Friday, February 23, 2007

Smithsonian National Postage Museum

Arago is a resource to the study of philately and postal operations as seen through the National Postal Museum's collection.

The online database of the National Postal Museum, Arago, was named in honor of the French physicist, astronomer and politician, François Arago (1786-1853). A friend of James Smithson (benefactor of the Smithsonian Institution), Arago believed that science and available technologies should be used to advance public knowledge and improve everyday life. Renowned as a scientist, he was also a humanitarian who used his political roles to introduce social reforms – the abolition of slavery, universal manhood suffrage, and the education of the lower classes – not only in France but also in its colonial possessions.

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