Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Use Restrictions

No physical characteristics affect use of this material.

Preferred Citation

Joseph Thomas Martz Stamp Collection, 1967-1969 (SC 0108), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Gayle Martz Kohlbry, Edina, MN

Alternative Form Available

None

Accruals

2011.0191

Processing Information

Ashley Swartwout, 8 August 2014

Biographical Information

Joseph Thomas Martz (7 May 1918-1 September 1979) was the only son of Joseph Manning Martz (11 September 1889-5 August 1934) and Ethel Beans (28 October 1891-9 July 1965). Born and raised in Loudoun County  , he attended Round Hill School and Strayer College of Accountancy. After his father died, Martz went to live with his uncle, James   Bernard Martz (23 July 1895-27 August 1950), in Washington DC, where he pursued a career in insurance.

Pending the start of World War II, Martz joined the army on 2 December 1941, and when war was declared, he shipped out to Eastern Europe and Northern Africa, where he served without incident. He was separated from the army on 31 December 1945.

After the war, Martz became chief bookkeeper at Loudoun County   Livestock Market, and then the deputy treasurer for Loudoun County  . In 1951, he ran for the office of Clerk of Loudoun Circuit Court against the previous circuit court clerk, Edward O. Russell (27 October 1875-15 February 1953), who had held the position for 23 years. Martz won with 65% of the vote. As clerk of the circuit court, Martz kept records of all court cases and land deeds, issued licenses, collected fines, and managed juries. He also became president of the Virginia Court Clerks Association. In 1965, he was elected director of First National Bank of Purcellville.

On 31 October 1951, Martz married Clara Frances Miller (20 May 1918-3 October 2001), a Purcellville native and secretary at William P. Lipscomb Company in Washington DC. They lived in Purcellville and had three daughters: Anne Katherine Martz (27 August 1953-5 October 2010), Gayle Manning Martz Kohlbry (b. 22 December 1955), and Joyce Thomas Martz Grier (b. 5 December 1956).

Scope and Content

There are twenty-nine covers in this collection issued from 1967 to 1969, with three significant ones. The first is the man on the moon cover, released on 20 July and 9 September 1969 in two cities  , and therefore bears two date stamps. The second is the flag cover for 20 January 1969, which bears the stamp "Inauguration Day." The third is the George C. Marshall cover, issued in 1967. In addition to the commemorative Marshall stamp, the cover has a stamp of "21" on it and a decorative cachet commemorating General George C. Marshall. Additionally, there is a postcard with a portrait of Marshall by Christine B. Pogue, an officially issued note describing the numbered envelope, and a note from Martz on obtaining the envelope with cachet, stamp, and postcard.

Arrangement

Chronological

Related Material

Lewis Leigh Collection (M 019), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA; R. Keith Young Stamp Collection, 1961-2005 (SC 0079), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Bibliography

Ancestry, www.ancestrylibrary.com, accessed 7 August 2014.

Birth, The Blue Ridge Herald , 3 September 1953.

Birth, The Blue Ridge Herald , 28 December 1955.

Loudoun County Virginia Military Separation Notices 1918-1995 (M 004), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA

Marriage, The Blue Ridge Herald , 18 October 1951.

News, The Blue Ridge Herald , 10 May 1951.

News, The Blue Ridge Herald , 9 August 1951.

Obituary, The Blue Ridge Herald , 9 August 1934.

Obituary, The Blue Ridge Herald , 31 August 1950.

Obituary, The Blue Ridge Herald , 19 February 1953.

Obituary, Loudoun Times-Mirror , 15 July 1965.

Virginia Court Clerks' Association, www.vaclerks.org, accessed 6 August 2014.

Find a Grave, www.findagrave.com, accessed 7 August, 2014.

Other Finding Aid

None

Technical Requirements

None