Mail Art

This could be a 'mail art' project of some kind. Looking at the Wikipedia definition (!), mail art is linked to first day covers, etc. (which connects us with Francis J. Field nicely) and it would be nice to do something Fluxus-like with the International Union of Mail Artists and the like, and also reference:

http://www.actlab.utexas.edu/emma/Gallery/galleryjohnson.html#TRIBUTE

http://www.rayjohnsonestate.com/newyork.php

Maybe we should produce a First Day Cover for the July consultation event, thus shifting away from 'researching' the subject to 'using' the subject, see: http://www.spareroom.org/mailart/arch_ess.html

Other things worth reading:
http://www.kg6gb.org/services_mail.htm

http://www.tafsc.com/PostalHistory.htm

Envelopes

http://www.actlab.utexas.edu/emma/

Francis J. Field

Francis J. Field lived 10 Richmond Road, Sutton Coldfield (very near the RPG site).

FIELD, Francis John 1895-1992.
For seventy years a student of airpost history and aerophilately. In 1921 he founded the firm of Francis J Field Ltd, dealing specially in air stamps. At Birmingham, in May 1923, he gave the first British philatelic talk on radio. He compiled 'A Commercial and Historical Atlas of the World's Airways' [1925], and was co-author, with NC Baldwin, of 'The Coronation Aerial Post 1911' [1934]. Works published by his firm included: 'British Air Mails - A Chronology of the Air Posts of Great Britain and Ireland' [1935], 'Air Mail Labels (Etiquettes)', 'The Blitz Book' [1942], 'Great Britain and Ireland - Catalogue of Internal Air Mails 1910-41' compiled by NC Baldwin [1942], 'World Air Posts - A concise priced summary of the Air Post and Aviation Souvenirs of about 200 countries' [1948], 'British Air Mail Society Souvenir' [1971], and from 1926 the house magazine 'The Aero Field'. President Aerophilatelic Federation and Streetly P.S. Named in Roll of Honour of Birmingham P.S. RDP 1968.

I love the fact that Field gave the "first British philatelic talk on radio".

Francis J. Field is also included in the Aerophilatelic Hall of Fame. "It honors those who have contributed significantly to the accumulation of aerophilatelic knowledge, to interest and participation in aerophilately or rendered outstanding service to national or international organized aerophilately. The names of those honored are inscribed on the Aerophilatelic Hall of Fame plaque at the World Airmail Research Center in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania." [http://www.americanairmailsociety.org/html/aerophilatelic_hall_of_fame.html]

His company 'Francis J. Field Ltd' was incorporated 06.06.1924 (reg. no. 00198487) and had its office at 135 Boldmere Road, Sutton Coldfield.

Field was also involved in The PsyWar Society ("an international Association of Psychological Warfare Historians & Aerial Propaganda Collectors"), and his obituary appeared in issue 138 of their journal.

Check these out:

http://www.americanairmailsociety.org/html/preparing_for_takeoff.html

[http://www.americanairmailsociety.org/]

Introduction

Letters for Victory

"Mail and morale go hand in hand," so said Lieutenant Jordan, one of the first American officers to be based at the First Base Post Office in Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire. He was right, imagine how you feel when the postman drops a letter from a friend through your letterbox and imagine how the American soldiers, based over here in Britain thousands of miles from home, felt when they received a letter from friends or family. The importance of having an efficient mail system should not be underestimated in building up morale and aiding the war effort.

http://www.englemed.co.uk/books/usaaf/