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Oscar Micheaux University of North Florida UNF Digital Commons UNF Digital Commons Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. Stamp Collection Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. Papers 6-22-2010 Black Heritage Stamp Series: Oscar Micheaux United States Postal Service. Stamp Division Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/hurst_stamps Part of the African American Studies Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Black Heritage Stamp Series: Oscar Micheaux. 2010. Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. Papers. University of North Florida. Thomas G. Carpenter Library. Special Collections and Archives. UNF Digital Commons. https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/hurst_stamps/34 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. Papers at UNF Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. Stamp Collection by an authorized administrator of UNF Digital Commons. For more information, please contact Digital Projects. © 6-22-2010 All Rights Reserved Footer logo AMERICAN COMMEMORATIVE CANCELLATIONS Issue Date Engraver Oscar Micheaux June 22, 2010 Trident The 33rd stamp in the Black Heritage series honors pioneering film­ First Day City Colors maker Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951), who wrote, directed, produced, New York, NY Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black and distributed more than 40 movies during the first half of the 20th century. Artist Micheaux was active at a time when African-American filmmakers were Gary Kelley Image Area (w x h) rare, venues for their work were scarce, and support from the industry Cedar Falls, IA 1.42 X .84 in. did not exist-and when a unique African-American voice was bound to 36.07 x 21.34 mm Designer cause controversy. Derry Noyes Format Washington, DC Pane of 20 (1 design) From the start, Micheaux's films mocked corrupt preachers or depicted characters who gambled, drank alcohol, or used slang and vulgar Art Director Plate Numbers Derry Noyes "V" followed by four language. "I am too much imbued with the spirit of Booker T. Washington," single digits he explained in 1924, "to engraft false virtues upon ourselves, to make Typographer ourselves that which we are not. Nothing could be a greater blow to Derry Noyes Marginal Markings our own progress." By contrast, Micheaux ensured that his heroines Header: "BLACK Modeler HERITAGE," "33rd IN A were typically intelligent and strong and that his films promoted hard Avery Dennison, SERIES,"© 2009 USPS, work and education. In a 1947 letter distributed to theater managers, Security Printing plate numbers, price, he defended his portrayal of the African-American experience: "We Division (AVR/SPD) barcodes, plate position diagram, biographical want to see our lives dramatized on the screen as we are living it, the Manufacturing Process text, USPS logo same as other peoples, the world over." Gravure Forgotten after his death, Micheaux was rediscovered in the late 1960s Printer Avery Dennison (AVR) and 1970s by film historians. Although only 15 of his movies are known to have survived in whole or in part, his ingenuity and determination have made him a cinematic icon. In 1986, he was posthumously awarded a special Directors Guild of America award, and in 1995 the Producers Guild of America established the Oscar Micheaux Award to honor "an individual or individuals whose achievements in film and television have been accomplished despite difficult odds." The stamp features a stylized portrait of Micheaux by Gary Kelley, who based the stamp art on one of the few surviving photographs of the filmmaker. The photograph, which appeared in his 1913 novel The Conquest, shows a young, determined filmmaker eager to discuss and promote his on-screen portrayal of the African-American experience. Rm DAY OF ISSUE •JUN£ 22. 20IO • NEW YORK, NY 10!99 © 2010 United States Postal Service (1016) Rodney Lawrence Hurst Sr. Papers .!!!!J!!f UNITEDST/J.TES Thomas G Carpenter Library /JEili, POST/J.L SERVICE@ Special Collections AMERICAN COMMEMORATIVE PANELS Oscar Micheaux In 1919, Micheaux earned rave reviews in the Chicago press after he wrote, directed, and produced a big-screen adaptation of his 1917 novel The Homesteader, which combined a love story, a Western, and a dramatic tale of African-American life. During the 1920s, he made more than 20 movies about such con­ troversial subjects as mob violence, lynching, and racial identity. He also adapted novels, produced courtroom dramas, and dabbled in autobiography, and later he became the only producer of silent movies for African Americans to make the transition to producing sound pictures. This 33rd stamp in the Black Heritage series features artwork by Gary Kelley based on one of the few surviving photographs of Micheaux: a portrait from his 1913 novel The