Christmas Philatelic Club

Special Anniversary Editions of the Yule Log

During the Yule Logs of 1994, former editor Kathy Ward presented a special look back into the Club’s previous 25 years. Meetings of the Club in its early years were described and illustrated with pictures. A favorite article from past Yule Logs was reprinted in some issues of 1994. Focus on Members paid tribute to CPC’s Life Members with a writeup about several members in each issue. For a description of the anniversary issues, see the reviews below.

January/February 1994 Yule Log

  • “25 Years Ago in CPC”…..Joan Klimchalk reviews the first issue of the Yule Log. Number one was issued January 1, 1969 and consisted of one page and was sent to 100 members of ATA to solicit Christmas collectors who would be interested in forming an ATA Christmas unit.

  • “Christmas Philatelic Club - Founded in Harmony”….an article by founder Ken Mackenzie outlining the benefits of membership. Reprinted from the September, 1970 issue.

  • “Gift Wraps and Rappings”….incoming editor, Edna Cummins, who took over for Ken in December 1970 had some nice words to say to Ken, “Founding the Christmas Philatelic Club was one of the most wonderful Christmas gifts any of us has ever received.”

  • “CPC’s First Chapter Meeting - New York City”…..details CPC’s first get together September 10, 1971. Seven members and one guest attended this meeting: Hans Baum #52, Bill Coughlin #180, Carl Eissmann #222, Mel Garabrant #84, Helen Gillespie #216, Helen Lombardo (guest), Ann Minor #144 and Hilary Smith #146.

  • “The Story Behind the 1971 Christmas Philatelic Club Covers”….. related by Bob Jones, CPC #21, secretary/treasurer at the time. The covers were actually used to mail the Yule Logs with a Dec. 25, 1971 Bethlehem, Kentucky postmark. A rubber stamp cachet included the words “The Yule Log/Monthly Journal of the/Christmas Philatelic Club/Christmas Greetings” and an illustration of the Three Kings following the Star.

  • Similar covers with a different cachet (snowman, Santa and Merry Christmas/Christmas Philatelic Club) mailed from Partridge, Kentucky Dec. 25 were used to mail current membership cards to members. Member Hilary Smith supplied the envelopes decorated with the rubber stamp designs.

  • “Santa Claus for Sale” an article from the May 1983 Yule Log was chosen for reprinting by the editor. The article written by Ken Mackenzie told about the development of Santa Claus, Arizona, first established in 1937. The town was for sale in 1983 for $149,000.

  • “Focus on Members” featured writeups on Life Members: Brother Raphael Cecchini, Grace V. Weller and Helen Gillespie.

  • “Harmony, Minnesota - A Brief History”…..In preparation for the Club’s anniversary celebrations in Harmony, Minnesota, member Gwen Herker visited Harmony, Minnesota. She relates a brief history of the town along with some pictures she took while there.

March/April 1994 Yule Log

  • “CPCers Meet in St. Paul, Minnesota”…..An informal meeting on January 19, 1974 at the home of Mrs. Marie Haywood, mother of member Virginia Haywood, #16. Also present were Kenneth Mackenzie #1, Dorothy Kilpatrick #27, John Montez #308, Ruth Hart #250, Ruth Light #274, Elizabeth Wolf #444 and a guest Frances Engen. At this meeting, Ken mentioned the possibility of a CPC First Day Cover from Harmony, Minnesota.

  • “North Star Chapter Meeting”…..Eleven members met at the home of Virginia Haywood. Ted Striny #297 suggested this chapter of CPC be named the North Star. Other members present: Ruth Light, Ken Mackenzie, Lois Holland, Dorothy Kilpatrick, Elizabeth Wolf, Elizabeth Moe, John Vance, John Montez and Agnes Mueller.

  • “Minnesota Chapter - Summer Events”…..Seven members attended a meeting at Ruth Light’s home on June 29, 1974 - Frances Engen, Dorothy Kilpatrick, Elizabeth Wolf, Elizabeth Moe, Ruth Light, Virginia Haywood and Ruth Hart. Mrs. Marie Haywood was also present.

  • “Fred Korotkin Speaker at North Star Chapter Meeting”…..Korotkin detailed the revolution and the current stamp program celebrating the bi- centennial of the revolution. In attendance were Dorothy Kilpatrick, Ruth Hart, Ruth Light, Elizabeth Wolf, Hugh Osborn, Frances Engen and Virginia Haywood. A logo for the North Star Chapter was adopted at this meeting.

  • “North Star Special”…..a recipe created by Mrs. Marie Haywood, for one of the favorite cookies served at the meetings of the Minnesota North Star chapter. Yule Log Marshmallow Roll.

  • “25 Years Ago in CPC”…..The second and third issues of the Yule Logs in 1969 are reviewed by Joan Klimchalk. Ken Mackenzie chronicled the progress of the club. By April 1, there were 21 paid up charter members. Ken emphasized the friendly nature of the club and encouraged writing to fellow members.

  • “Santa-i-tus”…..written by Ed Sarbach, first appeared in the January/February 1989 Yule Log. It gives a detailed description of the fever caught by the editor on a recent visit to CPC member Joan Klimchalk, a devoted Santa collector.

  • “Focus on Members”…..Life Members Dorothy Henderson, Dorothy Martin and Anthony B. Anthony are introduced.

