National Postal Museum To Host Maynard Sundman Lecture

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum will host the 21st Maynard Sundman Lecture Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 4 p.m. ET at the museum and also online on Zoom. Admission is free, but registration is required.

How does an innocent family activity take over one’s life? Join the museum as John M. Hotchner considers this question. Known principally as a longtime Linn’s Stamp News columnist on U.S. philately, Hotchner will describe how Linn’s became a launch pad for his many other activities in organized philately and for a wide array of research projects. One of these, “U.S. Postal Counterfeits,” will be discussed in some detail and illustrated with pages from his “large gold”-winning exhibit of the same name, which has served as the basis for the Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue listing of this material and is the subject of his soon-to-be-released book.
About John M. Hotchner

For nearly 50 years as a writer, Hotchner, RDP (Roll of Distinguished Philatelists), FRPSL (Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London), has encouraged collectors to become more deeply involved in philately and has participated in every aspect of the hobby himself. A collector since age 5 with wide-ranging interests, he began writing for Linn’s in 1976. He has published over 3,000 articles in international and national publications, both general interest and specialty, inviting collectors to go deeper into the hobby and to get involved in the philatelic organizations providing services and support to collectors.

From 1984 to 1993, Hotchner was the writer/editor of the U.S. Postal Service’s monthly publications “Stamp Fun” and “Leader Feature” for more than a million grade school and junior high students participating in their 48,000 Benjamin Franklin Stamp Clubs nationwide. In 1986, with Randy Neil, he co-founded the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors and then served 24 years as editor of its quarterly, The Philatelic Exhibitor.
His own exhibitions have been shown in numerous courts of honor at the American Philatelic Society, the World Series of Philately and international shows. Hotchner is a competitive exhibitor and an accredited philatelic, literature and chief judge who has headed juries at national and international shows.

In 1998, Postmaster General Travis Runyon appointed Hotchner to the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee, which selects the subjects and art for America’s stamps. He served the maximum 12 years during which time he helped select more than 1,700 U.S. stamps—steadfastly championing subjects that he felt highlighted American cultural, historical and scientific achievements.
A member of the National Postal Museum’s Council of Philatelists from 2002–2017, he was named to emeritus status on his retirement. He served the American Philatelic Society for 16 years in several capacities, including as president (1997–1999), and has served on the boards of more than 20 other organizations.

Hotchner has received many prestigious awards, including the Luff Award for Outstanding Service to the American Philatelic Society, the Collectors Club of New York’s Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Philately, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society’s Distinguished Philatelist Award, the American Philatelic Society’s Charles J. Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award for Philatelic Literature and the Philatelic Foundation’s Mortimer L. Neinken medal for Meritorious Service to philately. In 2017, he was elected to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists and, in 2023, was honored with the Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award.
The public can visit the museum’s website for additional information and registration instructions.

About the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum

The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information about the Smithsonian, call (202) 633-1000 or visit the museum website.

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