By Emmariah Holcomb
Staff Writer
St. Bonaventure University Friedsam Memorial Library archives received a United Nations stamp collection worth $11,000 on Aug. 21. Ray Albertella, ‘62, donated the collection a few weeks after going on a tour of his alma matter, which he hadn’t seen in 50 year.
Leanna Chojnacki, secretarygeneral for Model United Nations, gave a tour to the class of ‘62 over the summer; where she met Albertella for the first time. “I showed the class of ’62 the Thisness (puzzle) piece to give them a sense of the clubs we have on campus,”Chojnacki said.
When Chojnacki mentioned Model United Nations, Albertella became interested in finding out more information on what the organization does on campus. After gaining more information, he mentioned his collection and shortly after sent sample contents
of his stamps from his Virginia home.
Three United States Post Offices in Geneva, Vienna and New York City issued the stamps between the 1960’s and 1990’s. Stamps mostly fill the collection, but there are also post cards, air mailers, and informational books about the collections included.
The stamps have a powerful message; they promote peace everywhere they are sent along with celebrating world events. The events range from the creation of new countries to human rights and endangered animals. All events support the creation of Model United
Nations.
Chojnacki said she wanted to create a display in the Quick Center of the Arts with the collection for United Nations day Oct. 24. The Quick Center agreed to display the collection for the club. However, until the United Nations day the collection will be safely kept in the university archives.
“All students on campus will have access to them,” Chojnacki said. Albertella plans to continue to add to the stamp collection after seeing the interest to his collection. Ray Albertella, ‘62, donated the collection after seeing Thisness puzzle pieces.
holcome10@bonaventure.edu
