Dr. Juliet E.K. Walker and the Free Frank New Philadelphia Historic Preservation Foundation launch the Free Frank and New Philadelphia Illinois Commemorative Stamps Campaigns Dr. Juliet Elise Kirkpatrick Walker, Founder and Executive Director of the Free Frank New Philadelphia Historic Preservation Foundation (the "Foundation") and the Foundation's advisory committee to promote the Free Frank and New Philadelphia Illinois Commemorative Stamp projects, has officially launched the petition campaigns. The petitions are necessary to garnish enough support to convince the United States Postal Service Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee that the issuance of a commemorative Free Frank and New Philadelphia Illinois stamps is necessary to recognize this extraordinary African-American and the historic event of the town founding in America's history. Dr. Juliet E.K. Walker and the Foundation Stamp Advisory Committee, is recommending that United States Postage Stamps be issued in honor of Free Frank McWorter (1777-1854) and New Philadelphia, Illinois. The slave-born Free Frank holds the historic distinction of being the first African American town founder. In 1836, he legally platted the frontier town of New Philadelphia, Illinois which in August became the 1st black town to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also, over a period of 40 years, with profits generated from various enterprises, as both a slave and free black pioneer entrepreneur, Free Frank purchased 16 family members, including himself, from slavery. The total cost, $15,000, adjusting for inflation and the devaluation of the dollar, today, would be $250,000. Free Frank's life history is found in a carefully researched book, by Dr. Juliet E.K.Walker, Free Frank's great great granddaughter which provides the only documented study of Free Frank's economic life and his town of New Philadelphia- Free Frank: A Black Pioneer on the Antebellum Frontier (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1983, 1995), In 1988 Dr. Walker had the gravesite of her great great grandfather placed in the National Register of Historic Places, one of only three Illinois gravesites listed in the National Register. The other two are President Abraham Lincoln and Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas. According to Dr. Walker the selection of Free Frank and New Philadelphia Illinois to appear on a United States Postal Stamp is imperative because it preserves in our nation's history the life and accomplishments of a great American and a great African-American. Free Frank's life epitomized the basic core values that we all share as Americans, to be free and the pursuit of life liberty and happiness. This recognition is long overdue." At least 8,000 Letters of Support are needed to be sent to the Postal Services' Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee. The committee will only review a particular theme or idea once every two years. As the committee reviews stamp themes in the coming months, it will base much of its decision on how many people write letters of support for an idea. There are several ways for you to get involved to make sure the Commemorative Free Frank United States Postal Stamp and the Commemorative New Philadelphia Illinois Postal come into fruition: 1. Contact Your Government Representative: Have your local, state and federal representatives send them too. Please take the time to send a copy of your letter to the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee to your United States Representative and Senator. Let them know that you support the Dr. Juliet E.K. Walker's effort for the issuance of a Commemorative Free Frank and New Philadelphia Illinois United States Postal Stamp. Please ask that they support this effort. When you call or write please remember that Congress recesses over the summer at the end of July and returns after Labor Day. If you send a letter, try to follow up with a phone call. United States House of Representatives www.house.gov (Go to House Directory) United States Senate www.senate.gov (Go to List Senators by state) 2. Write letters: Contact your family and friends and urge them to write letters until the stamps are issued Anyone wishing to send a letter in support of these projects print out a letter of support and sign, date and return to: Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee Stamp Development United States Postal Service 1735 North Lynn Street Room 5013 Arlington, VA 22209-6432 Click here to download & print out sample letter of support for the Free Frank Commemorative Stamp. Click here to download & print out sample letters of support for the New Philadelphia Illinois Commemorative Stamp. 3. Petition Drives If you are a school or student, or if you belong to a church, synagogue, or community organization, start a petition campaign to garnish support and publicize the Free Frank and New Philadelphia Illinois Postage Stamp campaigns. It's a story that should never be forgotten. Direct other people to this webpage so everyone will find out about the campaign. Link your site to this page or publish it in your practice newsletter. Full permission is given to link to our site for this purpose Click here to download & print out a petition for support of the New Philadelphia Illinois Commemorative United States Postal Stamp. Click here to download & print out a petition for support of the Free Frank Commemorative United States Postal Stamp. Click here to submit an online petition for the for the Free Frank stamp. Click here to submit an online petition for the New Philadelphia Illinois stamp. We thank you in advance for your support. Your letters and petitions will help us reach our goals. Email freefrankstamp@freefrank.org or contact info@newphildelphiaillinois.org -the Foundation Stamp Advisory Committee for additional information. To learn more about Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee and its 13 member panel click here.