Rocky J. Squirrel Presents
GEMS+H:
The Stories That Bind Us
Stamps (Philately) Discovering Stories One Stamp at a Time
Philately is the "S" in GEMS+H because every stamp tells a story.
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Some commemorate famous people.
Others preserve historic events.
Many reveal unexpected connections between cultures, ideas, and generations.
For me, stamp collecting has never simply been about acquiring stamps. It has become another way to ask questions, conduct research, discover hidden connections, and share the stories that bind us.
The Journey Continues: Freemasonry—More Than Meets the Eye
Sometimes a question becomes an exhibit.
After several years of developing and refining my larger American Revolution and Freemasonry exhibit, I decided to challenge myself in a different way: Could I tell the story of Freemasonry through philately in only two frames?
The answer became Freemasonry: More Than Meets the Eye: Contributions, Symbols, and Stories Through Philately.
This new two-frame exhibit made its debut at AIRPEX 2026 and explores Freemasonry through its history, symbols, famous members, contributions, and influence on the world around us.
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The journey that began with a single question has now become a brand-new exhibit—one I am excited to continue sharing with others.
My Journey into Philately
Like many collectors, my journey began in childhood with packets of colorful stamps from around the world. Although that early collection eventually faded into the background, the curiosity behind it never disappeared.
Years later, while researching my Royal Scofield Society capstone and exploring ways to combine my interests, I stumbled upon something I never imagined existed—Masonic stamp collecting.
That unexpected discovery became another reminder that curiosity often leads us somewhere we never expected to go.
What began as a simple curiosity quickly became an entirely new avenue for historical research, exhibit development, public speaking, and international friendships. Once again, curiosity had opened another unexpected door.
Learning the Art of Exhibiting
Collecting stamps is one thing.
Telling a story through an exhibit is something entirely different.
Recognizing that I had much to learn, I sought guidance from Carol Costa of the Dayton Stamp Club. Under her mentorship, I began learning how to transform individual stamps into exhibits that educate, engage, and inspire visitors.
That journey led to my first competitive-style exhibit...
Building Stories Through Exhibits
The American Revolution and Freemasonry: Learning to Tell Stories Through Exhibits
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Every exhibit begins with a question.
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Mine began with this one:
Could I tell the story of Freemasonry's role in the American Revolution through stamps?
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But the project soon became something even more personal. I wanted to tell the story of the American Revolution through the lives of Freemasons who had helped shape it—including several who were also distant relatives. That connection transformed the exhibit from a history project into a personal journey of discovery.
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With equal parts excitement and nervousness, I exhibited for the first time at AIRPEX 2023. Like every first-time exhibitor, I had much to learn. My fellow exhibitors, my mentor, and visitors offered valuable feedback that challenged me to think beyond individual pages and focus on telling a clearer, stronger story.
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Rather than viewing those suggestions as criticism, I viewed them as opportunities to improve.
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Over the following year, I continued expanding and refining the exhibit until it eventually grew into a ten-frame project. Although only three-quarters of the exhibit could be displayed at AIRPEX 2024, the additional space allowed me to tell a much richer story than I had just one year earlier.
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The journey didn't stop there.
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Through the mentorship of experienced exhibitors and the guidance provided by the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE), I have continued refining both the exhibit and my understanding of how powerful philatelic storytelling can become. AAPE provides mentoring and exhibit feedback specifically to help exhibitors improve their work.
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Today, the exhibit continues to evolve as I learn, revise, and discover new connections that strengthen the story it tells.
From Exhibitor to Presenter
As my understanding of exhibiting grew, I was invited to share that journey with others. I exhibited my work during the Ohio Lodge of Research's inaugural MedTalks, where I received additional feedback from both Masons and collectors.
Later, I presented to the Dayton Stamp Club about the process of building an exhibit—from the first idea to a finished display. One of the most rewarding outcomes was seeing that presentation inspire other collectors to begin exhibiting their own collections.
From Question to Exhibit: The Story Behind the Exhibit
After spending several years refining one large exhibit, I found myself asking another question.
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Could I tell a completely different Masonic story in only two frames?
That question led to...
Freemasonry: More Than Meets the Eye.
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Rather than attempting to tell the entire story of Freemasonry, this exhibit takes a different approach. It explores the fraternity through its history, symbols, famous members, and contributions to society—inviting viewers to discover the connections hidden within the stamps themselves.
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From the founding of America and the building of a nation to scientific discovery and innovation, leadership, culture, symbolism, and a lasting legacy of service, the exhibit invites viewers to look beyond common misconceptions and discover the stories hidden within the stamps.​
Learning from the Philatelic Community
One of the most rewarding surprises of philately has been discovering how generous the exhibiting community is.
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Whether attending Garfield-Perry, INDYPEX, or BALPEX, I have learned from nationally recognized exhibitors, award-winning collections, authors, judges, and mentors who have freely shared their knowledge and experience.
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Every conversation has made me a better exhibitor and reminded me that the best collectors never stop learning.
Preserving Masonic Philately
My interest in Masonic stamps eventually led me to the George Washington Masonic Stamp Club, where I unexpectedly found myself elected president during my very first visit in 2022.
