For the United States postal service, Bruns served on the Citizens Advisory Committee and was their director of philately from 1957 to 1962. Bruns started his work at the Smithsonian Institution in 1951 by being named Curator of the institution’s philatelic collection. Over the years, he continued his work at the Smithsonian, serving as research associate and supervisor and curator of postal history from 1971 to 1977. At the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum he served as its first curator, serving from 1957 to 1962.

Honors and awards

Bruns received the Society of Philatelic American’s Lagerloef Award in 1972. He was named to the Writers Hall of Fame in 1979 and the

American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame The American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame award honors deceased philatelists who have contributed significantly to the field of national and/or international philately. History The APS ''Hall of Fame'' award was founded at the 1940 American Phil ...

in 2005.

References

Franklin Richard Bruns Jr.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruns, Franklin Richard Jr. 1912 births 1979 deaths Philatelic literature American philatelists People from Maryland Smithsonian Institution people American Philatelic Society

Philatelic literature

Philatelic activity

Honors and awards

See also

References