May/June 1994 Yule Log

  • “Decennial 1978”…..CPC became Affiliate #74 of the American Philatelic Society in April 1978. CPC celebrated its decennial in conjunction with the APS convention STaMpsHOW ‘78 in Indianapolis from Sept. 21 through Sept. 24. Present were Ken Mackenzie (President), Dorothy Henderson (Vice President), Vaughn Augustin (Secretary-Treasurer), Doug White (Director), Henry Bouchard, Alphal Leclaire, Theresa Siegel, Roy Gillespie, Carl Grissman, Ron Sobel and Virgil Mathias. New members joining at the show were Dixie McDonough and Reverend M.J. Whitehead. CPC #352 Kathleen Berry exhibited “Illuminated Manuscripts” and won a silver award.

  • “Topex - June 23, 1979”…..CPC members gathered in Spokane, Washington: Dorothy Henderson, Leota Robliske, Edna Cummins, Roy Gillespie, Cathie Osborne, Dorothy Smith and Theresa Siegel.

  • “STaMpsHOW ‘79 - August 23-26”…..CPC members attending this show in Boston were: Vaughn Augustin, Doug White, Harry Glass, Ernest St. Laurent, Anna Burke and Regina Mount. Member Mario McSween joined while at this show.

  • “25 Years Ago in CPC”…..A Classification Committee was set up to assemble a list and classify all Christmas issues, determining which stamps were actually Christmas. The column Christmas Shopping made its debut in the May 1969 Yule Log. Editor Ken Mackenzie asked for every club member to be a participating member.

  • “The Christmas Tree Ship”…..reprinted from the June 1984 and April 1985 Yule Logs. This delightful article tells the story behind three commemorative covers picturing the Rouse Simmons, Chicago’s Christmas Tree Ship. The covers issued in 1962 remember the 50th anniversary since the loss of the ship.

  • “Happy Anniversary Christmas Philatelic Club”…..CPC #569 Cathie Osborne of Sequim, Washington pays a philatelic tribute to CPC on its Silver Anniversary. She describes different types of bells on stamps that celebrate different occasions.

  • “Focus on Members” …..introduces Life Members Robert Leo and Molly Dolan.

  • “Christmas In Minnesota”…. a schedule of events planned for the 25th anniversary celebration October 19-23, 1994. Shortly before this issue went to press, we received the final confirmation that a First Day of Issue in Harmony, Minnesota was planned.

July/August 1994 Yule Log

  • “Southern California CPC Meetings”…Ten members met at the home of Roberta Ward #217 on July 27, 1980. Vaughn Augustin, Anthony B. Anthony, Ann Carlson, Rodney Caaaron, Irene Chidester, Bob Christi, Edna Cummins, Ev Foster and Florence Reeves. Roberta had another friendly get together on September 13, 1991. Present at this gathering were Wesley Smith, Richard Rothwell, a guest, Anthony B. Anthony, E.W. Foster, Eunice Brown, John Blessingham, Martin Ehde, Irene Chidester, Ann Carlson and Edna Cummins.

  • “Mecca in Milwaukee 1982”…..Several CPC members attended STaMpsHOW ‘82 but names were not listed. From pictures, we note that Felix Zagorski, Ed Kalasa, Roy Gillespie, Irene Murphy and Ken Mackenzie were in attendance.

  • “25 Years Ago in CPC”…..The August 1, 1969 issue listed 24 new members, bringing the total membership to 61. Ken Mackenzie published a “Letter of Intent” which included a brief history of the fledgeling CPC and outlined his personal goals for the future of the club.

  • “Focus on Members”…..introduces Life Members Alphal Leclaire, Christina Howland and Manson Rideout.

  • Illustrations of CPC’s 25th Anniversary Cover, Souvenir Card and Seal and an order form are included. CPC members visiting editor Kathy Ward during July helped add the silver highlights to the covers. Further details of “Christmas in Minnesota” are given and the front page pictures the two stamps that would be issued in Harmony.

September/October 1994 Yule Log

  • “Stop the Presses!”…..Yule Log announces another stamp to be issued in Harmony on October 20. Four stamps in all: Santa self-adhesive, teddy bear in a stocking sheet, teddy bear in a stocking booklet and the cardinal ATM stamp.

  • “Focus on Members”…..introduces Life Members Gladys M. Vogel, Violet G. Phillis and Hazel Humphrey.

  • “25 Years Ago in CPC”…..37 new members were added in the period covered by the two issues in September and October 1969. Ken Mackenzie suggests a system for classifying Christmas stamps. Robert Jones wrote about the 1957 first Christmas/New Year’s stamps of Korea pointing out the scarcity of the imprint blocks of this issue. Ramona Schmidler detailed how she made her own custom pages in an article entitled “Mounting.” Edna Cummins relates the legend of Iceland’s Christmas Goblins.

  • “1993 Christmas Booklet Review” by Allan Hauck…was the Ken Mackenzie Writer’s Award winner for 1994.

November/December 1994 Yule Log

  • “Focus on Members”…..Life Members Dewey R. Watkins, Jr., Dorothy I. Smith and Rev. Ralph Harpell are introduced in this issue.

  • “25 Years Ago in CPC”…..Edna B. Cummins introduced a new column entitled “Christmas Seals.” An important milestone was reached by the end of 1969 - the acceptance of member #109. This represented achieving the goal of at least 100 new members in CPC’s first year.

  • “Chatterbox”…..Editor Kathy Ward tells how she celebrated CPC’s 25th Anniversary and announces that all the anniversary covers were sold (75% sold before she arrived in Harmony).

  • 25th Anniversary Seal…..each member received a seal in this Yule Log.

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