American Philatelic Research Library Bellefonte, PA

U.S. First Day Cover Cachet Display Catalog:
AFDCS Archives at the APRL

(last updated .07-25-2025)

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      The American Philatelic Research Library (APRL) has housed the American First Day Cover Society's AFDCS Archive since 1981 in State College, PA (#150-32), and since 10-29-2016 in Bellefonte, PA (bell'-font) (#431-10). The APRL is inside the Headquarters of the American Philatelic Society (APS).

      What's New on this page

      The AFDCS Archives Folder List
      Photos of the APRL and the AFDCS Archive
      Librarians of the APRL
      FIRST DAYS articles about the AFDCS Archive
      Online References

      Maybe someday, but currently, there is no direct link to the AFDCS Archives Folder List, and it cannot be viewed on the APRL website. It can only be downloaded to your personal device. To find the PDF, follow these steps:
1) Click on the link below
2) Click on the "Electronic Resources" button (to the left of the button for Elon Musk's personal website)
3) Download the PDF.
      The David Straight Memorial Philatelic Union Catalog -- PDF last updated 5/20/2025

      The APRL was founded in 1968 and "opened for business in 1972".
• Joseph M. Sousa -- 10-??-1969 - 19??
• Joseph M. Sousa -- 19?? - Summer 1971 (Acting)
• Nancie R. Wall -- 8-01-1971 - ? (NOT Nancy)
• Lois Evans -- dates?
• Lois Evans de Violini -- dates?
• Steven A. Pla -- 1981 - 1984
• Gini Horn (Virginia) -- 9-01-1984 - Aug. 2009
      The APRL and the APS moved in 2004 from State College, PA to Bellefonte, PA. After renovation, the current facility's Grand Opening was on 11-02-2016.
• Ellen Peachey -- Jun. 2010 (Interim)
• Tara E. Murray Grove (tair'-a) -- Nov. 2010 - 2017
• Scott Tiffney -- Jan. 2018 - 3-31-2024
• Marian Mills - 4-01-2024

For more information, see:
      Philatelic Literature Association Merges with the American Philatelic Research Library -- [APRL PLR 2nd Series #65, 18(4), 4th Quarter, 1969, p. 159-162]
           Sometime after 9-30-1969, the merger was voted on, and approved, and Joseph M. Sousa was appointed Librarian. I cannot find when his title was changed to Acting Librarian, but he was Acting Librarian shortly before Nancie R. Wall started.
      A.P.R.L. Librarian (Joseph M. Sousa) -- [APRL PLR 2nd Series #67, 19(2), 2nd Quarter, 1970, p. 52 with photo]
      From the Librarian by Joseph M. Sousa -- [APRL PLR 2nd Series #71, 20(2), 2nd Quarter, 1971, p. 84]
      From the Librarian -- [APRL PLR 2nd Series #72, 20(3), 3rd Quarter, 1971, p. 134]
      APS/Hints for Editors: A Librarian’s View of Philatelic Serials by Kathleen Wunderly -- [WU30 #102, 26(4), 1993, 4th Quarter, p. 69,88-90]
      APS/APRL Hires New Librarian (Tara Murray) -- [WU30 #169, 44(3), 3rd Quarter 2010, p. 4]
      Gini Horn 1951-2022 -- [WU30 #215, 56(1), 1st Quarter 2022, p. 4]
      A Brief History of the American Philatelic Research Library, by Tara E. Murray, MLIS, Librarian for Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures, Penn State (undated, ca. 2020)
      Leadership Change at the American Philatelic Research Library by Foster Miller (1/30/2024)

