James W. Milgram, a retired orthopaedic surgeon, has collected both covers and letter paper of 18th and 19th centuries United States. He is a prolific philatelic author and co-author of over 500 articles in such journals as American Philatelist, Stamps Magazine, SPA Journal, Postal History Journal, Confederate Philatelist, Chronicle of the U.S. Philatelic Classic Issues, Western Express, and American Stamp Dealer & Collector. Author of eight books, Milgram has written extensively on topics such as Confederate postal history, U.S. postal history, transcontinental mail, illustrated envelopes and letter sheets, Indian Territory postal markings, express mail, and registered mail among others.

As a member of the American Philatelic Society since September 1958 he has recieved many honors for his writing most notably the Elliott Perry Cup (1987), the Stanley B. Ashbrook Cup (1999), Susan M. McDonald Award (2001), the Barbara R. Mueller Award for best article in the 2007 issues of American Philatelist (co-authored with Steve Berlin) and in 2013 he was awarded the U.S.Stamp Society-Barbara R. Mueller Award.

Presentation Synopsis: The presentation “Early Railroads Carry the Mail” is an 11 part discussion of the beginnings of railroads and their transportation of mail from the 1820s to the 1880s with discussion of many different aspects of railroad mail history also with illustrations of interesting covers. It ends with the transcontinental railroad including its effect on the development of Denver.

Recorded on October 27, 2020 during the 11th Postal History Symposium.

Video Duration: 71 minutes