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Media
Contacts:
Dr. Robert Kochersberger, 919/515-4142 or rckeg@unity.ncsu.edu
Suzanne Jacovec, 919/513-1829 or suzanne_jacovec@ncsu.edu
Sept.
12, 2002
NC State
Professor Helps New Postage Stamp Make its Mark
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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A
North Carolina State University English professor
is making his mark on the U.S. Postal Service's
newest stamp. For Dr. Robert Kochersberger, it
seems far-fetched that his scholarly interest
would reach people across the country, affixed
to envelopes and packages in their mailboxes.
But Kochersberger's research on muckraking journalist
Ida Tarbell has helped shape a brand-new postage
stamp in her honor, to be issued this Saturday.
A
little over a year ago, PhotoAssist, a company
contracted by the U.S. Postal Service to research
and design stamps, called upon Kochersberger to
consult on the development of the Tarbell stamp.
"It was a singular opportunity," he
said. "I really like doing out-of-the-ordinary
things."
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The
new Ida Tarbell stamp will be unveiled Saturday.
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The
agency selected Kochersberger for his research on Tarbell,
one of a dozen journalists known as muckrakers in the
early 1900s for their efforts to expose the wrongdoings
committed by corporate America and government. Kochersberger,
52, is regarded as an expert on Tarbell, having written
his first book about her, "More than a Muckraker:
Ida Tarbell's Lifetime in Journalism," and now
working on a second. The University of Illinois Press
recently asked him to pen an introduction to its reissue
of Tarbell's autobiography, "All in the Day's Work."
As
consultant on the stamp, Kochersberger checked the accuracy
of the biographical data that accompanies the stamp,
Tarbell's photo, and the arrangement of the text on
the stamp. In fact, PhotoAssist used Kochersberger's
book on Tarbell as a source for writing the biographical
material. The process was extremely confidential - Kochersberger
was not allowed to tell anyone about his work on the
stamp or show the early artistic renderings.
Kochersberger,
a former journalist who teaches news editing and writing
in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at
NC State, has long been an admirer of Tarbell. He grew
up in Chautauqua County, N.Y., where Tarbell first worked
in journalism in several editorial positions on the
Chautauquan Magazine from 1883 -1890. "She is a
fascinating character," he said. "She was
a journalist like practically nobody had seen …
I've thought for a long time that she never got her
due."
Tarbell
is best known for her powerful exposé on the
Standard Oil Company in its attempt to monopolize the
oil industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
She wrote a 13-part series in McClure's magazine that
led to Congress passing antitrust legislation that dismantled
the company.
"It
was an incredibly researched and written series,"
Kochersberger said. "Tarbell placed ultimate reliability
on facts, information and details, and she just dug
in and did the kind of research that would do today's
investigative journalists proud."
Tarbell
was one of relatively few female journalists in the
country at the time. She also was the only female muckraker,
and many say the best of the bunch, according to Kochersberger.
He adds, "S.S. McClure (owner and publisher of
McClure's magazine) once told Tarbell she was 'the most
generally famous woman in America' and even admitted
he was a little frightened of her because of it."
Not
only did Tarbell inspire Kochersberger's research, but
his teaching. "I feel very strongly called to teach
beginning-level reporters and editors how to do their
craft well," he said. "I think that's where
you can make a real difference."
Kochersberger
continues to examine more than 400 pages of raw material
for his next book on Tarbell. In the meantime, he's
enjoying her unique return to fame. "I think she's
coming into her own, becoming more popular again,"
he said. "I plan to buy a lot of these stamps and
use them on everything!"
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jacovec -
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Raleigh,
NC 27695
