Westfield Historical Society Plans Virtual Luncheon Program

Press release from Westfield Historical Society:

Dec. 8, 2020

As part of The Westfield Historical Society’s First Wednesday Luncheon series for January, Dr. Stanley H. Lipson will talk on the subject of "Historical Gems Hidden Among Westfield’s Postcards” on January 6, 2021 at 12:00 noon. Dr. Lipson will share his extensive Westfield, NJ postcard collection giving us a glimpse of Westfield’s past along with postcard lore. This will be a live and interactive virtual event. Guests will enjoy their own lunch, in place, while watching Dr. Lipson’s live presentation. There will be Q&A and opportunities to share with others. Instructions and the link to the event will be sent to all paid registered guests. For anyone who may not be familiar with Zoom meetings, the Society is happy to set up a tutorial session on how to participate in a Zoom presentation with the Westfield Historical Society. Just call or email if you’re interested in this tutorial.

The beginnings of the “internet” can be traced back well over one-hundred years. Before there were cell phones, desk phones, candlestick phones or even hand-cranked wall phones, there was “social media.” It consisted of postcards. In the era of three mail deliveries per day, it was possible for a postman to knock on a door in the morning and hand the resident a postcard. The latter could glance at it and say “when you come back at noon I’ll have a reply for you.” It would then be picked up for delivery later that afternoon. This talk, illustrated with Westfield area postcards, will examine some of the history that can be discovered not only in the images but also in other facets of postcards.

Dr. Lipson, holds Masters Degrees from Columbia University and Stevens and a Doctoral Degree from Columbia. After teaching high school for three years, Dr. Lipson joined the faculty at what is now Kean University, where he helped design the first Computer Science Major in New Jersey. Among other things, he spent nine years as Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, served on the Faculty Senate, and co-chaired the Presidential Task Force that planned and oversaw the College’s transition to a University. At his retirement in 2015 he was named Professor Emeritus recognizing his fifty-years of contributions to Kean.

Stan and his family moved to Westfield in 1969 and immediately became involved in community activities. He joined the Westfield Jaycees where he became a Trustee and the editor of their newsletter. He was appointed by the School Board as co-chair of the “Technology Committee” charged with recommending how the district should incorporate computers into both the administration and the curriculum. An avid genealogist, he was a charter member of the Genealogical Society of the West Fields and proposed the current title for their newsletter. Previously active with the Boy Scouts for twenty years, he became an Assistant Cubmaster of Pack 79 and then an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 72, before spending several years as Scoutmaster. He remained active with the troop until 2019.

Those wishing to join the virtual luncheon may make a reservation by email to westfieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com; or, by calling 908-654-1794, before Sunday, January 3rd. The presentation fee is $10 (WHS members) or $15 (non-members). The fee should be paid in advance (check payable to Westfield Historical Society) by mailing to Westfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 613, Westfield, NJ 07091; by Venmo to @Westfield-HistoricalSociety; or, online at www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org/registration. Payments should be received by January 3rd to assure you receive the emailed link to the event.

Since 1968, the 501(c)(3) non-profit Westfield Historical Society has worked to preserve, interpret and encourage interest in history, Westfield, and its residents through educational efforts and community outreach programs.

For more information on the Westfield Historical Society and their events, visit http://westfieldhistoricalsociety.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram.

This press release was produced by Westfield Historical Society. The views expressed here are the author's own.