Hall of Fame writer, Harvey Karlen, 1918 -2008

Well known Chicago philatelist, Harvey Karlen,Ph.D.,89, passed away of natural causes on Feb. 9 according to the Chicago Tribune.

He was 11 days short of his 90th birthday.

Tribune reporter Trevor Jensen writes, "Dr. Karlen's philatelic interests extended well beyond stamps. He also collected and studied postmarks, the growth of branch post offices in the city and suburbs, the content of letters and the evolution of mail delivery systems."

Among Karlen's books were "Chicago's Mail: An Anthology of Postal History Articles Focusing Upon the Community's Growth, Its Interests and Its Attitudes" and the playfully titled "Chicago's Crabgrass Communities: A History of the Independent Suburbs and Their Post Offices That Became Part of Chicago." He was inducted into the APS Writer's Unit "Hall of Fame" in 2004.

Al Kugel, member of the Collectors Club of Chicago, the city's top philatelic organization, is quoted as saying, "He not only collected stamps, he educated people about them, studied them and tried to show people what was interesting about them."

A professor of Political Science for 41 years in New York and at Chicago City College, Karlen is recognized as a pioneer in teaching college courses on open circuit television.

To read his entire obituary, click here.