Dr. Kenneth B. Grant

Former APRL President and APS Secretary Passes Away 

The APS and APRL sadly report the loss of Dr. Kenneth (Ken) B. Grant, former president of the American Philatelic Research Library (APRL) and secretary of the American Philatelic Society (APS). Ken joined the APS in 1982 and would have celebrated his 40th year at the end of April.

Kenneth Grant made a lifelong, sustained, and dedicated contribution to the organizational backbone of philately. From his lifetime leadership of the local club in Baraboo, Wisconsin, to his steady and thoughtful leadership at various levels of the APS and APRL, Ken was nothing if not reliable. One of the best examples was Ken’s willingness to step into the presidency for the American Philatelic Research Library to fill a vacancy created by a sudden resignation in 2018. He did so without hesitation. His leadership of the APRL allowed the library to continue its mission to philatelists without interruption.

“Ken Grant leaves a legacy of remarkable leadership, having led the APRL in challenging times to great success.” said APRL President Melanie Rogers, “I will miss his insights and our conversations. May he rest in peace.”

Besides this significant support of the APS and APRL, Ken faithfully served on the APRL Board of Trustees since 1999, with only a brief gap from this responsibility from 2011-2016, when he served as the APS Board Secretary. He sat on multiple APS and APRL committees, including the USSS-Mueller Award committee, the Charles Peterson Award committee, Strategic Planning Committees, and more. Ken demonstrated tremendous dedication to the APS and its missions. His tireless efforts were recognized when he was awarded the John N. Luff Award for Outstanding Service to the APS in 2020.

One of Ken’s best accomplishments involves the American Philatelic Center. He was one of the leaders who signed the initial paperwork to purchase the Match Factory and was a part of the decision-making process for every phase of construction up to its completion in 2016. During his most recent tenure as APRL president, the APRL paid off its mortgage debt on the Match Factory in 2020, fifteen years ahead of schedule.

“Ken was a true supporter, champion, and friend of the library. On a professional and personal level, Ken was insightful, supportive, and enthusiastic,” Scott Tiffney, Director of Information Services and Librarian, said, “We shared a love of books and the information they provided. It was an honor to work together to provide greater access for our patrons to the resources of the APRL.”

Ken was also a proud supporter of the Campaign for Philately from its inception and served on the committee consistently, with only a gap of two years. The Campaign for Philately, with its goals of serving the needs of current members, supporting new and future collectors, and promoting the hobby, was well-served by Ken’s efforts toward the future of philately.

When Ken was not working on behalf of the APS, he remained highly dedicated to his local stamp clubs and edited the Cinderella Stamp Club’s publication, The Cinderella Philatelist. At the end of Ken’s term as APRL President, the APRL Board of Trustees and others donated to name the library’s cinderella collection in Ken’s honor.

About the Dr. Kenneth B. Grant Cinderella Collection

Housed on the library’s first floor, the Dr. Kenneth B. Grant Cinderella Collection consists of four shelves of worldwide cinderella research material. It includes material for both the beginner collector and the experienced philatelist, highlighted by the introductory work “Cinderella Stamps” by L.N. and M. Williams and the comprehensive multi-volume “Drummond’s Catalog of Philatelic Miscellany.” The collection exemplifies the broad range of interest and research dedicated to this unique facet of philately.