Conquest that shows a young, determined filmmaker eager to discuss and promote his on-screen portrayal of the African-American experience. As Micheaux himself explained in OSCAR MICHEAUX (1884-1951) was a man 1947: "We want to see our lives dramatized ahead of his time. Born to a farming family on the screen as we are living it, the same as in southwestern Illinois, he went on to write, other peoples, the world over." direct, produce, and distribute more than 40 movies during the first half of the 20th century-long before African-American film­ makers enjoyed industry support or wide­ spread venues for their work. Micheaux's films were often rooted in his own experiences. As a young man, he worked a variety of jobs, including a stint as a Pull­ man porter, before purchasing land in South Dakota and becoming a homesteader. In 1913, he turned his own experiences into The Conquest, the first of several novels. As he traveled the country selling his books, Micheaux showed an entrepreneurial spirit that foreshadowed his career as a filmmaker. background and intaglio: Fotosearch Stock Photography; top and bottom left: Courtesy Margaret Herrick library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; top right: Courtesy of the State Archives of the South Dakota Historical Society; bottom right:© Bettmann /Corbis Stamps printed by Avery Dennison (AVR) / No. 854 in a series/ June 22, 2010 / Printed inRodney U.S.A./© 2010 United Lawrence States Postal Service Hurst Sr. Papers .::!!J!!!I UNITEDST/lTES Thomas G Carpenter Library j!a POST/lL SERVICE@ Special Collections BLACK HERITAGE V 111 33rd IN A SERIES V 111 Rodney Lawrence Hurst Sr. Papers Thomas G Carpenter Library V 111 Special CollectionsV 111 Pioneering filmmaker Oscar Pioneering filmmaker Oscar Pioneering filmmaker Oscar Pioneering filmmaker Oscar Pioneering filmmaker Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951 I Micheaux (1884-1951) Micheaux (1884-1951) Micheaux (1884-1951) Micheaux (1884-1951) wrote, directed, produced , wrote, directed, produced, wrote, directed, produced, wrote, directed, produced, wrote, directed, produced, and distributed more than and distributed more than and distributed more than and distributed more than and distributed more than iiiiii 40 movies during the first 40 movies during the first 40 movies during the first 40 movies during the first 40 movies during the first ;;;;;;;; half of the 20th century. hatt of the 20th century, half of the 20th century, half of the 20th century, hatt of the 20th century, - o when African-American when African-American when African-American when African-American when African-American =- oa- filmmakers were extremely filmmakers were extremely filmmakers were extremely filmmakers were extremely filmmakers were extremely ;;;;;;;; -, rare and support for their rare and support for their rare and support for their rare and support for their rare and support for their =--"'.., work was scarce. His work was scarce. His work was scarce. His work was scarce. His work was scarce. His !!!!!!!!! entrepreneurial spirit and entrepreneurial spirit and entrepreneurial spirit and entrepreneurial spirit and entrepreneurial spirit and independent vision continue independent vision continue independent vision continue independent vision continue independent vision continue --- to inspire new generations to inspire new generations to inspire new generations to inspire new generations to inspire new generations of filmmakers and arusts. of filmmakers and artists. of filmmakers and arusts. of filmmakers and artists. of filmmakers and artists. Pioneering filmmaker Oscar Pioneering filmmaker Oscar Pioneering filmmaker Oscar Pioneering filmmaker Oscar Pioneering filmmaker Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951) Micheaux (1884-1951) Micheaux (1884-1951) Micheaux (1884-1951) Micheaux (1884-1951) wrote, directed, produced , wrote, directed, produced, wrote, directed, produced, wrote, directed, produced, wrote, directed, produced, and distributed more than and distributed more than and distributed more than and distributed more than and distributed more than 40 movies during the first 40 movies during the first 40 movies during the first 40 movies during the first 40 movies during the first half of the 20th century, half of the 20th century, half of the 20th century, hatt of the 20th century, half of the 20th century, when African-American when African-American when African-American when African-American when African-American filmmakers were extremely filmmakers were extremely filmmakers were extremely filmmakers were extremely filmmakers were extremely rare and support for their rare and support for their rare and support for their rare and support for tlleir rare and support for tlleir work was scarce. His work was scarce. His work was scarce. His work was scarce. His work
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