1. #104-31 -- "Archives" by ?
         [#104, 18(3), 5-6/1973, p. 31]
2. #109-28 -- "From the Archives" by Curt Patterson
         [#109, 19(2), 3-4/1974, p. 28]
3. #135-87 -- "From the Archives" by ?
         [#135, 23(4), 7-8/1978, p. 87-88]
4. #136-91 -- "The Archives Tapes" by ?
         [#136, 23(5), 9-10/1978, p. 91]
5. #145-241 -- "A Look at the Archives" by Richard A. Monty
         [#145, 25(2), 3-4/1980, p. 241-243]
6. #148-683 -- "Archives Update" by ?
         [#148, 25(5), 9-10/1980, p. 683]
7. #150-32" -- "The AFDCS Archives in the American Philatelic Research Library" by the AFDCS
         [#150, 26(1), 1-2/1981, p. 32-33]
8. #152-381 -- "From the Archives" by Steven A. Pla
         [#152, 26(3), 5-6/1981, p. 381-382]
9. #153-540 -- "Archives" by ?
         [#153, 26(4), 7-8/1981, p. 540]
10. #154-734 -- "AFDCS Archives Report" by Steven A. Pla
          [#154, 26(5), 9-10/1981, p. 734-735]
11. #155-900 -- "AFDCS Archives" by Steven A. Pla
          [#155, 26(6), 11-12/1981, p. 900-901]
12. #156-132 -- "AFDCS Archives. . ." by Steven A. Pla
          [#156, 27(1), 1-01-1982, p. 132]
13. #157-217 -- "AFDCS Archives" by Steven A. Pla
          [#157, 27(2), 2-15-1982, p. 217-218]
14. #158-347 -- "First Day Programs Archives Project" by Steven A. Pla
          [#158, 27(3), 4-01-1982, p. 347]
15. #158-408 -- "AFDCS Archives: Taped Interviews with Cachetmakers" by Steven A. Pla
          [#158, 27(3), 4-01-1982, p. 408-409]
16. #160-681 -- "Archives at APRL" by ?
          [#160, 27(5), 7-01-1982, p. 681]
17. #162-1064 -- "AFDCS Archives" by Steven A. Pla
          [#162, 27(7), 10-01-1982, p. 1064-1065]
18. #163-1236 -- "Archives at APRL" by Steven A. Pla
          [#163, 27(8), 11-15-1982, p. 1236-1237]
          "We received several queries as to whether a complete list of cachetmaker files would ever be published." -- The answer is ... Yes! In May 2025, the "AFDCS Archives Folder List" was published. -- See above.
19. #164-134 -- "Archives at APRL" by Steven A. Pla
          [#164, 28(1), 1-01-1983, p. 134]
20. #165-178 -- "Archives Profile" by Curt Patterson
          [#165, 28(2), 2-15-1983, p. 178,225]
21. #165-271 -- "AFDCS Archives" by Steven A. Pla
          [#165, 28(2), 2-15-1983, p. 271-274]
22. #166-477 -- "The AFDCS Archives" by Curt Patterson
          [#166, 28(3), 4-01-1983, p. 477-480]
23. #168-819 -- "AFDCS Archives" by Curt Patterson
          [#168, 28(5), 7-01-1983, p. 819]
24. #171-1312 -- "Archives Report" by Curt Patterson
          [#171, 28(8), 11-15-1983, p. 1312-1313]
25. #172-56 -- "Archives at APRL" by Steven A. Pla
          [#172, 29(1), 1-01-1984, p. 56-57]
26. #173-199 -- "Archives at APRL" by Steven A. Pla
          [#173, 29(2), 2-15-1984, p. 199]
27. #174-415 -- "Archives at APRL" by Curt Patterson
          [#174, 29(3), 4-01-1984, p. 415]
28. #175-559 -- "Archives at APRL" by Curt Patterson
          [#175, 29(4), 5-15-1984, p. 559]
29. #175-588 -- "Planty Letters and Papers to AFDCS Archives" by ?
          [#175, 29(4), 5-15-1984, p. 588,590]
30. #176-733 -- "Archives at APRL" by Curt Patterson
          [#176, 29(5), 7-01-1984, p. 733]
31. #177-811 -- "Archives at APRL" by Curt Patterson
          [#177, 29(6), 8-15-1984, p. 811]
32. #178-1000 -- "Archives at APRL" by Curt Patterson
          [#178, 29(7), 10-01-1984, p. 1000]
33. #179-1224 -- "Archives at APRL" by Curt Patterson
          [#179, 29(8), 11-15-1984, p. 1224]
