Gini Horn, the longtime chief librarian of the American Philatelic Research Library and the American Philatelic Society, has passed away at the age of 70. You can find her obituaries at on the APS website and that of a local newspaper.

Her coworkers and successors talk about her uncanny ability to find anything in the library’s collections, no matter how obscure.

In her 25 years as chief librarian, she not only grew the collection and staff, and oversaw the move to the new facility in Bellefonte, she was also a jack-of-all trades, often pitching in where needed. In the photo below, taken in 2004, she climbed onto the roof of “Building 1” and took photos of one of the dedication ceremonies for the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte.

According to the APS obituary, when she got the job in 1984, she told a family member, “It’s a stamp library, how big could it be?” Thanks to her, it got bigger.

I used to drive her crazy when I was on the APS board: She somehow was in charge of checking tickets for the banquets during AmeriStamp Expo and StampShow. I would never remember to bring them. “How will we know what entree to serve you?” “I don’t know. Pick one. Whatever you have too much of.” She wasn’t satisfied. I guess for professional librarians, everything has to be in its proper place and category.

I also remember one show where she was the designated APS staffer who was transporting the Inverted Jenny back from a show to headquarters. (In those days, a different staffer had the responsibility each time, and who it was was kept secret. Today, of course, a Brinks truck transports the stamp to the nearest military air base where Air Force Two is waiting.) I was walking through the airport with a group of APS staffers, including Gini, and every few steps, she would stop and check her pockets. Or stop and look around to see if anyone suspicious was following her.

— Lloyd A. de Vries