Replaces Rich Drews as Trustee
The American Philatelic Research Library Board of Trustees nominated Matthew Liebson to replace Rich Drews as a Founder, Patron, and Vooys Fellow Trustee. The term runs through August 2028 and represents the Founders, Patrons, and Vooys Fellows on the Board.
Drews, who served two terms as Director-at-Large on the APS Board of Directors, was elected to the APRL Board in 2022. He stepped down in late February to dedicate more time to Indypex and other philatelic events.
“In his time on both the APS and APRL Boards, Rich was an advocate for aggressive debt retirement and leveraging technology to bring the APS and APRL to the world,” said Scott English, APS Executive Director, and APRL Administrator, “Though Rich won’t be on the APRL Board, I know we can always rely on him for good advice and support.”
Matthew Liebson, a familiar name to many APS members, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. As a former Chairman of the APS Membership Committee, a philatelic judge, and a regular contributor to The American Philatelist, his contributions to the Society are well-known. He joined the APS in 1992, focusing on collector postal history, and also serves as a part-time online dealer.
“We are delighted to welcome Matt back to a leadership role with the APRL,” expressed Scott English, “His return comes at a crucial time as we strive to expand the Robert A. Mason Digital Library and enhance our digital preservation efforts. With his expertise, Matt will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in these discussions in the coming months and years, ensuring a seamless transition and a bright future for the APRL.”
Liebson Statement to the APRL Board
The American Philatelic Research Library is a foundational pillar of the APS and of philately in the United States (and beyond). Stamp collecting has the largest and greatest literature of any hobby, and the APRL is uniquely situated to preserve and share this wealth of information. The digital library has a critical role going forward as the hobby evolves, as APS continues reaching out to nontraditional collectors, and collectors want information at their fingertips. This said, research is a hallmark of philately, and the library continues to have a role to serve in philatelic research and its dissemination.
As a philatelic author, exhibitor, and judge, I am well acquainted with the world of philatelic research and the role it has to play for both traditional and nontraditional collectors. As an experienced business lawyer, I can contribute to the primary business functions of the APRL and its stewardship of the American Philatelic Center. Developing and maintaining additional tenant relationships plays a significant role in foundational financial security for APRL (and APS), and further fundraising will help foster the growth of the digital library, enable APS to preserve its special collections and archives, and make its information available to the membership and the public.
About Matt Liebson
Matthew Liebson is a lifelong collector who focuses on various elements of Ohio postal history and the United States Postal Savings system. He has been a member of the APS since 1992, is a former chair of the Society’s membership committee, and currently serves on the Carter Volunteer Service Awards subcommittee. He is a 2010 Carter Award winner.
Matthew is an accredited APS judge (since 2019) and is currently a columnist for The American Philatelist, writing a monthly column called “The Marketplace.” He is also an APS dealer member and has been an active seller (primarily on eBay) since 1996.
Matthew is a long-time member of the Garfield-Perry Stamp Club and currently acts as the co-bourse chairman for its annual WSP stamp show, the Garfield-Perry March Party. He is involved in numerous other philatelic organizations as well, including, but not limited to, AAPE (legal advisor), USPCDS (regional vice president and legal advisor), Ohio Postal History Society (president), AFDCS (bylaws committee), American Philatelic Congress (council), and the Machine Cancel Society (vice-president).
A resident of suburban Cleveland, Ohio, and an attorney by trade, Matthew is married (to a librarian and archivist, but not a philatelist). He has four children, all of whom have collected or currently collect. Three have exhibited, and we’re anxiously waiting for his youngest to take the leap.
###