34. #180-107 -- "I've Been Working on the Archives" by Richard A. Monty
          [#180, 30(1), 1-01-1985, p. 107-109]
35. #181-244 -- "Archives at APRL" by Curt Patterson
          [#181, 30(2), 2-15-1985, p. 244]
36. #183-482 -- "Archives at APRL" by Curt Patterson
          [#183, 30(4), 5-15-1985, p. 482]
37. #184-630 -- "Archives at APRL" by Curt Patterson
          [#184, 30(5), 7-01-1985, p. 630-632]
38. #185-795" -- "Archives at APRL" by Curt Patterson
          [#185, 30(6), 8-15-1985, p. 795]
39. #185-828 -- "from the Archives" by Curt Patterson
          [#185, 30(6), 8-15-1985, p. 828-829]
40. #186-889 -- "AFDCS Archives at APRL" by Gini Horn
          [#186, 30(7), 10-01-1985, p. 889-890]
41. #187-1006 -- "Gleanings from the Archives" by Curt Patterson
          [#187, 30(8), 12-01-1985, p. 1006]
42. #188-95 -- "From the Archives" by Curt Patterson
          [#188, 31(1), 1-15-1986, p. 95-96]
43. #188-104 -- "Archives Gleaning" by Curt Patterson
          [#188, 31(1), 1-15-1986, p. 104-105]
44. #188-126 -- "Archives Report" by Curt Patterson
          [#188, 31(1), 1-15-1986, p. 126]
45. #190-392 -- "from the Archives: F.X. Mittermeier Revisited" by Curt Patterson
          [#190, 31(3), 4-15-1986, p. 392,394]
46. #191-438 -- "AFDCS Archives at APRL" by Curt Patterson
          [#191, 31(4), 6-01-1986, p. 438]
47. #194-865 -- "From the Archives" by Curt Patterson
          [#194, 31(7), 10-15-1986, p. 865]
48. #198-304 -- "AFDCS Archives: First Day Cover Taped Interviews" by Gini Horn
          [#198, 32(3), 4-15-1987, p. 304]
49. #200-557 -- "AFDCS Archives Curator/Liaison APRL" [Curt Patterson retires] by the AFDCS
          [#200, 32(5), 7-15-1987, p. 557]
50. #227-1010 -- "AFDCS Archives: Cachetmakers Taped Interviews" by Gini Horn
          [#227, 35(8), 12-01-1990, p. 1010-1011]
51. #240-423 -- "From the Archives" by Allison W. Cusick
          [#240, 37(5), 7-15-1992, p. 423]
52. #241-500 -- "Be on the record with AFDCS Archives" by the AFDCS [obsolete address to send donations to, nothing else]
          [#241, 37(6), 9-01-1992, p. 500]
53. #243-643 -- "From the Archives" by Allison W. Cusick
          [#243, 37(8), 12-01-1992, p. 643]
54. #408-62 -- "AFDCS Archives Report" by Allison W. Cusick
          [#408, 58(5), 7/2013, p. 62]
55. #431-10 -- "The New Home of the AFDCS Archives: APRL Gets a Grand Permanent Location" Text & Photos by Lloyd A. de Vries
          [#431, 61(6), 11-12/2016, p. cover,10,12,14,16]

Online References:
• "Bookend: Philatelic Relics"
        (6-01-2017) by ? on the American Libraries Magazine website, from the American Library Association (ALA)
• "New APS library facility in Pennsylvania safely stores AFDCS archives"
        (4-29-2021) by (Lloyd A. de Vries -- Linn's Stamp News
• "Resource of the Month: The American First Day Cover Society Archive"
        (12-28-2021) by the American Philatelic Society (APS)
• "Transforming a Match Factory into the American Philatelic Research Library in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania"
        (2021) by Tara Murray Grove, on the University Library of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin's website
• "Spotlight on Societies: American Philatelic Research Society"
        (4-11-2022) on the CAPEX 22 website
• "Cause IQ"
        (2024) -- [a business evaluation of the APRL]
• Wikipedia

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