Since then, my work has expanded beyond collecting to helping preserve and promote Masonic philately through exhibits, presentations, educational programs, club leadership, website redevelopment, and the creation of commemorative cachets—including one honoring Dr. Joseph Warren.
The more involved I became, the more I realized that stamps are not simply collectibles.
They are pieces of history waiting for someone to ask the next question—to make the connections, uncover the story, and share it with others.
Explore Masonic Philately
Explore the organizations and resources that have become part of my journey into Masonic philately.
George Washington Masonic Stamp Club
Masonic study Unit of the American Topical Association
Masonic Stamp Club of New York
My Masonic philatelic interests also extend internationally.
The Masonic Philatelic Club
Brazilian Association of Masonic Philately
The Masonic Philatelic Club
Explore My Philatelic Community
Philately is more than collecting stamps—it is a community of people who share knowledge, discover new areas of interest, and help one another grow. These organizations have each played a part in my journey, from connecting with fellow collectors locally to learning more about the hobby and becoming a better exhibitor.
Dayton Stamp Club
When I decided to combine my interests in stamp collecting and Freemasonry, I discovered that I could actually create philatelic exhibits. There was only one problem: I had no clue what I was doing, and I knew I would need help.
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I began looking for local stamp clubs. Using lists of older clubs in the area, I made several attempts to find meetings, only to discover that some of the clubs were no longer active. Eventually, I came across the Dayton Stamp Club. Rather than make another drive only to discover that the club was also defunct, I reached out by email first.
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I was blown away when they responded.
Not only was the Dayton Stamp Club active, but they welcomed me into a vibrant philatelic community and connected me with Carol Costa as a mentor. Carol patiently helped me take those first steps toward creating an exhibit and has been instrumental in my development as a collector and exhibitor. Through her guidance, I was introduced to people such as Vera Felts, former head of the American Topical Association, and Roger Zwillinger, author of The Path to Gold. She also directed me toward the national organizations that have become important parts of my philatelic journey, including the ATA, APS, and AFDCS.
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My involvement with the Dayton Stamp Club has introduced me to others who have helped me grow as well. Mike Komiensky has been invaluable in helping me develop as a collector and exhibitor, while Doug Fite helped me take another step forward by encouraging me to become a stamp author.
The club has also given me opportunities to put what I have learned into practice. Through AIRPEX, I have been able to display my exhibits, receive feedback, and use that experience to improve them before eventually submitting them for judging.
What began as a search for someone who could teach me how to build an exhibit became much more than that. The Dayton Stamp Club gave me a place to learn, mentors who were willing to share their knowledge, and a community that continues to shape my journey through philately.
ATA
The ATA brings together collectors who organize their stamps and postal history around themes and subjects—from history and transportation to science, people, and countless other interests like Freemasonry. Its focus on topical collecting fits naturally with the way I use philately to explore subjects and tell stories.
AFDCS
As I began learning how to build philatelic exhibits, I realized I needed to learn more about first day covers and how they can be used as part of an exhibit. Joining the AFDCS has helped me explore that side of philately while also learning more about covers because Masonic stamp clubs and organizations create and collect them as part of their own philatelic activities.
APS
The APS has become an important resource as I continue learning about philately and developing my exhibits. Its American Philatelic Research Library gives me access to an enormous amount of philatelic literature, including books, journals, catalogs, and copies of exhibits that can help me research the subjects I am exploring.
The APS also publishes the Manual of Philatelic Judging and Exhibiting, 7th Edition, which provides the guidelines used to create and judge exhibits. Studying those standards has helped me better understand what goes into building a strong exhibit and what judges are looking for when they evaluate one.
For me, the APS is more than simply another philatelic organization. It is a place where I can find the research resources and knowledge I need as I continue learning how to turn stamps, covers, and historical research into better exhibits.
AAPE
As I began learning how to create philatelic exhibits, I realized that exhibiting was a whole new skill I needed to learn. I joined AAPE to learn from experienced exhibitors, understand how exhibits are developed and judged, and improve my own work. For someone still learning the craft of exhibiting, it has become another valuable source of knowledge and guidance.
Philatelic News
Philately is constantly changing, with new stamps, postal history, discoveries, and developments appearing all the time. This section brings together current news and updates from the philatelic organizations and sources I follow, giving you another way to explore what is happening in the hobby.
USPS Postal News
What Philately Has Taught Me
Each new exhibit teaches me something I didn't know before.
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Each research project uncovers another connection.
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Each presentation gives me another opportunity to share those discoveries with others.
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As my exhibits continue to evolve, so does my understanding of how stamps preserve history—not simply as pieces of paper, but as windows into the people, events, and ideas that continue to shape our world.
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Every stamp begins with a story.
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Every story leads to another question.
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Every question uncovers another connection.
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And those connections remind me that history is never really about stamps.
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It's about people.
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It's about ideas.
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It's about the stories that bind us.
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That is why philately has become such an important part of GEMS+H. It reminds me every day that even the smallest pieces of history can tell extraordinary stories—if we take the time to look.
Explore GEMS+H
The stories don't stop here. Explore the other parts of GEMS+H and discover more of the people, history, education, and connections that bring these stories together.
