United Nations to Mark Yale's Tercentennial with Cancellation Stamp;
U.S. Postal Service to Issue Commemorative Postal card

In recognition of Yale University's 300th anniversary, the United Nations is issuing a special cancellation stamp joined by the United States Postal Service, which is marking the Tercentennial with a commemorative postal card.

In recognition of Yale University’s 300th anniversary, the United Nations is issuing a special cancellation stamp joined by the United States Postal Service, which is marking the Tercentennial with a commemorative postal card.

The Tercentennial of the University includes a year long celebration of lectures, presentations and other special events reflecting its history in leadership and education.

The special stamp issue and postal card accompanies other planned commemorative events and awards: the re-dedication of Yale’s charter by the state of Connecticut, and the Seal of the City award presented by the New Haven Colony Historical Society.

The 51st stamped postal card in the Postal Service’s Historic Preservation series, the Yale University stamped postal card will be dedicated on Yale’s historic Old Campus at a first day of issue ceremony in Connecticut Hall at 11:30 a.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public. The 20-cent stamped postal card will be available that day at the ceremony and at New Haven post offices. Starting the following day, the stamped postal card will be available at other Connecticut post offices and at Postal Stores and Philatelic Centers across the country.

A contemporary photograph of Connecticut Hall - a symbol of Yale’s long-standing commitment to tradition - will appear on the stamped card, which was designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, D.C.

Builders Francis Letort and Thomas Bills began construction of Connecticut Hall in 1750, completing it in 1753. The first of Yale’s brick buildings and the oldest remaining structure on the campus and in the City of New Haven, Connecticut Hall is a national historic landmark. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Oct. 15, 1966. As described in the register’s statement of significance, Connecticut Hall is “the lone survivor of ‘Brick Row,’ a group of Georgian-style buildings built before 1820 and razed after the Civil War.” Originally a dormitory, Connecticut Hall now houses faculty offices and meeting rooms.

The commemorative cancellation, issued only once before by the United Nations in 1998 on the 100th anniversary of Peking University, features Yale’s Harkness Tower and the Tercentennial logo. It will be used only on March 30, 2001. The U.N. will also have first-day-issue cancellations available for sale at the U.N. afterwards and at the New Haven stamp show and New York stamp show on April 1.

Founded in 1701, Yale will celebrate its Tercentennial - its 300th birthday - on two weekends in 2001: April 19-22 and October 5-6. The University held a campus-wide open house on October 21, 2000, that attracted over 45,000 visitors to many events, displays and facilities open to the public for the first time. The remaining two weekends will constitute large communal occasions. Several events scheduled throughout the year by Yale College and the University’s graduate and professional schools will mark the occasion, including lectures, symposia, book publications, art exhibits in the University’s galleries and museums, concerts and athletic events, which recall the University’s storied past, highlight its present and probe the challenges that face it in the future.

To commemorate the University’s founding, members from the Yale community, representatives from sister institutions and returning alumni will join for a campus processional and academic convocation on Old Campus on October 5 and 6. During this weekend, many of the professional schools will host special Tercentennial events. There are also plans for a symposium on Global leadership and an evening Cross Campus celebration featuring words, music and dance.

To see preliminary images of forthcoming 2001 stamps and stationery, visit the Postal Store at www.usps.com and select “Stamp Release Schedule.” To see previous releases, select “Index of Stamp Issues.” Additional contacts: Anthony Fouracre, chief of the United Nations Postal Administration, 212-963-5766; and Robert Stein, U.N. cancellation designer, 212-963-4329.

YALE TERCENTENNIAL
Re: UNITED NATIONS STAMP

PHOTO DESCRIPTION

1) HARKNESS MEMORIAL TOWER - ( 2 Photos) One of the most identifiable landmarks of Yale campus, Harkness Tower is part of the Memorial Quadrangle completed in 1921 as a gift of Mrs. Stephen Harkness. Built in collegiate gothic style of seam-faced granite, Indiana limestone, Briar Hill sandstone among others, was a number of dormitories set around central courtyards . It was later to become two residential colleges, Saybrook and Branford. Harkness tower was completed in 1916 in honor of the donor’s late son, Charles William Harkness, who graduated in 1883. In 1966 the bell chimes were converted to a 44 bell carillon.

2) CONNECTICUT HALL - ( 1 Photo) The oldest building on campus as well as New Haven, is the single remaining Georgian college building at Yale. It was built between 1759 and 1753 with funding form sales of a French frigate, a lottery and a grant by the General Assembly. A fourth story was added and the roof was redesigned by Sir John Trumbull in 1797. It has been renovated twice and was the office of the Dean of Yale College for several years. It now has a faculty meeting rooms, a freshman reading room and two guest suites. Connecticut Hall so carries the Landmark Plaque of the New Haven Preservation Trust. A statue of Nathan Hale, former student and Revolutionary War hero, stands outside.

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