Twice Around the World: Oklahoma's Wiley Post
Wiley Post Postage Collection
Although Post's life was cut short at the age of 36 when he and fellow Oklahoman Will Rogers perished in a plane crash near Point Barrow, Alaska, on August 15, 1935, the one eyed aviator's legacy has lived on well beyond him. People and institutions in Oklahoma, the United States, and beyond have sought to celebrate Post's life and impact in a variety of ways. One such avenue is through different forms of United States postage!
Donated by collector Martin L. Severe, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame's Wiley Post Postage Collection contains numerous examples of postage which pay homage to Post's life and extraordinary deeds. Often this is accomplished not just through printed words, but through designed illustrations and stamps which symbolize Post and his various accomplishments. As you explore, consider how these accomplishments, many of which you learned about through the previous section of this exhibit, are portrayed through this collection.
Celebrating America's Ambassadors of Goodwill
Those who admired Wiley Post and Will Rogers were devastated when the news broke about the plane crash that killed the two famous Oklahomans. Many objects, including the postage presented here, serve as memorials to Post and Rogers, depicting symbolic images of both men.
Take a careful look at the postage artwork and the accompanying photographs. What symbols of Post do you see in the artwork? Which ones symbolize Rogers?
Photograph, ca. 1930s. Wiley Post Climbing on top of the Winnie Mae. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives.
Photograph, ca. 1920s. Will Rogers posing in a cowboy outfit with a lasso. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives.
Postage. Wiley Post Postage Collection, donated by Martin L. Severe. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives.
The Winnie Mae as a Symbol
While it certainly was not the only plane Post flew in his career, the Winnie Mae is most closely associated with his legacy. The plane itself often serves as a symbol for Post and his impressive achievements in aviation. The postage presented here are all examples which utilize illustrations of the Winnie Mae in this manner.
What is a symbol? Why do you think this particular plane is used as a symbol for Post and his aviation career?
Postage. Wiley Post Postage Collection, donated by Martin L. Severe. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives.
Post's Legacy Lives On!
Thanks to visual art like the kind depicted in postage, the iconic images of the one-eyed pilot live on. Artists illustrating Post and his achievements over the years have produced images that reflect, to some degree, their own unique imaginations of the flier and his contributions to early aviation.
Looking at the objects presented here, can you point out any differences of artistic style between the images depicted in them? If you were to draw Wiley Post, how would you do it?
Postage. Wiley Post Postage Collection, donated by Martin L. Severe. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives.